9.6 Crete: Home of Europe’s oldest city!

This morning we went to Crete.

Our first stop was the Palace of Knossos. 

Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and has been called Europe's oldest city (signs of civilization date back as far as 7000 BC).  The palace was built around 2000 BC.  Daedelus was the chief architect and inventor. It was destroyed in a massive fire in 1700 BC   but then rebuilt.  At its peak, there were 80,000 inhabitants. At 1400 BC the civilization ended. Daedulis invented an early flying machine, which is where the myth of Icarus developed. 

There were maze like structures in the Knossos palace. 

The Athenians then tried to explain the great power of the kings so they developed legends about King Minos. In Greek mythology, King Minos dwelt in a palace at Knossos. He had a labyrinth constructed underground, in which to retain the Minotaur (who was half man and half bull).  The Minotaur was actually birthed by Minos’ wife who mates with a white bull sent by Poseidon whom Minos was supposed to kill but chose not to (because of its beauty), breaking his promise to Poseidon.

The myth of the Minotaur tells that Theseus, a prince from Athens, was forced to fight a terrible creature called the Minotaur. Minos’s  daughter Ariadne fell in love with Theseus. Before he entered the Labyrinth to fight the Minotaur, Ariadne gave him a ball of thread which he unwound as he went into the Labyrinth so that he could find his way back by following it. Theseus killed the Minotaur, and then he and Ariadne fled from Crete, escaping her angry father.

The palace of Knossos eventually became the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. They were happy to be on earth and oriented toward nature and music. The most incredible aspect of the palace are the sewer and drainage systems they created.

This mountain (which looks like a man  with his chin tipped up) had springs which supplied Knossos village with fresh water

Replication of original frescos with young men holding libations.

Terra cotta jars stored olives, wine, olive oil, honey and grain.

Bull horns indicated the religious aspect of the civilization. 

Double blades ax was famous symbol. It was the tool they needed to sacrifice the animals, so it was religious in nature. 

Prince of the lilies

The king’s chair

Original steps and bathroom with bench

Theater with room for 400 spectators. 




Peacocks!

Downtown

Lion fountain



Town hall










Church of Titos

Travis and Keon became fish food!!