Sandy and Tom: IRAKLION, CRETE, GREECE

IRAKLION, CRETE, GREECE

Once the center of the Minoan civilization, as well as the largest of the Greek Islands, Crete has a lush history that forms a large part of the overall tapestry of Greece. According to Greek mythology, goddess Rhea hid the newborn Zeus in a cave of Crete, where he was subsequently brought up by nymphs who protected him from his enemies. It was also on Crete that Zeus took the form of a bull to seduce the maiden Europa.

The Knossos Palace's, the largest in Crete, complexes were arranged around a central court. The city was organized around the palaces. In them was concentrated the religious and political authority, and they were also entrusted with the organization of the events connected with religion, as well as the production, storage and ultimate disposal of the agriculture products and the management of commerce. The necessity to record and control the complex activities of the palaces may have led to the development of the two systems of writing which were adopted at this time: Cretan Hieroglyphic and Linear A which have not yet been deciphered. This was during the Protopalatial Period (2000-1750 BC), the Bronze Age. Their most valuable item to barter since they did not have money yet was copper.

The Palace was destroyed several times by earthquakes but it was built back with improvements each times. It was built with a water system to get water from a spring, and to send sewage to a brook. The complex covered about 25 acres. The Administration Offices and meeting rooms were on one side of the open court yard. On other side were the five stories of apartments for the family and staff to live. The King and Queen had their bedrooms on the bottom floor.

The Palace fell into disuse and it is not certain why; it could have been another earthquake. Through the centuries it, as well as the town around it, became covered with soil and olive trees were planted over it. A farmer found some ruins in the late 19^th Century and there have been excavations every since. The town has not been excavated yet.