|
| History & mythology |  | HISTORY OF CRETE
The oldest signs of inhabitation on Crete are ceramic Neolithic remains that date to approximately 7000 B.C. The earliest inhabitants were nomads, living in caves and making crude tools and pottery.
Between 3000 and 2500 B.C. a new wave of immigrants arrived from Asia Minor where great civilizations already existed. Over the next 1200 years (until 1900 B.C., Prepalatial period) they built magnificent palaces and established dominion over much of the eastern Mediterranean. That was the beginning of Minoan civilization.
From 1900 to 1700 B.C. that is called First Palatial period, great palaces were built at Knossos, Phaistos and Malia and the Linear A script was developed. Their tools and pottery became more delicate and sophisticated and jewelry became a fine art. All the first palaces and the towns were completely destroyed by a massive earthquake around 1700 B.C.
Despite the destruction the Minoans rebuilt their palaces even greater and more luxurious than before (New Palatial period). For the next 250 years the Minoan civilization flourished and the Linear B script was developed. In approximately 1450 B.C. the New Palaces were destroyed again either due to Santorini volcano eruption or more likely due to the invasion of the Mycenaeans.
For the next 350 years the Mycenaeans controlled Crete, rebuilding Knossos and administrating the island from there.
By 1100 B.C. the Dorians descending from the Balkans arrived in Crete and dominated the island leading to the final decline of the great Minoan civilization. The only significant achievement during this period was the famous Law Code of Gortyn which was the first body of written law in ancient Europe.
By 69 B.C. the Romans invaded to Crete and within a few years Crete became part of Roman province ruled from Gortyn. The Romans built a network of roads, irrigation systems and aqueducts.
Christianity arrived to Crete when St. Paul landed on the south coast in 59 A.D. and Titus became Crete's first bishop.
In 395 A.D. the Roman empire was divided and Crete became port of the eastern Byzantine empire.
In 824 A.D. a band of Arab adventurers invaded Crete and for over a hundred years the island became a pirate base. The island was eventually recaptured from the Arabs by the Byzantine general Nikiforos Fokas and many settlers were brought to the island from Constantinople and mainland Greece.
In 1204, with the end of Byzantine empire, Crete was sold to the Venetians. The Venetians ruled Crete very strictly and built a series of forts and defenses around the major towns.
In 1645 the island was captured by the Turks except for Heraklion, which was conquered by the Turks in 1669. Over the next two centuries the Cretans suffered heavy taxes and exploitation under Turkish rule.
In 1832 Greece became independent, but Crete was left in the hands of the Egyptians and Turks. Only after the Great Powers contribution, Crete became independent in 1898.
Crete had been autonomous until 1913 when, due to the efforts of Eleftherios Venizelos, it was united with Greece.
As the German troops overran the Greek mainland in 1941, most of the Allied forces that had been sent to Greece, withdrew to Crete. On May 21st the German troops invaded Crete. The Battle of Crete was over in just a week and Germans managed to secure the airstrip of Maleme. When, finally, Germans withdrew in 1945 they left behind an island in tatters, with a shattered economy, depopulated villages and burned-out cities.
Crete rapidly rebuilt its economy, founded on agriculture and later on tourism.
MYTHOLOGY OF CRETE
There are many ancient Greek legends referring to Crete and its connection with their gods. Ancient Greeks believed that Zeus, the father of their gods, was born and brought up in Crete, in the Dictaian Cave. His mother, Rhea, hid him there to protect him from his own father Kronos, who wanted to eat him as he had done with his other children, protecting that way his throne as the ruler of the world. Eventually, Zeus overthrown Kronos and became the ruler of the gods.
Another legend refers to Zeus and his affair with the beautiful princess Europa. He appeared to her in the form of a bull and carried her off his back across the sea, landing at Matala and then traveling to Gortyn. From their union, Europa gave birth to three sons, Sarpedon, Rhadamanthous and Minos. Europa married to Asterios, king of Crete. After the king's death, Minos and Sarpedon vied for the throne. Minos asked Poseidon, god of the Sea, for help. Poseidon sent a white bull, which rose up from the waves, in proof of Minos divinity. Minos didn't keep his promise to Poseidon to sacrifice the bull, so Poseidon caused Minos wife Pasiphae to fall in love with the bull and from their union, she gave birth to the Minotaur, a monster with a human body and a bull's head.
Minos enraged, ordered the inventor Daedalos to build a labyrinth, in which he imprisoned the Minotaur. Eventually, Theseus, son of the Athenian king Aegeas managed to get into the labyrinth and kill Minotaur. Then, following the instructions of Minos daughter Ariadne, found his way out of the maze.
Afterwards, Theseus and Ariadne escaped from Crete together. King Minos was furious so he imprisoned Daedalos and his son Ikarus in the labyrinth. They eventually managed to escape and fly away by making wings of feathers which they had joined together with wax. Daedalos warned his son not to fly close to the sun, but Ikarus didn't obey so his wings melted and he fell in the sea and was killed; the sea he fell in, was named Ikarion. Daedalos managed to land in Sicily. King Minos, in his effort to pursuit Daedalos, fell in the sea and died.
|
|
|
