•Knossos, the Minoans, the Minotaur, and the Mystery
35° 17′ 52.66″ N, 25° 9′ 47.36″ E What do we know about the Geography of Greece? A. Surrounded by a lot of water (Ionian, Med., Aegean) and mountains B. Lots of little islands Early Greek communities grew up independent! C. Very little farmlands Instead of farming they turn to fishing Could it all be just a legend with no place to base it out of?? King Minos
Zeus & Europa = Minos’s Parents What was the name of the civilization that lived here?
• Minoans - named after King Minos who received his name from Minos Kalokarinos the first archaeologist to excavate in Crete. • 2800BCE King Minos
Deal with Poseidon helps create the Minotaur Death of the Minotaur (Theseus – Athens) Knossos the city of mystery Thanks for the cool story, but what were they really about? •Main Idea – The Minoans earned their living by building ships and trading! The Minoans
• Minoan Civilization began in the capital city of Knossos on the island of Crete around 2800 B.C.E.
• 1st civilization in the region that later became Greece. The Minoans
• 2000BCE- – Drove off the pirates • Used a long wooden beam and prow to fight & slimmer ships that were faster with three sails
– Minoans controlled the Mediterranean Sea!! Minoan Ship Recreation Minoan Ship Recreation Minoan Cities • No Walls! • Famous for their grand palaces! – Center of the city palace instead of temple – Thank you Minoans for….
• 5 stories high houses/apartments • Running hot and cold water • Heated rooms • Flushing toilets • Wooden Front Doors Rulers & Religion
• Priest –kings – Ruled by talking to gods and representing them on earth • Polytheistic • Main God/Goddess – Mother Earth Mother Earth Minoan Sports
• Minoans loved sports • Built world’s first arena – Could seat 500!!! • Boxing Matches – Men • Chariot hunts - Women • Bull Leaping – Men and Women Bull Leaping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1L-8xLI_5c Fall of the Minoans
• Around 1450 B.C.E. Minoan civilization disappears! • Most likely a cataclysmic event. – Tsunami & a Volcano – Mycenaeans took them over • The Greeks claim it was the fault of the MINOTAUR! Where the Minoans the true people of Atlantis?