The palace at knossos
Beginning In 1900, an excavation would make one man become forever associated with Knossos. Arthur Evans unearthed what he coined as 'Minoan Civilization.' On the island of Crete, near Herakliem, lies the excavation site that remains famous unto this day.
finding knossos
"When Schliemann digs at Mycenae and discovers a
golden splendour apparently recalling the world of the Iliad; when a corner of north-western Turkey yields a site which
might be Troy; when the remains of Knossos look decidedly labyrinthine. . .when in
short, archaeology takes narrative by the hand and leads her out of the shadows." Richard Buxton 1
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History & Excavation
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just a myth?
Such is the general account of the conflict between Athens and Knossos--between Greece and Crete--which grew into one of the most charming romances ever told by men and women. But no Homer wove the tale of this war into a matchless epic, and the stories about it have come down to us in fragmentary allusions which have to be picked up and pieced together from a variety of references."6
Unfortunately, as the author Daniel does say, there is not set epic that tells us the tale of Theseus and Minotaur. We must rely upon fragments, and now, upon archaeological findings that might reinforce these fragments. We are able to differentiate between what was most likely fact, and what stems from true Minoan life.
There are a few specific points that can be taken into account when analyzing the historicity and truth of the myth about Theseus and the Minotaur: the labyrinth, the sealstones, the bull-ring sport, and the lack of fortification around Knossos.
1. THE LABYRINTH
1. THE LABYRINTH
The Labyrinth is where the climax of the myth takes place. Here the youth of Athens are terrorized every year and here Theseus kills the Minotaur. This layout featured below was constructed by Evans' team. The layout itself is remarkably labyrinth-like in its shape and various, confusing passageways.
Geographically, Knossos is located on Kephala Hill outside of Herakliem. It lies in the midst of a great seismic centre. 7 Scientific research shows that the area endured several consecutive volcanoes in the time period from 2000 to 1400 B.C. Due to these earthquakes, the buildings were caused to be lower than usual.
Now, Evans has reconstructed many parts of the Palace so that it towers above the ground. If you were to visit, you would see the sign of the double-axe, or labrys, in several places. The Greeks throughout the classical age following the decline of Crete would have been able to see these signs too. Also, because the Palace could be looked down upon in its low state, the Greeks would have seen how much it looked like a maze. Thus, labrys could have come to mean "labyrinth" or maze.
Now, Evans has reconstructed many parts of the Palace so that it towers above the ground. If you were to visit, you would see the sign of the double-axe, or labrys, in several places. The Greeks throughout the classical age following the decline of Crete would have been able to see these signs too. Also, because the Palace could be looked down upon in its low state, the Greeks would have seen how much it looked like a maze. Thus, labrys could have come to mean "labyrinth" or maze.
2. THE SEALSTONES
Seal stones were gems with impressions produced during Minoan civilization. The subjects of these stones are relevant in the study of the truth contained in the Minotaur myth. The first stone depicts a labyrinth shape. The second stone on the right depicts the Minoan sport of bull-ring. The bull-ring was a sport where athletic young boys and girls acted as Toreros or Toreras. When the bull charged, the young athlete grabbed its horns and was tossed so as to make a back-somersault over the bull's spine. 8 Its significance to society must have significant enough to engrave it into a gemstone. There are also many murals and frescoes of bull-type events throughout the Palace found by the excavators. There were seal stones depicting the picture of a man with a bull-mask covering his face and head; a man who may be enacting a religious dance or ceremony. 9 The connection of this man with where the labyrinth was located could have been enough to explain the creation of the Minotaur.
3. THE MINOAN BULL
3. THE MINOAN BULL
The inhabitants of Knossos (pre-1400 B.C.) were huge fans of bull-ring. There were several frescoes and pottery items found within the Palace depicting bulls and this sport. The high number of these findings signifies the importance of the animal and sport to their culture. A culture takes time to depict what is most important to them.
The frescoe above depicts the young athlete somersaulting over the bull's spine. These athletes possibly represent the Athenian tributes associated with the tale of the Minotaur. "They were not given as fodder to a monster but trained to desport themselves in the bull-ring at Knossos to make a Cretan holiday."10 The Athenians would have merely been participants in this sporting event in order to satisfy the Cretan entertainment business.
4. KNOSSOS: NO FORTIFICATION
The frescoe above depicts the young athlete somersaulting over the bull's spine. These athletes possibly represent the Athenian tributes associated with the tale of the Minotaur. "They were not given as fodder to a monster but trained to desport themselves in the bull-ring at Knossos to make a Cretan holiday."10 The Athenians would have merely been participants in this sporting event in order to satisfy the Cretan entertainment business.
4. KNOSSOS: NO FORTIFICATION
The aerial photograph above shows the excavated and reconstructed Palace of Knossos. There seems to be no evidence of any type of palace wall or fortification. In a way, it seems almost crazy that Crete would not have striven to protect itself against neighboring territories; unless they were very powerful. This was a time when every Mediterranean land or island was heavily fortified. Crete alone remained open and undefended.11 Archaeology has also proved the vastness of the Minoan naval influence on society. Here the myth of Theseus can be introduced to describe the decline of Cretan society. He was a hero who conquered the Minotaur whose identity goes hand in hand with the labyrinth; it is possible he was a prince or leader in one of the neighboring territories and decided that Cretan influence must come to an end. He could have seen the lack of fortification when coming to Crete to experience the bull-ring games.
sources
- Buxton, R G. A. Imaginary Greece: The Contexts of Mythology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994. Print. 183.
- Scarre, Christopher, and Rebecca Stefoff. The Palace of Minos at Knossos. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) EBSCOhost (accessed April 8, 2015). 8.
- Scarre, Christopher, and Rebecca Steffoff. 14.
- Daniel, Glyn E. Myth or Legend? New York: Capricorn Books, 1968. Print. 53.
- Scarre, Christopher, and Rebecca Steffoff. 18.
- Daniel, Glyn E. 52.
- Daniel, Glyn E. 53.
- Daniel, Glyn E. 54-5.
- Daniel, Glyn E. 54-5.
- Daniel, Glyn E. 55.
- Daniel, Glyn E. 55-6.