Jax Stumpes: Crete, Greece (4/26/2025)

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Crete is the largest Greek island and in a class of its own (meaning it is not grouped with other Greek islands).

Heraklion is considered to have one of the 'best-preserved' medieval fortifications in Europe.

Once again a morning included excursion where we drove
up into the heart of the capital city of Iraklio/Heraklion, past
the fortifications (1462-1562) that were completely rebuilt
by the Republic of Venice against the threat of the Ottomans

We visited the Heraklion Archaeological
Museum that held many of the treasures from
the Palace of Knossos, the center of the
earliest civilization in Europe: the Minoans

A closeup of a tiny golden frog that is thought to be the
earliest piece of goldwork from the 3000s BCE,
showing the advanced technique of granulation

Early clay depiction (of the 5300-3000 BCE)
of the mother or earth goddess

Vasílikí ware (2300-1900 BCE); in the foreground
are teapots with beak spouts

Bee pendant (1800-1700 BCE) shows two bees depositing a
drop of honey in the comb between their legs, with dangling
drops of honey and above their heads is a cage holding a
gold ball; a masterpiece of repoussé, granulation, filigree,
and incised decoration techniques of goldwork

Finial handle of a scepter (1800-1700 BCE)
in the shape of a panther or leopard with an axehead

Gold-leaf decorated swords and daggers were
symbols of status for display and were not functional

Close-up of the remains of gold-leaf decoration

Kamares ware (1900-1700 BCE) is one of the most
ornamental styles in pottery history, known for a variety
of decorations on a dark background

These examples show the nearly "eggshell" thinness of
Kamares ware, thought to be made exclusively for the elite

A model of Knossos, the celebrated palace of the Minoan
kings (1900-1100 BCE), which is an archaeological site but
with many areas reconstructed rather than left as
found; in retrospect we are happy that with an either/or
choice we went to the museum and not to Knossos

A luxury gaming board made with gold-plated ivory,
rock crystal insets, blue glass paste, and silver foil;
it is not known how it is played

House model (1700 BCE) illustrates Minoan
architecture with partitioned windows,
a light-well column, and interior stairs

Amphora/storage jar (c 1500 BCE) with
octopus decoration to celebrate the sea;
it actually has nine "handles"

Phaistos Disc side A (c 2000 BCE) is
inscribed with "pictograms" in a spiral of a
total of 241 signs in 61 groups, with 45
distinct ones; it has not been deciphered

Phaistos Disc side B

Throw-pillow sized copper ingots (1500-
1450 BCE) may have been a unit of exchange

The Bull-Leaper (1600-1450 BCE) is thought to be the
first rendering in three dimensions

The Bull-Leaping fresco (1600-1400 BCE) illustrates
what may have been a rite of passage for young males,
performing a backwards somersault over a bull;
note the male is brown-skinned from the sun,
and the two female "athletes" are white

Sir Arthur Evans was the primary archaeologist at the Palace of Knossos. Upon finding fragments of frescoes, he hired archaeological restorer, Émile Gilliéron, to create an image from the largest bits. Thus, much of the "picture may be from Gilliéron's imagination.

Two carved alabaster fragments of a lyre
(1450-1370 BCE)

Labrys/Double-headed axes were
largely ceremonial

A restored rhyton/libation vessel, a ritual
vase for religious offerings in the shape of a
bull's head; since no complete bull's head has
been found, it is surmised the rhytons were
meant to be smashed after the ceremonies

Another rhyton (1600-1500 BCE) in the shape of the
head of a lioness with a hole for pouring in the nose

"Snake Goddess" (1650-1550 BCE)
with a cat on her head

A gold seal ring (1450-1400 BCE) supposedly belonging to the
legendary King Minos, associated with the myth of Theseus
and the minotaur in the labyrinth; the ring has remarkable detail

Clay tablets (with Linear B script) that primarily were used
for inventory and lists, and could be erased and used again

Wild boar tusks (1600-1450 BCE) that
came from two helmets, likely sewn
together with leather strips

Luxury rhyton (1500-1450 BCE)
of rock crystal with gilded ivory discs,
the vessels were not meant to be put down
after the drinking or ritual began

Burial pithos/container

Jewelry (1400-1300 BCE) found in a cemeteries

Hagia Triada Sarcophagus (1370-1300 BCE)
illustrated with scenes from a funeral

The other side of the Hagia Triada Sarcophagus shows
the sacrifice of a bull

Chest larnax/coffin (1370-1300 BCE)

Remains of a Dolphin fresco (1600-1450 BCE)
from the Palace of Knossos; again we have
Émile Gilliéron filling in the background

Ladies in Blue fresco (1600-1450 BCE)

Prince of Lilies fresco (1600-1450 BCE)

Camp-stool fresco (1450-1300 BCE)
with a female that archaeologist
Sir Arthur Evans named 'La Parisienne'

What happened to the Minoans who had such an advanced civilization, only to disappear with much of their knowledge? The Minoans engaged in maritime trade as far as Egypt and mainland Greece, and had an influence on those cultures. Theories suggest the volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini in 1500 BCE caused tsunamis that wiped out surrounding settlements and changed maritime routes. Dependent on trade and not prepared for war, the Minoans may have succumbed to the warrior-led Mycenaeans.