Day Nine -- A Minoan Day

We didn't set our alarms this morning, but jet lag got us up with the sun. We were headed for Knossos Palace, the Minoan archaeological site that dates back to 2,000 B.C. An archaeologist named Sir Arthur Evans excavated much of the site and rebuilt some of it. According to Greek mythology the Minotaur lived in the labyrinth below. We weren't the first people through the gate but we beat all the buses. It is an extraordinary site to see.

 

Peacocks are all around strutting and screaming.

 

Replicas of some of the frescoes have been placed to give you an idea of what it would have looked like.

 

It is a rich agricultural area and the hills around are lined with olive trees.

 

It is amazing to think that such a well-defined society lived here over 4,000 years ago.

 

Before it got hot we headed back to Heraklion. We don't want to go on a long drive today. We decided to learn more about the Minoans and so we went to the Archaeological Museum of Crete.  Matt is a student of mythology and so he was very interested in the connection to the Minotaur.

 

He is also fascinated by the images of snakes and the fact that in ancient times the serpent was largely associated with the feminine and was not a symbol of evil.

 

I am most fascinated with the rituals of death. Here is a sample of someone buried in a jar.

 

Later they were buried in a larynx in the fetal position.

 

We left the museum in search of lunch. We passed the lion fountain...

 

the church that claims to have the skull of St. Titus...

 

before we settled on a seafood taverna. Matt enjoyed three large squid.

 

We spent the rest of the day taking it easy. Tomorrow we meet the rest of the fam in Santorini.