Around , B. Some time later, an eruption occurred. The Theran eruption was one of largest in human history — blasting more than 10 million tons of ash, gas, and rock 25 miles into the atmosphere. On Crete, strange and chaotic layers of soil, broken pottery, building materials, and even cattle bones can be found along the eroding coastline near the ancient town of Palaikastro.
With the help of soil scientist Hendrik Bruins, archaeologist Sandy McGillivray discovers that the soil also contains micro-organisms that are normally found only on the ocean floor. The only way they could have been deposited on land is by a powerful tsunami. The presence of Theran pumice that could only have been washed ashore on Crete by powerful waves seems to indicate that the volcano caused the tsunami, and carbon dating of a cow bone found in the chaotic layer of sediment confirms that it was deposited there around B.
Archaeologists are only now beginning to understand what happened in the decades that followed. One of the most remarkable clues is a small statue that was found in Palaikastro. It was discovered in an archaeological layer deposited a hundred years after the disaster. A statue made of ivory tusks, gold with a serpentinite head, a prime example of one of the great masterpieces of Minoan art, which has been vandalized, suggests ritualized violence against the Minoan culture.
Many sites, including several large palaces in central and southern Crete were burned, and many settlements were abandoned shortly thereafter. Despite its abrupt ending, the influence of Crete survived. Its vibrant culture made a major impact on the rising new regional power: the Mycenaean Greeks, who lauded King Minos and Crete in their mythology. Linear B, the Cretan writing system adopted by the Mycenaeans, would be the basis for the Greek in which the poet Homer would write his two masterpieces.
All rights reserved. Minoan art featured distinctive depictions of female forms—both divine and mortal. Perhaps the most famous is the Snake Goddess which dates to the 18th to 16th centuries B. Atlantis Origins? Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The colossal eruption on Thera Santorini in a 19th-century engraving, which occurred around the 16th century B.
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After being with Aegeus though, Aethra — as instructed by the goddess Athena in a dream — left him sleeping, and waded to an island. Here, she was possessed by Poseidon , in the night. This gave Theseus two fathers — one mortal, and one divine. And it imbued him with great strengths.
Aethra returned to Troezen , and Aegeus made ready to return to Athens. Before he did, he buried his sandals and his sword under a rock, and told Aethra that when the boy was strong enough, he would move the rock and claim these proofs of his royal parentage.
Then he could set forth for Athens. Along his journey, like other great heroes, he met with many challenges, vanquishing some of the great beasts of mythology. At long last — and at the moment he was to be poisoned by Medea, the wife of Aegeus who wanted the throne for her own son — Aegeus recognized the sandals and sword of Theseus , and knew him to be his heir.
Brave Theseus decided to stop once and for all the barbaric tribute to Crete that was demanded of the Athenians. To do this, he traded places with one of the seven young men in the sacrificial group to sail along with the seven maidens. Thus he came to Knossos , unbeknownst to King Minos.
His plan was to enter the labyrinth with the others, find the Minotaur , and slay him. She proved to be an essential ally. He revealed to her his plan, and she consulted with Daedalus , the original designer of the maze.
He instructed her to advise Theseus to go ever forward and downward, to come at last to the heart of the labyrinth, where the Minotaur dwelt. To ensure he found his way back out of the great maze, Ariadne gave him a ball of thread. He tied it to a doorpost on entering the labyrinth, and unraveled it as he went. As he set off, he promised Ariadne that if he returned victorious, he would take her with him when he left Knossos. The youths and maidens were to enter the maze unarmed, to be easy prey for the Minotaur.
Theseus had hidden a dagger under his tunic though. By some accounts he found the Minotaur asleep, but nonetheless a great struggle ensued. Theseus was victorious, and all of the youths and maidens escaped the maze with him.
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