Crete in Ancient times - Minoan sealing stones
Introduction
Crete (pronounced Criti like mini)(Gr KPHTH) is the big island in the Eastern Mediterranean 160 miles (260 Km) long stretched from east to west between the Near East (Asia) and Peloponnese. Located north of Africa is the most southern part of Europe and at a point close to the three continents (Asia, Africa, Europe).
Some researchers believe that the island was inhabited during the recent Stone Age at about 4 or 3 thousand years BC or even 6000 BC. On the island presently only fossil traces of elephants, dears, wild goats and other animals were found believed to be older than human presence. However there are many indications from ancient Greek authors and findings of some excavations that the island was inhabited before the sinking of the land (Aeigiida) that now is the Aegean Sea and the many Greek Islands that happened at any time between 30,000 and 10,000 years BC.
If this is the case, we may also deduce that later people from the near by Peloponnese were added to the natives. A very important indication is the presence on the island of Arcadian (Peloponnesians) traditions especially at the town of Arcadia or Arcades, (meaning the town consisted of smaller settlements). The Arcadians were some of the older residents of Greece.
The early inhabitants were living in caves and other naturally protected shelters. Later they began building square houses using stones, mud and clay. It consisted of a single room or a room and a corridor driving out.
Very often the floor was used for burying dead children and newborns. Some of the most important Asian and European Neolithic settlements are in Crete and especially at Phaistos and Knossos. Traces of their culture were found all over Crete and especially at Amnisos, Mesara, and Lasithi. A Meta-Near-Stone Age culture was found some decades ago at Katsampa near Heraklio (Candia) (Gr. HERAKLION). The main activity of the natives was agriculture and cattle raising.
Many pots and vases as well as ornaments were found dated from the years after the Neolithic Age and before the Bronze Age.
Once more a Greek myth, that of King Minos (Gr ΜΙΝΩΣ) and Minotaur (Gr. ΜΙΝΩΤΑΥΡΟΣ) proved to be not a myth but verbal history. A Evans did believe that and finally excavated what is now known as the Minoan Palace at Knossos and revealed what we call Minoan civilization. He suggested that period to be divided as follows:
A) Early Minoan 3000 - 2200 BC
B) Mid Minoan 2200 - 1580 BC
C) Meta Minoan 1580 - 1200 BC
However because of the fact that these 3 periods are not related to the destruction of the palace and the destruction of cities the archaeologists searchers accepted Platonas view. They prefer a division based on their findings and instead they use the following division:
Early Palace Period 2600 - 2000 BC
First Palace Period 2000 - 1700 BC (it refers to the first palaces)
Second Palace Period 1700 - 1380 BC (it refers to the reconstruction of the palaces)
Meta Palace Period 1380 - 1100 BC
Early Palace period 2600 - 2200 BC
The natives were rather small people of dark complex, dark hair and eyes. This type is presently very common in Crete and the Eastern Mediterranean basin.
The fact that we have found many agricultural settlements at Mesara the heart of Crete, but also many trading centers at both the north and south coasts, we deduce that their main activity was agriculture and trading.
Pots and "imported" material such as Silicic, Silex of Milos, volcanic material,(Liparitis from Lipares islands), were found and we understand that the people were at good communication with Cyklades, Near East, Egypt, Syria, Sicily, Malta etc. Later some coastal towns such as Mochlos, Zakro, Malia, Amnisos, have shown great marine and trade activities.
This is supported from the fact that on the island at that period (2400 - 2200) we find many different technologies and techniques and especially ceramic and pottery styles. Too many workshops were found supporting a flourishing local and external trade. At Mochlos many ornaments were found impressive of their style and construction techniques used. Several sealing stones made of ivory and steatite were found in and around Messara.
The sealing stones of that time were mostly cylindrical but also flat round like an enlarged lentil, indicating a strong interchange with neigh boring cultures at all three continents the island is in the middle. We often find the Egyptian scarab as well as Syrian animal like forms.
First Palace period 2000 - 1700 BC
Beginning the second millennium BC the first Palaces were built. They are located at distances 25-40 miles (40-60 Km). They were administrative centers, ruled by royal dynasties, which determined the political and religious life of the territory.
The Knossos and Phaistos Palaces are of similar size while the Palace at Malia 25 miles (40 Km) east of Knossos is characteristically smaller. A very distinguishing and puzzling fact is that the Cretan cities were built without any defensive fortification in contrast with what was the rule in mainland Greece. We definitely have to deduce that ancient Cretans were living in Peace, and Law and order was ruling over the island. Somehow they did not face the dangers of invaders from the sea or they did have other means to cope with such a danger. Samples of writing on some Sealing Stones at Phaistos were identified as Linear A and Linear B. Linear B was deciphered in 1952 and is believed to be an Achaean dialect of Greek, while tentative deciphering of Linear A in 1957 is thought to be Arcadian. During that period the island suffered of three major physical catastrophes caused of fires and earthquakes, until the Palaces were destroyed at 1700 BC.
Second Palace period 1700 - 1380 BC
This period begins with the reconstruction of the cities and the Palaces and often it is referred as the "Second Palaces Period". The Palaces are now reconstructed bigger and brighter with extensive wall paintings and completely new technique and style. They are labyrinthine in concept, multi-storey with perfect operational organization. They might very well be considered as the prototype of modern western buildings. More specifically the Knossos Palace is a 240,000 sq ft (22000 sq m) building with 1300 distinctive apartments divided for the administration, religious rituals, the store of goods and secure store of treasures, the settlement of personnel, the workshops, and the settlement of the Royal Family. The building was supported with excellent support facilities and especially water supply and storage, baths, washing facilities, sewage and waste disposal. It seems that first was constructed the Palace at Zakro and followed the others at a total of twelve. They are located at a distance of 7-10 miles (12-15 Km) apart and it seems that this was the administrative division of the land. During the second part of this period (1580 - 1450 BC) we find the Minoan civilization at its peak. The excellent administrative system, but also the flourishing of trade and the marine operations to all destinations provided the wealth for a great civilization.
We have found several sculptures of that period on obsidian, veined marble, alabaster, and rock crystal. Many Sealing Stones with engraved ships indicate the power of the Mariners, as well as similar symbols on ceramics found at various places from Egypt to Greek coasts and Syria to Sicily.
The disk of Phaistos (one of the most important find in the world), belong obviously in the first period of new palace period and is related to religious issues.
Fires and earthquakes were not the only enemies of the Minoan civilization. At about 1450 BC all the Minoan centers at Crete were suddenly destroyed especially those at the seacoast. Scientists locate the near by Thera volcano, (near to island Santorini), eruption at about 1525-1520 BC that resulted to the sudden destruction of the Minoan civilization. The eruption was calculated to be 4-5 times stronger than the Krakatoa eruption at Indonesia on 1883.
Following the destruction, the population massively moved to the Greek mainland and the Aegean islands (1500 BC). It is calculated that the Palace was finally destroyed, by another earthquake on 1400 BC.
Many scientists claim that the destruction of Minoan civilization is related to the lost Atlantis, a rumor coming from the ancient Egyptian priests who according Platon were heard by Solon.
Meta Palace period 1380 - 1100 BC
During that period the Achaeans (an other Greek tribe) immigrate massively to the island and bring along their own civilization. This is verified as we have very strong indications of Mycenaean influence on the arts.
The art of engraving stones for identification and sealing purposes has its origins at the Early Bronze Age and perhaps even before the Early Palace period. In the beginning the artists were curving symbols and scenes on soft stones and other material like steatite (soapstone) and ivory. Later they were using harder stones, agate, rock crystal, and quartz.
The engraved sealing stone had the character of personal identification and the symbol or the scene engraved had a direct relation with the owner. In this respect the selected themes for curving, were from the daily life of, the and were referring to the occupation or other aspects of the owner. In order to keep them all the time with them, they were wearing them on their neck and later we find them in rings and other ornaments. Their form was cylindrical or round flat like an enlarged lentil at the beginning of the Bronze Age. The motives engraved were geometrical linear symbols, human faces, animals and animal symbols as well as scenes from the daily life.
Any specific aspect of the intended owner, were engraved such as hunting scenes for a hunter, ships for the mariners, or religious scenes for rulers and priests. The need for more and more unique carvings had driven the artists to engrave more and more animals on various poses and activities, including fish and mythical animals. Although there were no lions on ancient Crete such an engraving was popular since it symbolizes power and sovereignty. The Egyptian scarab was symbol of longevity and immortality. Later there was some shifting to war scenes (Mycenaean influence).
At the archaeological museum of Heraklio of Crete there is a large collection of Minoan Sealing Stones along with all other Minoan artifacts.