Lecture on Minoan Civilization and the Legacy of Crete

Introduction

• Crete, known as Megalo Nissi or the "Big Island" to the Ancient Greeks.
• Considered a dark and troubling place due to myths around the Minotaur and the labyrinth.
• Arthur Evans, a British archaeologist, unearthed a people lost to history thousands of years ago.
• Named them the Minoans.
• Rediscovery of this civilization astonished the world.

Arthur Evans' Discoveries

• Believed Minoans were unique and isolated on the island, avoiding external influences.
• New discoveries altered this understanding; Minoans were connected by sea rather than isolated.
• Island races have reputation for being arrogant, but Minoans needed to reach out for survival and civilization-building.

Influence of the Sea

• The sea was pivotal for trade, bringing both good (raw materials) and bad things (disasters).
• The Minoan civilization's fate was bound up with the sea.

Archaeological Site: Moklos

• A key site to understand Minoan civilization's relationship with the sea.
• Settled around 5000 years ago.
• Connected to the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean via its port.
• Trade routes included: Egypt, Cyprus, Greek mainland, and Mycenae.

Early Minoan Culture

• Evans stressed the originality of Minoans, but new evidence shows they ventured beyond their shores early on.
• Needed goods like copper and tin for bronze, crucial for their progress.
• Bronze arrived in Crete about 5000 years ago, a thousand years before Britain.
• Migrants from Cilicia (Turkey) likely brought bronze to Crete.
• Early settlers possibly the first Minoans.
• Had to navigate the seas to maintain supply of crucial resources like copper and tin.

Minoan Seafaring and Trade

• Sea Power: Small, frail vessels like giant kayaks used for trade and cultural exchange.
• Cultural Interactions: Minoans were part of a larger world culture, influencing and influenced by others.

Minoan Artifacts Abroad

• Lack of written records but other cultures recorded their existence (Example: Egyptian tomb of Rekhmire with depiction of Minoans).
• Exotic Goods: Minoans known for luxury items—pottery, cosmetics, metalwork.

Primary Trade Commodity: Purple Dye

• Extracted from Murex sea snails.
• Highly valued, equated with silver in terms of worth.
• Used for luxury textiles, considered imperial and prestigious.

Minoan Architecture and Palaces

• Influence from Egyptian labyrinths, possibly brought back by Minoan workers.
• Earthquakes: First palaces destroyed around 1700 BC but rebuilt grander within 50 years.
• New structures like country villas emerged, showing advancement in architecture and agrarian life.

Religion and Rituals

• Snake Goddess: Represented fear and elemental power.
• Priestesses played a pivotal role in Minoan religion.
• Rituals involved ecstatic dancing, chanting, possibly drug-induced states.
• Evidence of Opium usage found.

Catastrophes and Decline

• Thera Eruption: Catastrophic eruption around 1530 BC severely affected Crete.
• Tsunamis and Ashfall: Tsunamis and ash clouds from the eruption caused widespread damage.
• 1450 BC Fires: Deliberate fires led to destruction of multiple Minoan sites.
• Signs of Cannibalism discovered in the aftermath of disaster.

Societal Collapse

• Internal religious and social turmoil following disasters.
• Emergence of new gods and religious practices.
• Female Deities demoted; Male gods rose in prominence.
• Mycenaean Influence: Greek-speaking Mycenaeans took control of Knossos and other major sites.

Final Refuge

• Last remnants of Minoan civilization sought refuge in mountainous areas like Karfi.
• Civilized life on Crete regressed to a simpler, more survival-based existence.
• Marked the end of the once thriving and influential Minoan civilization.

Conclusion

• The Minoan civilization was a pioneering culture deeply connected to the sea and trade.
• Faced both natural and man-made adversities that eventually led to their decline.
• Left a rich legacy that influenced subsequent Greek and Mediterranean cultures.