30.11.2016
Во II тысячелетии до н. er in Crete there was a Minoan civilization. For the first time information about her began. collect Robert Pasley, and finally confirmed the existence civilization Arthur Evans, seriously engaged in the Palace of Knossos. Before this epoch-making event scientists separated years of delusions when Minoan civilization was not perceived as separate – they called it just the predecessor of the Mycenaean civilization.
The history of the Minoan civilization
As she studied civilization, she got her own name – Evans called it Minoan, in honor of King Minos. Descendants of the minoans, may have been the Etheocritians (or true Cretans), about whom he wrote Homer. The main foci of the Minoan culture were palaces – economic and political centers in Zakros, Knossos, Fest and Thilisse. Each of the palaces found and studied has unique traits, but all have unifying features. So, Minoan palaces were monumental and multi-storey buildings with courtyards and massive in columns.
About Minoans reliably known: they had a great influence over Crete found on the borders of Crete on mainland Greece products brought from the island. Minoans have established trade relations, in including Egypt, where architectural ideas were brought to Crete and papyrus. They maintained relations with the islands of the Cyclades archipelago, Syria and Mesopotamia. Still murals and other artifacts Minoans continue to be found at various points – in Cyprus, in Anatolia and even in Israel. All this indicates a high level of organization. and the desire to establish contacts with other nations.
In the Eastern Mediterranean, the Minoan fleet was not equal: he unconditionally influenced all processes, founded colonies and fought against pirates. As a result, the power of the fleet and success in shipbuilding reached such unattainable scales that modern researchers called the Minoan Crete maritime state. Sure prosperity served as a good location of the island at the crossroads of important sea lanes.
The prosperity of civilization broke the natural catastrophe: eruption of Tyr volcano. A wave of earthquakes sunk to the shores Crete and led to irreversible consequences. Turned out to be destroyed residential quarters and the most important palaces. Almost untouched remained only Knossos – later a dynasty arose here that influenced on the life of Crete before the arrival of the Mykene. Capturing an island they adapted the Minoans linear letter to the needs of their own language.
Today it is impossible to say exactly what caused the death Minoan civilization – the most developed in ancient Europe. Was the decline associated only with an earthquake or a hand to the invaders have put the disappearance – it remains to be seen.
Minoans culture: the legacy of civilization
From the Minoans the modern Greeks got numerous archaeological finds. These people had a great feeling. forms, as can be judged by the detected cups, vessels in the form heads of animals, jugs and statuettes. If the ancient inhabitants of Crete created a picture of a man, they never made a pose static – they perfectly conveyed movement. We have reached carved items from stone, ceramics of different types and skillfully executed murals. The most A large collection of Minoan heritage today can be seen in museums. Heraklion.
Not bad studied the religious views of the Minoans. They worshiped in mostly goddesses – culture was built on matriarchy. Wide The images of deities were spread in different guises: the mistress of animals and cattle, the goddess of fertility, of the harvest, household, cities, underground world. Goddesses portrayed with birds, snakes or animals on their heads.
The Minoans had an excellently developed agriculture. They are not only bred cattle and raised grain crops, but also domesticated bees, cultivated olives and grapes. Also known that the Minoans actively hunted wild boars and birds. Diversity products led to the growth and improvement of Cretan health population.
Not the last role in the prosperity of the Minoan civilization played letter. Minoans belong to the oldest found in Crete. hieroglyphs. No one knows if the local people had a special language or they borrowed letters from Mesopotamia and Egypt. Hieroglyphs long time used in parallel with the linear letter A.
Today, tourists are immersed in the Minoan past with interest. Crete. But in an effort to see the Palace of Knossos, one should not forget dozens of other monuments of this civilization. On a hillside near Mirabello Bay located remnants of the settlement Gurniya, who had small palace. Foundations remained from the Early Minoan period the city of Pyrgos. And on the way from Ierapetra to Agios Nikolaos you can get to the excavation Vasiliki – a unique settlement, which dating back before the period.
