Whether There Were Kings in Minoan Crete?

33 CAES Vol. 5, № 2 (June 2019)

Whether there were kings in Minoan Crete?

Tresi Nonno independent scholar; Chiba, Japan; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Evans suggested that the Minoan state was ruled by kings. However, there are no recordings about Minoan kings and Minoan frescoes demonstrate no figures which could be interpreted as kings unlike, for instance, Akkadian or ancient Egyptian art. Samples of Minoan languages represented in London Medical papyrus can be decoded by Hattic language, that is related with Northwest Caucasian languages, which are related to Sino-Tibetan family, that is related to Ainu. Thus, we can speak about Ainu-Minoan stock. Anarchist tendencies are rather well developed in cultures of different ethnicities speaking languages of the Ainu-Minoan stock; the most notable examples are Kaska, Natukhai, Taoist movements in China, and Ainu. Thus, it is possible to suppose that in Minoan culture anarchist tendencies also were rather well developed, and there probably were no kings in Minoan culture. However, until there are no explicit facts (sources) we can only make assumptions.

Keywords: Minoan society; Ainu-Minoan stock; Anarchism

1. Introduction to the problem

Arthur Evans suggested that the Minoan state was ruled by kings (Evans 1921 – 1935). However, there is no evidence about existing of kings in Minoan culture: there are no recordings about Minoan kings, and there are no figures which could be undoubtedly interpreted as figures of kings/rulers on Minoan frescoes (fig. 1, fig. 2).

Fig. 1. Grandstand fresco from the palace of Knossos (image source: Grandstand Fresco) 34 CAES Vol. 5, № 2 (June 2019)

Fig. 2. A fresco from Akrotiri; the fresco is supposed to depict Mistress of animals with a worshipper, a monkey and a griffin (image source: Akrotiri (Santorin))

Fig. 3. Locations of Knossos and Akrotiri (the nap has been made after Google maps screenshot)

It is possible to conclude that central figures of fig. 1, which were drawn in a better manner, depict women of higher social status than the rest which were drawn by black color only. Also it is possible to say that the sitting female figure of fig. 2, that is slightly bigger than the figure of female ‘worshipper’, probably depicts a woman of high social status or a goddess. However, it isn’t possible to say anything definite about whether certain queens/rulers are depicted on these 35 CAES Vol. 5, № 2 (June 2019) frescoes. On the other hand, if we take a look at samples of Akkadian or ancient Egyptian art we can see that figures of kings can be detected quite easily (fig. 4, fig. 5).

Fig. 4. Victory stele of Naram-Sin (image source: Naram-Sin of Akkad)

Fig. 5. Drawing of a relief depicting the Egyptian campaign against the Sea Peoples, Egyptians are led by Ramses III (image source Sea Peoples) 36 CAES Vol. 5, № 2 (June 2019)

Thus, it is possible to suppose that there were no kings at all in Minoan Crete and that Minoan state most probably was not a kingdom.

2. External links of Minoans suggest certain parallels in culture

2.1. Ainu-Minoan macrofamily/stock

Despite recordings of Minoan language made by linear A and by Cretan hieroglyphs haven’t been deciphered yet and can’t be used as materials for researches, but there are some samples of Minoan languages represented in Egyptian papyruses, for example, there are two Minoan spells in London Medical papyrus. One of those spells (namely incantation against samuna ubuqi diseas) allows to make some conclusions about the structure of Minoan language, verbs of the incantation can be decoded through the verb of Hattic language, it means that Minoan and Hattic languages seem to be rather close, i.e.: could belong to the same group (for more details see: Akulov 2017). Population genetics and cultural anthropology also say that Minoan were closely connected with Anatolia (Lazridis et al 2017; Akulov 2018b)

Hattic language in its turn is a relative of Northwest Caucasian languages (see: Akulov 2018a: 11 – 15). Northwest Caucasian languages in their turn are related to Sino-Tibetan family (Akulov 2018a: 15 – 18).

Fig. 6. Location of languages identified as members of Ainu-Minoan stock (black); languages which potentially can be relatives of the stock (green); languages which are almost unknown, but can be relatives (violet); languages which definitely aren’t relatives of the stock (red) (image source: Akulov 2018a: 20)

37 CAES Vol. 5, № 2 (June 2019)

And Sino-Tibetan family in its turn is related to Ainu language (Akulov 2016), and to Great Andamanese (Akulov 2015). Thus, it is possible to speak about Ainu-Minoan stock (or macrofamily).

Fig. 7 Approximate scheme of Ainu – Minoan stock (image source Akulov 2018a: 19)

Relatedness of languages supposes that corresponding cultures can have certain similar features. Having noticed certain feature in some well-described cultures of the stock it is possible to reconstruct the same for other cultures which are not well described.

2.2. Anarchist tendencies in cultures of ethnicities which speak languages of Ainu-Minoan stock

In the case of different ethnicities, speaking languages of Ainu-Minoan stock their characteristic feature is notable development of tendencies which can be named anarchist. Some notable illustrations are shown below. 38 CAES Vol. 5, № 2 (June 2019)

2.2.1. Kaska

First illustrative examples are Kaska people. Kaska people lived in mountainous East Pontic Anatolia (see fig. 8) in the Bronze Age. Kaska people are mainly known from Hittite sources which describing Hittite – Kaska frontier.

Kaska people are supposed to be a branch of Hattians, and a bridge between Hattians and people speaking Northwest Caucasian languages (for more details see: Akulov 2018c: 14 – 15)

Fig. 8. The map representing the location of Hattians, Kaska, and people speaking Northwest Caucasian languages (image source: Akulov 2018c: 15)

Hittites fought against Kaska but failed to conquer them during all their history. According to Hittite sources, namely Annals of Mursilis II, there were no kings among Kaska In Annals of Mursilis II, in Year 7 of Ten years annals is said that when among Kaska appeared a man who started to rule as a king, i.e.: in Hittite manner, this fact was noted in the Annals and the local group of Kaska ruled by that man, named Pihhuniyas, was conquered by Hittites (Annals of Mursilis II). Thus, it is possible to conclude, that anarchist tendencies were rather strong in Kaska society and that Kaska could successfully resist Hittites due to the anarchist character of their society.

2.2.2. Natukhai

Another illustrative example is Natukhai. Natukhai people are a branch of Adyghe people. In 1795 and 1796 Natukhai and closely related to them Shapsugs and Abzakhs expelled their princes/chiefs and established democratic institutes of government. Expelled princes and chiefs tried to crush the revolution, but failed in it and sent an embassy to Empress Catherine II with a request to provide assistance against their rebellious subjects. The embassy received expected military support from the Russian government and then took place a battle in which the rebels suffered a defeat; however, Shapsugs Natukhais and Abadzekhs did not humble themselves and remained free, and thus the power of their princes was forever destroyed (see: Natukhaisty). 39 CAES Vol. 5, № 2 (June 2019)

Fig. 9. Approximate location of Natukhai, Abadzekh, and Shapsugs in about 1750 (upper scheme source: Circassia)

2.2.3. Taoism and movements inspired by Taoism

Another notable example is Taoism that is an ideology rather close to Anarchism since Taoism has a rather critical attitude toward state and government (see, for instance, Rapp 2012). 40 CAES Vol. 5, № 2 (June 2019)

Rapp speaks about philosophical Taoism (dàojiā 道家), but religious Taoism (dàojiào 道敎) is even closer to anarchism since anarchism is more about practice rather than just a social theory: different schools of religious Taoism inspired and led rebellions which deposed dynasties which unfair rule caused social troubles. For example, the Yellow Turban Rebellion that took place in 184 – 204 AD and was one of those events which helped downfall of Han dynasty; leaders of the rebellion were followers of a Taoist sect named Way of Supreme Peace (太平道 Tàipíng Dào). Another noteworthy example is the Red Turban Rebellion that took place in 1351 – 1368 and overthrew Mongol rule in China. The rebellion was inspired by members of White Lotus, that was a hybrid religious movement including elements of Buddhism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religions. Also another illustrative example is Taiping Rebellion against Qing authorities that took place in 1850 – 1864. Despite members of Taiping movements demonstrated hatred toward Chinese folk cults and consider themselves as Christians, but actually, their ideology was a mix of Christianity, Taoism, and Buddhism and there was much of Taoism and folk cults in their ideology. There were also other examples of movements/rebellions in China inspired by different schools of religious Taoism, but in this text I mentioned only the most notable.

2.2.4. Ainu

Ainu society also is an illustrative example of an ethnic group speaking a language belonging to Ainu-Minoan stock where anarchist tendencies were rather well developed: all important issues were discussed by all members of a local group. And in Ainu language there is a special word for such discussions/parleys – caranke – literally “to give way to words”, “to uncurb words” (Kayano 2005: 315). Thus, it is possible to say that Ainu society decisions were basically made by consensus.

3. Conclusion

Thus, we can see that anarchist tendencies are rather well developed in cultures of different ethnic groups speaking languages belonging to the Ainu-Minoan. And thus, it is possible to suppose that in Minoan culture anarchist tendencies also were rather well developed. Also taking into the account the fact that in Minoan frescoes there are no figures that could be identified as kings/rulers it is possible to suppose that there probably were no kings in Minoan culture. It is possible to suppose that Minoan state was something alike ancient Greek polis or Roman republic, however, until there are no explicit facts (sources) we can only make assumption and hypotheses.

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