As a Minoan archaeologist, I would like to clarify that Sir Arthur Evans did not stumble across Knossos, nor did the site beg the British archaeologist to excavate it, as presented in this show. Excavations at the palace had begun many years earlier, in 1877, led by the Greek archaeologist Minos Kalokairinos, but were stopped by the Turkish authorities who controlled the area at the time. Evans, having learned of an important site there, bought the rural property where the palace is located, using both his economic and Englishman privileges.
Appreciate your share and the tone/manner in which it is stated. There's History, and then there's the *"Mainstream Academia, largely Mainstream Archaeologists Paradigm"* I make this point, not in a Judgemental accusation, rather in a defining of relative points of the subject for clarity, just as you did in providing your points of facts. I've come to realize that "Mainstream Academics" don't follow the "Standards of Science and Research" Mainstream Academia uses a 19th Century Theory as their greater fact foundation, from which they establish their 🧬 near Timeline and Paradigm. They then use this as a "tool of measure", and that which does not fit is overwhelmingly ignored, accused/dismissed, and/or discarded. The "Standards of Science and Research" include the following: (Mind the s to be fully open and free of an predetermined: personal or professional Beliefs, Theories, Opinions, and using all available relevant data/artifacts/resources, allowing for the proven Research Methodologies and Statistical Formulas to extract the greater facts. (which can then be presented for Peer Review and ultimately Journal Published). Those whom follows w these Statements would be the "Authentic Academics". This defining come from my education, experience, and degrees which are in colleges of: "Sociology, History, and Journalism". I have no fears with regards to my perspective, as I do adhere to the "Standards of Science and Research" (I remain amazed that such a vast amount of money and energies were used to build a Museum in Britain dedicated to displaying the "treating a Theory as Fact" and Applying the Darwin Theory to Modern Humans, "as if it were Fact supported by Peer Review". I offer a thought:. It is December, 2022, and we have seen vast Genetic/DNA studies, outcome descriptions, and none have established the "19th Century Theory" as fact. As a matter of fact, one has been summarized, including a statement that: "Humans appear to be a result of Intervention rather than Evolution" ... and the works of (Dr David Reich, Geneticist, Harvard, "DNA Mapping of Migrations" has proven that *"Not All, are Out of Africa",* repeated 3 times, Peer Reviewed, and Journal Published) Best regards, Beth Bartlett (Behavioralist)
A tragic reminder that life is often more mundane than that of a poet's fancy. May I ask sir, if the thought of the Minoan's sacrificing human blood (even without a fanciful Minotaur) was so objectionable to those who had been swept up by Evans' images of an elite collective, how could they have reconciled the fact that the putative King Minos supposedly sacrificed fourteen children every seven years? Could it be possible that Evans' contemporaries had relegated the Minotaur back into the world of myth to demonstrate their own civility?
@@koriw1701 Great question. The truth is that much of what is archaeological fact has been denied by archaeologists following Evans' trends because the "discovery" of the Minoan civilization was highly politicized. This prehistoric civilization was co-opted by the English and others in their quest to create an image that Europe had always been superior/civilized and that, at the origins of "current European civilization" was a society as civilized, peaceful, and noble as the Minoan. So baby-eating cannibals don't fit well with Evans' idea of a peaceful, morally superior society. But the truth is, as Marinatos says, you don't build a Bronze Age civilization with flowers. The Minoans were real people and it is necessary to approach the evidence with a critical eye and free of preconceptions. Now regarding the evidence of cannibalism. There is evidence of a ritual at Anemospilia, as the building collapsed during the sacrifice of a young man. Period. The stuff used in this specific event (dagger, the vessel for collecting blood, and even the priest's ring made of meteoric iron) are all in the Herakleion archaeological museum and you can check it out. Very interesting. As for the bones of children, it is difficult to prove that they were killed for consumption. The marks on the bones are very suspicious, but they can also be a way of treating the body after death and preparing it for funeral rites. I do not reject the idea that a religious crisis followed the Thera eruption and that radical new movements may have appeared. Again, we need to be objective and honest with what evidence we have. I refuse to deny and reject the possibility that cannibalism or human sacrifice could have happened based solely on the old-fashioned idea that Minoans were peaceful and would never do so. To think that way is unscientific. But before also fully embracing the idea of human sacrifice and consumption, a solid body of evidence needs to be gathered, and so far there is very little evidence. I don't find it difficult to imagine such a sacrifice/ religious crisis scenario. The eruption of Thera was a tremendous event, and for people of the bronze age, there were no differences between the physical and supernatural worlds. So, the catastrophe probably had a very powerful symbolism, and some desperate people may have resorted to unorthodox practices of human sacrifice, no doubt. But there is no evidence of systematic human sacrifice controlled by the authorities, like in the case of the Aztecs. Could it be that perhaps the description of human sacrifices to the minotaur was a vague reminder of the tragic events that took place on the island after the eruption? Perhaps. But, again, proving this is very difficult, yet an interesting idea! Now, I find intriguing the point you raise about the "coincidence" between the myth describing human sacrifice and we now have some evidence of this practice. There are also other theories that propose continuity between classical antiquity and the Bronze Age, and you can check studies on how later Greek gods were already worshipped in the Bronze Age, but continuity is an idea very difficult to trace, precisely because of the disappearance of writing during the Greek Dark Ages, after the collapse of the Bronze Age. It is important to emphasize that Minos did not exist or his existence is not proven yet as a historical character. So far, he is a mythological character and "Minos" seems to be a title of authority, like "Anax" in Mycenaean Greece. Even more interesting than discovering the full origins of the Minotaur myth is understanding the role the story played for the Greeks later on: For them, Crete was a very ancient power and a vast civilization that cast shadows on their ancestors. Because Theseus was an Athenian hero who would have gone to Crete and defeated the monster symbol of that civilization, the myth was used by the Greeks as an element of their identity and proof that their ancestors had defeated the ancient powers, and used as motivation, for example, in the wars against the Persians. I hope to have helped elucidate a few things. Best.
@@johnnyjericho8472 for whom? Are you upset? Did I hurt your feeling? I apologize. But, he used his privileges to win the dispute for the excavation of the site. Facts are Facts. Get over it.
Bethany Hughes and whover did the audio/soundtrack deserve awards for this documentary. Videographer also. The whole crew for this doc deserves many kudos, IMHO.
So many of these documentary channels haven't yet figured out that half the reason we watch these is the sleep-aid element when we aren't watching to learn.
The presenter's narration is terrific, and the photography is excellent. The sites, the artifacts, the latest scholarship, the unanswered questions, and the most interesting speculations on a fascinating culture. This documentary is the total package. Bravo.
Was originally on BBC - I'm thinking early 1990s -- if not slightly before. Whoever uploaded this should've posted full credits, etc. But, YES! This is timeless & excellent as are all of Bettany Hughes' productions - the on-camera host & researcher She's now about 56. Everything she does is flawless.
@@SaaharaGlaude Yes it is! She does deserve a lot of the credit. Her intelligence and beauty contribute greatly to the overall effect. The BBC have the best resources there are for making documentaries, including human resources and skill, so they produce the best in the world. They've always been the best, because in most ways they were the inventors and pioneers of the concept. Now though, due to proliferation of technology, there've been some others to challenge them. Not a lot, comparatively speaking, but the number will likely increase. Small affordable drones are a real game changer in the costs of production. So here we have Bettany, with all the resources of the BBC. It all combines to be just golden! 🗺 🕌 ⛰ 🏛 ⛲ 🌍
My second time watching and enjoying this wonderful presentation. My wife and I visited Santorini and the thought that Crete was so close (and at age 75) not being able to travel to that island was such a disappointment. Thanks again for a lovely visual feast.
Lets keep in mind that "she" is just an actor reading out a script. The script is written, edited and approved by others that we dont know of. And its "their" theories that are being projected. It is notable that they are emphasizing that although the Minoan civilization was (perhaps) the first in Europe, "it clearly borrowed knowledge, technology, etc from its obviously more advanced middle east neighbours"....This is something that a certain school of though is persisting with, trying to convince the world that knowledge, alphabet, numbers, etc, all came from the east and in particular Phoenicians and Messopotamia, (as ground zeo)...and thus implying that there was nothing before that...
I think it is necessary to explain well the events that followed after the eruption. People tend to overestimate its impact. Minoan civilization was not (!) destroyed by the eruption, as it continued to exist for centuries after the catastrophe. The eruption did not happen overnight. There were earthquakes, and people evacuated their homes. Some even returned to cities, like Akrotiri, to collect their belongings. You won't find dead bodies there, as in Pompeii. They went back and even tried to put some walls up again. When the volcano began to erupt, people got on boats and fled, and probably many went to Crete. This indeed may have caused some turmoil, as a migratory wave is never something simple. The tsunami wasn't enough to level the island, but it sure was something to watch. The noise of the eruption was heard even in Egypt. But, the climatic crisis and food scarcity caused by the volcano would not last more than two years and the Minoans stood firm and some settlements even show signs of prosperity. The greatest consequence would have been a religious drama or a deep disappointment with the deities since the natural world was for them the supernatural world, and vice-versa. So religious changes certainly took place, on a scale not yet fully understood. Some indicative signs are the Palaikastro Kouros, the two instances where apparently human sacrifice took place, and MOST importantly, changes in burial practices.
And just to clarify, dating the eruption is a huge problem. Nevertheless, if it happened around 1600 BCE, the Minoans lasted another 150 years following the conventional date for their collapse in 1450 BCE. If it happened in 1540 BCE, they endured more eleven decades. Not such an abrupt end.
What’s just as amazing as this wonderful story of the Minoans and the ancients activities, is our host Bettany’s incredible makeover very nice. Thank you
She does toss in a disclaimer, after the fact, that the story she is presenting is theory, but since the majority of the drama is presents the theory as if it were fact, this is just more historical fiction portraying one theory and ignoring the many other possibilities.
I was an Anthropology* major and that's one of the earliest things I remember from class. Many of the things I had always thought were factual, were truly theories.
I enjoyed this immensely. A high quality presentation of the fascinating Minoan civilization. My understanding is improved, and I am edified for having watched it.
She doesn’t make it very clear, but only the script called Linear B was discovered to be used to write an early form of Greek. The Linear A script has not yet been deciphered because the language it’s used to write in has not been identified yet, indeed it might be a lost one.
It sounded pretty clear to me that Linear A has resisted attempts at decoding. If it is a lost language, more's the pity. Even were it a grocery list, it would be fascinating to see what a Minoan household would have needed to run smoothly!
Linear A and Linear B are the same script used in different ways for different languages, sort of like how the Latin script is used for everything from Latin to English to French to Vietnamese, or how cuneiform was used for Sumerian, Elamite, Akkadian, and Hittite. The script was invented by the Minoans for their (undeciphered) language, then adopted by the Mycenaeans to write their early form of Greek.
@@hussnedubaishi7288 What a dumb comment. Nothing is being hidden by anyone. You watch too many fake documentaries, made by crooks who are trying to hook you into right wing ideas.
This is very interesting but I long to hear more about the Minoan people, their lives, culture and art, their style, their sports and the equality of their system. For example they had no living quarters for slaves, everyone lived in very admirable dwellings and had a high standard of living. Their artwork was unparalleled, highly developed, and very free and creative. The women seen to have been beautiful and elegantly attired. That they were master seafarers and were great traders, their goods being highly prized with those with whom they traded. I would like to see more along these lines.
I've watched this video 4 times. I will probably watch it again after some time. It's wonderful. I keep searching for and watching historical documentaries made by Bettany Hughs. I've become a fan. So serious and professional and yet so exciting
yes i like her to but she is not that accurate some times. I forgive for not researching my peoples civilisation and culture which is 65,00 years , Might wake her up to what a civilisation is. I do not consider a civilisation based on ignorance and superstition to be any kind of civilisation. The Persian`s where just a bunch genocidal nut cases, The roans where just a bunch of ignorant arseholes , Otherwise christianity would not have ben able to infest and then kill the roam civilisation.
This is top quality presentation, the hostess being knowledgeable, invested, and a clear expert in the field. So entrancing to learn about this culture from one of the first civilizations after the flood (and tower of Babel).
I think the best part of this for me was as she was going over the tablets and gave the names of oxen. Sounds like names we give our animals today. Lol
I’m deeply grateful my 20 years wonderful experience living and studying old civilization of Greek as a archaeologist as well as hums being ! This wonderful country had enriched my life
@@cruisepaige english is obviously not their first language. the world doesn't surround around one language, maybe they speak greek and other languages. it's none of your business
The Minotaur My-knot-tore Mine-oh-tor King mine-gnos King my gnosis King mine-owes Slay the beast within. The beast reality. Of sexûaliły 8:16 listen to her words. Followed by the white surf to bring to mind …. What came next. Shlemen. Listen close The starters “pistol” has been fired. Shlemem and peetree. Arthur evans. 48 yrs old A-thor a-tor. Æthr 48. 4-8’s for ate. 8888 12:46 (
It’s a compelling hypothesis, but the eruption of Thera was around 1,650 BC, not 1,530. The resulting volcanic winter would have had a severely negative effect on agricultural production for one to several years, probably in much of the Northern Hemisphere. It’s unlikely that the people on Krete were still starving from this 200 years later, the archaeological date of the destruction. To me, the purposefully damaged, clearly Greek Kouros, and the other evidence of destruction more likely suggests the island people’s hostility towards the takeover by the Mykeneans, perhaps during the battles to accomplish just that. No one gives up their Gods, wives and children, and land without a fight.
Notice that "Archaeologists" overwhelmingly act independent of consulting with experts in the fields of: Geology, Geophysics, Genetics, Sociology, Linguistics, and Ancient Language/Writings. I suggest that Modern Archaeologists aka Mainstream Archaeologists (20th Century to date) have written far more Myth as their Fact story, than all of the Ancients ever did. I expect that in the very near future, facts will emerge at a rapid rate and the entire Mainstream Academic/Archaeology Paradigm will be set aside, and quickly buried, as it is profoundly inaccurate. This need not be an opportunity for judging individual Academics, rather an opportunity to remind them how w far they strayed from the "Standards of Science and Research" (a theory may not be used as a fact) (the Museum for Darwin demonstrating how Many dern Humans, ... well that's one they really can gain an observing of the potential pitfalls of the excessive regarding the *"Modern-Human Ego Mind"* Beth (Sociologist/Behavioralist)
@@bethbartlett5692 its a problem in many fields. Not consulting experts in other fields that are studying the same area. The other problem is that romanticisms and hypothesis posed as theories often go unchallenged until the proponent (or generation there of) are retired or deceased. Scientific progress lags behind human ego.
Bettany gives only one possible hypothesis. True, highly debatable and all the more unprovable. But such is the process of interpretation, especially in the history of art, where it is often purposeful fabrications or even lies, sometimes poems only loosely connected to the reality of a work of art. As an atheist, I would of course not have thought to blame the gods for some debacle, and as a realist I would have been driven to look for sources of sustenance, in Crete of course, in the sea, where after washing a lot of organic material into the waves, life at all levels must have expanded...so perhaps the octopuses would have come to be seen as a kind of icon of survival. Tom Bettany uvádí jen jednu z možných hypotéz. Pravda, silně diskutabilní a o to víc nedokazatelnou. Ale takový už je proces interpretací, zejména v dějinách umění, kde se často jedná o účelové výmysly či dokonce lži, jindy o básně jen volně spojené s realitou nějakého uměleckého díla.. Jako ateistu by mne pochopitelně nenapadlo z nějakého debaklu vinit bohy a jako realistu by mne to hnalo hledat zdroje obživy, na Krétě pochopitelně v moři, kde po spláchnutí množství organického materiálu do vln musel život na všech úrovních expandovat...takže možná i na ty chobotnice by došlo jako na svého způsobu ikonu přežití. Tom
@@cattymajiv You can see that in such a rambling comment? Documentary film-making has traditionally triggered controversy, often due to an evolving consensus on the topic, production limitations and editing issues, and other reasons. Scholars are continuously debating points. I can remember when one of my university professors was engaged with his colleagues in a debate over the translation of _a single word_ in an ancient Latin text. This documentary was nicely produced and highly entertaining. I doubt if you could use it as a source for an undergraduate research project, however.
Regarding 6:29, Bettany Hughes description of Queen Pasiphae's so-called "interview" with the the Cretan Bull was actually her bestiality copulation known in Latin as "coitus more ferarum".
At minute 57:20 it is said in the video that the people who came from Crete said about them that they came from a place called Kapto, and in turn it says that the place Crete is called Kaptor, worth checking
almost every human society/culture has done human sacrifices almost without exception. often its not explicitly called such or wild moral justifications are made for such, but yeah its amusing when scholars seemed shocked to find it. I think the problem is that these people idealize the culture before they know everything and so human sacrifice doesn't fit into the mental image they made of the "perfect" society.
I started thinking that a lot of these behaviors might be related with OCD tendencies, the disorder is highly driven by "rituals" or "sacrifices" to avoid "catastrophe"
@@An-kw3ec but many, if not all, rituals and sacrifices aren't to means to keep order of its own accord but rather seen as appeasing a person (whether spirit or deity). Its that when something bad happens its because someone willed and actualized it. This isn't really an OCD thing to appease a person but creates a sense of a personal relationship or connection to the spirit or deity. And so the rituals and ceremonies are more like having a conversation and not putting a room in order. Sure there is a stress on ding things right and in proper order, but i think much of that is a means of remembering the ceremonies over time especially when there is no writing, audio or video to record it into perpetuity. But even now days, even within secular societies have rituals. Like new years, valentine's day, 4th of july, Halloween and such. I wouldn't say they are done because of any sense of OCD but we perform them every year and often without much change from previous years. Its a way for us to communicate with each other and build connection in the very least.
A correction.. Theseas-us did not slaughter the Minotaur but killed him with his bare hands. According to tradition, he used the Pagration (Παγκράτιον) technique. Pagration was a martial art and the most important (and most violent) sport in the Olympic Games. For the ancient Greeks, Theseas-us and Herakles (he killed the lion of Nemea in the same way), are considered the inventors of Pagration.
I can't be the only one who noticed prominent nips throughout this documentary. I'd like the thank the editors and producers who allowed the nips into the final cut.
Minoans are still live today in Crete in in the eastern corner of the island They went there after the invasion of the Greeks and keep their language untill the classical times
in recent times i dont usually watch in one go much works this is diff,when she said''dared to venture back down to the lowlands''i found me self turning for the next page
My first thought after the eruption on Thera, the tsunami and the ash covering the local islands was the land is no longer able to provide food for the survivors. Later she talks about cannibalism. But before that she explained the change in the pottery with octopi all over them. My thoughts were since there is no food on land they will turn to the sea so I thought the change in the pottery decorations was simply proving their diet was more from the sea now than it had been. In no way did I see that as an indication that it was a religious change in what god(s) they worshipped. Pots found in their homes so would have sat on their dinner tables. Not pots found in or around shrines, temples or places of worship. But who am I?
"Pots found in their homes so would have sat on their dinner tables" Would have been (in your mind) =/= was found in that place. Were they found on tables, or are you making this assumption that they were? Making an assumption based on other cultures, especially later ones is not necessarily the greatest idea when considering history.
Possibly both. She also talks later on about the shift from away from the female goddess figurines to a male boy god figurine. Though I'm sure the truth is much more complex than that. The shift in gods could also have come from the influence of refugees or invaders.
Behind every myth there is hidden the truth! The Labyrinthine was the palace itself because of its immensity and the Minotaur was the bull, taking part in the bull-leaping games… When the Athenians would take place and be killed by the bull, the myth was that the Minotaur are them. As For Evans, he certainly had information about Kalikairinos and the area he had axcavated years earlier… One thing about Evans I admire, is that he never gave into the pressure from England to take all the discoveries back to the British Museum but he left it all in Crete and for that, was never allowed to go back to his homeland. At least that’s what I had read somewhere and I hope it is the truth and not a myth!…
Μαρία , δυστυχώς Evans πήρε πολλά αντικείμενα πίσω στην Αγγλία. Ττον θρόνο της Κνωσού, για παράδειγμα... Το μουσείο Ashmolean (Oxford) είναι γεμάτο με πολύ σημαντικά μινωικά πράγματα.
@@troianoleonardo The land he excavated, he bought out right those Artifacts regarding property laws, were his. If the Throne was on the 5.5 Acres he owned, he could do with it whatever he pleased.
@@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164 oh you got it removed. Happy? My wish remains. Its now been weeks of online harassment by animals for making a comment on history of archaeology and I genuinely wish you all go to hell.
I like looking at a beautiful woman as much as the next bloke, but her outfit is just so out of place as a presenter in a historic documentary. Even tourists wouldn't go to these archaeological sites in that dress. I'm sorry, but it does take away from the credibility of the program. Strange that she put on pants and a trenchcoat when up on the mountaintop in the wind and fog.
@@Colin-Fenix I was waiting for the swimsuit edition of ancient Minoan archaeology. Hopefully, some of the best looking hosts and hostesses can contribute with their physical presence. 😉
I gave my wife two concert tickets to my favorite band for her birthday, which i ultimatly enjoiyed with my best buddy.... is that kinda the modern equivalent to poseidon gifting an unique beautiful bull to minos and expecting him to sacrafice this gift back in poseidons honor... did poseidon even tell minos?
minos didn´t pray for a bull to sacrafice back to poseidon, he prayed for a beatiful bull... then he received a unique bull so he probably had his former best bull sacraficed in return who would sacrafice the gift you just received? just exchange the bull for car so if some gifts you a brand new one ur supposed to scrap that one and keep ur old lemon, yea makes sense
Great doc, remember this as a kid. I luved Bettany. She's beautiful, intelligent and good presenter. I think this was early to mid 2000's. Just bit confused with the language script cause Linear A has never been deciphered. But truly a wonder of the bronze age with many great myths.
Mayhaps if the minoans were more warlike than we suppose that central court could have been a great spot for military ceremonies, parades, speeches etc.
Minoan Civilzation probably was connected to the wider Eastern Mediterranean via sea routes. At any rate, island nations significantly get substantial protein from the sea. The sea is an excellent highway, even for that remote era, for trade (and piracy and war). Minoan civilization was clearly rich at it's height, but those riches probably came from sea trade with near and distant lands.
Anyone aware of any of Bettany's more current works, available on TH-cam? If so, Please share, Thanks! I always enjoy the documentaries Hosted and Narriated by Bettany Hughes. (Although my perspective is not aligned with the "Mainstream Academic 19th Century Theory based Paradigm"), Bettany clearly has a more Realized Insight and I imagine by now, with a number of "Authentuc Peer Reviewed" Studies findings, she could easily transform her Perspective and so enjoy a whole other level of Explorations and Discoveries, hopefully she already has. Beth Bartlett Sociologist/Behavioralist and Historian
I really tried, wanted to hear what is said here, but in the end…sorry that music and sound effects were too much for me,,,might try tomorrow with captions and sound off.
I found it interesting that there was a reference to the Mother Goddess in this mainstream broadcast. There are many references in antiquity to the association between female divinity and snakes, and struggles between patriarchal (Indo-European steppe peoples) and matriarchal (descendants of Anatolian Neolithic farmers) religions and cults. cf. Perseus and Medusa, Apollo and Pythia, and of course the echo of the Attana Myth in the Garden of Eden story, Prior to the bronze age collapse, based on this doco and what else I've read, that boys were sacrificed to the Earth Goddess in this part of the world, and virgin girls were sacrificed by Mycenean Greeks (cf Agamemnon and Iphigenia).
Wasn't that the Greeks who called a people making this purple dye "phoenicians"? So, were the ancestors of Greeks, minoans, related to the Phoenicians? Or, rather, the latter ones learned from minoans the art of making the purple dye. It's them who spread around the Mediterranean about 3k years ago, called the sea people - Phoenicians, Philistines, Cartagenes.
One theory is that then Minoans left Egypt due to the invasion from the South, which might have been the Nubian, who may well have been allies of the Atlanteans, who according to Plato, conquered Egypt. The Nubian women had triplets corresponding to the will of Poseidon, and the face of the Sphinx seemed to be recast to the features of an African. Ergo, Kilroy was here. Linear A is said to be Egyptian shorthand, and Linear B is said to be based on the Greek language.
Crete. Birthplace of Zeus. The theater at Knossos where Odysseus saw enacted the deeds of Greeks at Troy. An overpowering upsurge of erotic energy from the earth, chthonic force of Zeus that so overcame us at Gornya we fucked madly standing in the ruins. Crete, whose natives to the south are the largest most handsome men on Earth! Crete is magical. I wish I could have lived in the only paradise Earth has had.
there are many stories of a special bull, such as in the one where Zeus turned himself into a magnificent white bull and carried the young Europa upon his back across the waters to Crete, and there amid copious amounts of coitus the one day king Minos was conceived.
greek had so many cultures in the past 6000+ years and they had dark ages and unbelievable comebacks till today. greek have shaped practically the entire world, there is no language on earth which has not opted thousands of greek words in their language. culturally greek have shaped the world like no other nation. and on top of all greek have also ruled the biggest empires on earth including the roman empire and have spread the light in the darkest corner of earth. the most succesful ethnic group ever in existence
It's interesting to see this surface again, 8 - 10 years after it first aired. Most of this story is speculation. There is no record of what really happened there. A lot of the frescoes and small statues were found to have been made by Evan's hired artists to sell to museums (we do have a record of that). We also know now that the wave that hit the main island when Thera blew up was at least 100' (30.48 m) by the deposits of debris found that high up on the hills. It wasn't just a volcanic blast, but the core of the volcano, along with the middle part of Thera plunged into the sea, causing a huge explosion when it hit the sea water. Other than scientific facts all one can do is consider the speculations as possible. There are other theories. I don't agree with the idea of a religious war based on three or four broken statuettes. The fires could easily have been due to the fallout from the volcano, although that's another speculation. There is one little statue from Crete that has been analyzed and found to be fake, made during the time Evans was there. Evans also used concrete in place of stone when rebuilding the "palace" at Knossos. This is a fun video to watch, and I still enjoy it, but it is not the "latest scholarship" as someone else commented.
Don't think that "Human Sacrifice" wouldn't be used in our culture today. I believe that if people are led to believe that it would change the outcome of disaster, we wouldn't sacrifice as many other people as we believe would do the job. After all, we are still human beings.
Human sacrifice was so normalised in recent centuries that there was an economic theory linking the cost of an engineering project (dam, bridge, canal, railway, etc) with the anticipated number of workers' deaths. Even now when we have workplace health and safety regulations, it is still considered normal that humans die because they don't have the money to buy food or life-saving medications, even though the things they need exist in abundance. Human lives are sacrificed for other humans' wealth every day.
I can't help but notice an outstanding feature of all these pictures of the "Keftiu" made by the Egyptians: they are not white-skinned. So, what color were the Minoans, really?
"The most outstanding differences were observed in haplogroups J2 and R1, with the predominance of haplogroup R lineages in the Lasithi Plateau and of haplogroup J lineages in the more accessible regions of the island. Y-STR-based analyses demonstrated the close affinity that R1a1 chromosomes from the Lasithi Plateau shared with those from the Balkans, but not with those from lowland eastern Crete." The elite or the founders of the Minoan civilisation was white but there was mixed population there, obviously. They were related to modern day Balkan people which descend from the Pelasgians, also the Varna and Vinca cultures.
The Mycenaean ship discovered off of the coast of Turkey, had a ballast of pure copper ingots ionically examined and determined to be from Lake Superior, Michigan.
As a Minoan archaeologist, I would like to clarify that Sir Arthur Evans did not stumble across Knossos, nor did the site beg the British archaeologist to excavate it, as presented in this show. Excavations at the palace had begun many years earlier, in 1877, led by the Greek archaeologist Minos Kalokairinos, but were stopped by the Turkish authorities who controlled the area at the time. Evans, having learned of an important site there, bought the rural property where the palace is located, using both his economic and Englishman privileges.
Appreciate your share and the tone/manner in which it is stated.
There's History, and then there's the *"Mainstream Academia, largely Mainstream Archaeologists Paradigm"*
I make this point, not in a Judgemental accusation, rather in a defining of relative points of the subject for clarity, just as you did in providing your points of facts.
I've come to realize that "Mainstream Academics" don't follow the "Standards of Science and Research"
Mainstream Academia uses a 19th Century Theory as their greater fact foundation, from which they establish their 🧬 near Timeline and Paradigm. They then use this as a "tool of measure", and that which does not fit is overwhelmingly ignored, accused/dismissed, and/or discarded.
The "Standards of Science and Research" include the following:
(Mind the s to be fully open and free of an predetermined: personal or professional Beliefs, Theories, Opinions, and using all available relevant data/artifacts/resources, allowing for the proven Research Methodologies and Statistical Formulas to extract the greater facts. (which can then be presented for Peer Review and ultimately Journal Published).
Those whom follows w these Statements would be the "Authentic Academics".
This defining come from my education, experience, and degrees which are in colleges of: "Sociology, History, and Journalism".
I have no fears with regards to my perspective, as I do adhere to the "Standards of Science and Research"
(I remain amazed that such a vast amount of money and energies were used to build a Museum in Britain dedicated to displaying the "treating a Theory as Fact" and Applying the Darwin Theory to Modern Humans, "as if it were Fact supported by Peer Review".
I offer a thought:. It is December, 2022, and we have seen vast Genetic/DNA studies, outcome descriptions, and none have established the "19th Century Theory" as fact.
As a matter of fact, one has been summarized, including a statement that: "Humans appear to be a result of Intervention rather than Evolution"
... and the works of (Dr David Reich, Geneticist, Harvard, "DNA Mapping of Migrations" has proven that *"Not All, are Out of Africa",* repeated 3 times, Peer Reviewed, and Journal Published)
Best regards,
Beth Bartlett
(Behavioralist)
A tragic reminder that life is often more mundane than that of a poet's fancy.
May I ask sir, if the thought of the Minoan's sacrificing human blood (even without a fanciful Minotaur) was so objectionable to those who had been swept up by Evans' images of an elite collective, how could they have reconciled the fact that the putative King Minos supposedly sacrificed fourteen children every seven years? Could it be possible that Evans' contemporaries had relegated the Minotaur back into the world of myth to demonstrate their own civility?
@@koriw1701 Great question. The truth is that much of what is archaeological fact has been denied by archaeologists following Evans' trends because the "discovery" of the Minoan civilization was highly politicized. This prehistoric civilization was co-opted by the English and others in their quest to create an image that Europe had always been superior/civilized and that, at the origins of "current European civilization" was a society as civilized, peaceful, and noble as the Minoan. So baby-eating cannibals don't fit well with Evans' idea of a peaceful, morally superior society.
But the truth is, as Marinatos says, you don't build a Bronze Age civilization with flowers. The Minoans were real people and it is necessary to approach the evidence with a critical eye and free of preconceptions.
Now regarding the evidence of cannibalism. There is evidence of a ritual at Anemospilia, as the building collapsed during the sacrifice of a young man. Period. The stuff used in this specific event (dagger, the vessel for collecting blood, and even the priest's ring made of meteoric iron) are all in the Herakleion archaeological museum and you can check it out. Very interesting. As for the bones of children, it is difficult to prove that they were killed for consumption. The marks on the bones are very suspicious, but they can also be a way of treating the body after death and preparing it for funeral rites. I do not reject the idea that a religious crisis followed the Thera eruption and that radical new movements may have appeared.
Again, we need to be objective and honest with what evidence we have. I refuse to deny and reject the possibility that cannibalism or human sacrifice could have happened based solely on the old-fashioned idea that Minoans were peaceful and would never do so. To think that way is unscientific. But before also fully embracing the idea of human sacrifice and consumption, a solid body of evidence needs to be gathered, and so far there is very little evidence. I don't find it difficult to imagine such a sacrifice/ religious crisis scenario. The eruption of Thera was a tremendous event, and for people of the bronze age, there were no differences between the physical and supernatural worlds. So, the catastrophe probably had a very powerful symbolism, and some desperate people may have resorted to unorthodox practices of human sacrifice, no doubt. But there is no evidence of systematic human sacrifice controlled by the authorities, like in the case of the Aztecs. Could it be that perhaps the description of human sacrifices to the minotaur was a vague reminder of the tragic events that took place on the island after the eruption? Perhaps. But, again, proving this is very difficult, yet an interesting idea!
Now, I find intriguing the point you raise about the "coincidence" between the myth describing human sacrifice and we now have some evidence of this practice. There are also other theories that propose continuity between classical antiquity and the Bronze Age, and you can check studies on how later Greek gods were already worshipped in the Bronze Age, but continuity is an idea very difficult to trace, precisely because of the disappearance of writing during the Greek Dark Ages, after the collapse of the Bronze Age. It is important to emphasize that Minos did not exist or his existence is not proven yet as a historical character. So far, he is a mythological character and "Minos" seems to be a title of authority, like "Anax" in Mycenaean Greece.
Even more interesting than discovering the full origins of the Minotaur myth is understanding the role the story played for the Greeks later on: For them, Crete was a very ancient power and a vast civilization that cast shadows on their ancestors. Because Theseus was an Athenian hero who would have gone to Crete and defeated the monster symbol of that civilization, the myth was used by the Greeks as an element of their identity and proof that their ancestors had defeated the ancient powers, and used as motivation, for example, in the wars against the Persians.
I hope to have helped elucidate a few things. Best.
@@johnnyjericho8472 for whom? Are you upset? Did I hurt your feeling? I apologize. But, he used his privileges to win the dispute for the excavation of the site. Facts are Facts. Get over it.
@@johnnyjericho8472 Im afraid you might not know how to use this word.
Bethany Hughes and whover did the audio/soundtrack deserve awards for this documentary. Videographer also. The whole crew for this doc deserves many kudos, IMHO.
Her last name should be Evans since her husband's last name is Evans.
Great presentation! The beautiful narrator fits perfectly in the context of the ancient cretans architecture. I left my heart with the narrator.
She is definitely sexy. 😊 ❤
Calm down, grampa 😂
This is a top-notch documentary, except for the sudden loud "music". You get me all relaxed and then you scare the shit out of me.
So true & very well said!!!🤣😂👏🏻👏🏻
So many of these documentary channels haven't yet figured out that half the reason we watch these is the sleep-aid element when we aren't watching to learn.
The presenter's narration is terrific, and the photography is excellent. The sites, the artifacts, the latest scholarship, the unanswered questions, and the most interesting speculations on a fascinating culture. This documentary is the total package. Bravo.
Anything the history babe does is amazing. She is not only very knowledgeable, but a very good presenter as well.
Was originally on BBC - I'm thinking early 1990s -- if not slightly before. Whoever uploaded this should've posted full credits, etc. But, YES! This is timeless & excellent as are all of Bettany Hughes' productions - the on-camera host & researcher She's now about 56. Everything she does is flawless.
@@brianclingenpeel5123 And breathtaking to look at too!
@@SaaharaGlaude Yes it is! She does deserve a lot of the credit. Her intelligence and beauty contribute greatly to the overall effect. The BBC have the best resources there are for making documentaries, including human resources and skill, so they produce the best in the world.
They've always been the best, because in most ways they were the inventors and pioneers of the concept. Now though, due to proliferation of technology, there've been some others to challenge them. Not a lot, comparatively speaking, but the number will likely increase. Small affordable drones are a real game changer in the costs of production.
So here we have Bettany, with all the resources of the BBC. It all combines to be just golden!
🗺 🕌 ⛰ 🏛 ⛲ 🌍
@@cattymajiv agreed!
My second time watching and enjoying this wonderful presentation. My wife and I visited Santorini and the thought that Crete was so close (and at age 75) not being able to travel to that island was such a disappointment. Thanks again for a lovely visual feast.
Pasiphaë hiding inside a fake cow reminds me of Ace Ventura hiding in a rhino.
I'm looking forward to the Ace Ventura sequel about his monster son.
As someone who is half Minotaur I approve this video.
Cool! Which half? =:o}
Here here
On your heifers side or your bulls side?
So you are 1/4 aurochs? I hope you got the lower mid section from the ancestral bulls
The music is amazing! ---- enhances the wonderful contents.
I don't understand why she keeps calling the Minoans prehistoric. They had a system of writing - it just hasn't been deciphered yet.
The Minoans were a Bronze Age civilization, not prehistoric. Sloppy writing. She means to say 'ancient'.
She's referring to the era rather than the people.
They existed since prehistoric times, and they lived during historic times too
Lets keep in mind that "she" is just an actor reading out a script. The script is written, edited and approved by others that we dont know of. And its "their" theories that are being projected. It is notable that they are emphasizing that although the Minoan civilization was (perhaps) the first in Europe, "it clearly borrowed knowledge, technology, etc from its obviously more advanced middle east neighbours"....This is something that a certain school of though is persisting with, trying to convince the world that knowledge, alphabet, numbers, etc, all came from the east and in particular Phoenicians and Messopotamia, (as ground zeo)...and thus implying that there was nothing before that...
@@shivaserpent1232 Bettany is a professor and she did write it. Check the credits.
I think it is necessary to explain well the events that followed after the eruption. People tend to overestimate its impact. Minoan civilization was not (!) destroyed by the eruption, as it continued to exist for centuries after the catastrophe. The eruption did not happen overnight. There were earthquakes, and people evacuated their homes. Some even returned to cities, like Akrotiri, to collect their belongings. You won't find dead bodies there, as in Pompeii. They went back and even tried to put some walls up again. When the volcano began to erupt, people got on boats and fled, and probably many went to Crete. This indeed may have caused some turmoil, as a migratory wave is never something simple. The tsunami wasn't enough to level the island, but it sure was something to watch. The noise of the eruption was heard even in Egypt. But, the climatic crisis and food scarcity caused by the volcano would not last more than two years and the Minoans stood firm and some settlements even show signs of prosperity. The greatest consequence would have been a religious drama or a deep disappointment with the deities since the natural world was for them the supernatural world, and vice-versa. So religious changes certainly took place, on a scale not yet fully understood. Some indicative signs are the Palaikastro Kouros, the two instances where apparently human sacrifice took place, and MOST importantly, changes in burial practices.
And just to clarify, dating the eruption is a huge problem. Nevertheless, if it happened around 1600 BCE, the Minoans lasted another 150 years following the conventional date for their collapse in 1450 BCE. If it happened in 1540 BCE, they endured more eleven decades. Not such an abrupt end.
NERD!
Nah that is actually very interesting, thank you :)
@@justincase3230 XD
@@troianoleonardo you kinda look like pat the bunny in his early twenties there man. You heard of him? One of my favourite muso's.
@@justincase3230 No I have not, but I did now and I can see why you say it hahaha
Have to go to Crete now that I have heard and seen such a great presentation. Love the presenter, the narration and music, so captivating
What’s just as amazing as this wonderful story of the Minoans and the ancients activities, is our host Bettany’s incredible makeover very nice. Thank you
It's not a makeover; this is an old video! It's like watching early Time Team videos and thinking how young Tony Robinson looks.
She does toss in a disclaimer, after the fact, that the story she is presenting is theory, but since the majority of the drama is presents the theory as if it were fact, this is just more historical fiction portraying one theory and ignoring the many other possibilities.
I was an Anthropology* major and that's one of the earliest things I remember from class. Many of the things I had always thought were factual, were truly theories.
@@ttvmikimoto5475 Almost all of history is theories.
I enjoyed this immensely. A high quality presentation of the fascinating Minoan civilization. My understanding is improved, and I am edified for having watched it.
Excellent documentary. Very well done, has information in it that I haven't heard before.
She doesn’t make it very clear, but only the script called Linear B was discovered to be used to write an early form of Greek. The Linear A script has not yet been deciphered because the language it’s used to write in has not been identified yet, indeed it might be a lost one.
It sounded pretty clear to me that Linear A has resisted attempts at decoding. If it is a lost language, more's the pity. Even were it a grocery list, it would be fascinating to see what a Minoan household would have needed to run smoothly!
Any civilization has arts and languages
Why she hide the language of this empire
Linear A and Linear B are the same script used in different ways for different languages, sort of like how the Latin script is used for everything from Latin to English to French to Vietnamese, or how cuneiform was used for Sumerian, Elamite, Akkadian, and Hittite. The script was invented by the Minoans for their (undeciphered) language, then adopted by the Mycenaeans to write their early form of Greek.
@@hussnedubaishi7288oh quit being daft trying to start something out of nothing, She's not hiding anything
@@hussnedubaishi7288 What a dumb comment. Nothing is being hidden by anyone. You watch too many fake documentaries, made by crooks who are trying to hook you into right wing ideas.
This is very interesting but I long to hear more about the Minoan people, their lives, culture and art, their style, their sports and the equality of their system.
For example they had no living quarters for slaves, everyone lived in very admirable dwellings and had a high standard of living. Their artwork was unparalleled, highly developed, and very free and creative. The women seen to have been beautiful and elegantly attired. That they were master seafarers and were great traders, their goods being highly prized with those with whom they traded.
I would like to see more along these lines.
The dwellings that survived, I always wonder about all the people/civilizations that didn't have stone buildings.
I've watched this video 4 times. I will probably watch it again after some time. It's wonderful. I keep searching for and watching historical documentaries made by Bettany Hughs. I've become a fan. So serious and professional and yet so exciting
yes i like her to but she is not that accurate some times.
I forgive for not researching my peoples civilisation and culture which is 65,00 years , Might wake her up to what a civilisation is.
I do not consider a civilisation based on ignorance and superstition to be any kind of civilisation.
The Persian`s where just a bunch genocidal nut cases,
The roans where just a bunch of ignorant arseholes , Otherwise christianity would not have ben able to infest and then kill the roam civilisation.
I am 55 and watching at 2x play speed 5 times
Love this video! Her presentation is superb!! Thank you!
This is top quality presentation, the hostess being knowledgeable, invested, and a clear expert in the field. So entrancing to learn about this culture from one of the first civilizations after the flood (and tower of Babel).
Love MsHughes turn of phrase excellent insight into an ancient civilisation I love Creat holiday there often
I think the best part of this for me was as she was going over the tablets and gave the names of oxen. Sounds like names we give our animals today. Lol
Great job to everyone involved. Such an interesting topic and excellent narration from Bethany Hughes. Congratulations!!
No one beats Bettany as a Narrator!!
Yeah she sounds good in purple
This is so well done, bravo!
I’m deeply grateful my 20 years wonderful experience living and studying old civilization of Greek as a
archaeologist as well as hums being !
This wonderful country had enriched my life
A real archaeologist would not call themselves “a” archaeologist.
@@cruisepaige english is obviously not their first language. the world doesn't surround around one language, maybe they speak greek and other languages. it's none of your business
This was outstanding. Greetings from Tokyo.
The Minotaur
My-knot-tore
Mine-oh-tor
King mine-gnos
King my gnosis
King mine-owes
Slay the beast within. The beast reality. Of sexûaliły
8:16 listen to her words. Followed by the white surf to bring to mind …. What came next. Shlemen. Listen close
The starters “pistol” has been fired.
Shlemem and peetree.
Arthur evans. 48 yrs old
A-thor a-tor. Æthr
48. 4-8’s for ate. 8888
12:46 (
Allegory
all-eg-ore-E
AI-lego-r-Y
LA-og-EL
LA-ogel
LA-ogle
Ogel: Oil gas & energy law & tdm
LA:
Lost Angles
Lost Angel Us
Excellent! I could watch this video, narrated by Bethany Hughs, over and over again. Beautiful!
I love Greek mythology.
I hated it in College. But I love it on video.
With horns like that I hope the Minotaur didn’t come out head first.
It’s a compelling hypothesis, but the eruption of Thera was around 1,650 BC, not 1,530. The resulting volcanic winter would have had a severely negative effect on agricultural production for one to several years, probably in much of the Northern Hemisphere. It’s unlikely that the people on Krete were still starving from this 200 years later, the archaeological date of the destruction. To me, the purposefully damaged, clearly Greek Kouros, and the other evidence of destruction more likely suggests the island people’s hostility towards the takeover by the Mykeneans, perhaps during the battles to accomplish just that. No one gives up their Gods, wives and children, and land without a fight.
Notice that "Archaeologists" overwhelmingly act independent of consulting with experts in the fields of: Geology, Geophysics, Genetics, Sociology, Linguistics, and Ancient Language/Writings.
I suggest that Modern Archaeologists aka Mainstream Archaeologists (20th Century to date) have written far more Myth as their Fact story, than all of the Ancients ever did.
I expect that in the very near future, facts will emerge at a rapid rate and the entire Mainstream Academic/Archaeology Paradigm will be set aside, and quickly buried, as it is profoundly inaccurate.
This need not be an opportunity for judging individual Academics, rather an opportunity to remind them how w far they strayed from the "Standards of Science and Research" (a theory may not be used as a fact) (the Museum for Darwin demonstrating how Many dern Humans, ... well that's one they really can gain an observing of the potential pitfalls of the excessive regarding the *"Modern-Human Ego Mind"*
Beth
(Sociologist/Behavioralist)
@@bethbartlett5692 its a problem in many fields. Not consulting experts in other fields that are studying the same area. The other problem is that romanticisms and hypothesis posed as theories often go unchallenged until the proponent (or generation there of) are retired or deceased. Scientific progress lags behind human ego.
Bettany gives only one possible hypothesis. True, highly debatable and all the more unprovable. But such is the process of interpretation, especially in the history of art, where it is often purposeful fabrications or even lies, sometimes poems only loosely connected to the reality of a work of art. As an atheist, I would of course not have thought to blame the gods for some debacle, and as a realist I would have been driven to look for sources of sustenance, in Crete of course, in the sea, where after washing a lot of organic material into the waves, life at all levels must have expanded...so perhaps the octopuses would have come to be seen as a kind of icon of survival. Tom Bettany uvádí jen jednu z možných hypotéz. Pravda, silně diskutabilní a o to víc nedokazatelnou. Ale takový už je proces interpretací, zejména v dějinách umění, kde se často jedná o účelové výmysly či dokonce lži, jindy o básně jen volně spojené s realitou nějakého uměleckého díla.. Jako ateistu by mne pochopitelně nenapadlo z nějakého debaklu vinit bohy a jako realistu by mne to hnalo hledat zdroje obživy, na Krétě pochopitelně v moři, kde po spláchnutí množství organického materiálu do vln musel život na všech úrovních expandovat...takže možná i na ty chobotnice by došlo jako na svého způsobu ikonu přežití. Tom
@garyallen8824 She's a typical angry right winger. I'm getting SO unbelievably tired of them!
@@cattymajiv You can see that in such a rambling comment? Documentary film-making has traditionally triggered controversy, often due to an evolving consensus on the topic, production limitations and editing issues, and other reasons. Scholars are continuously debating points. I can remember when one of my university professors was engaged with his colleagues in a debate over the translation of _a single word_ in an ancient Latin text. This documentary was nicely produced and highly entertaining. I doubt if you could use it as a source for an undergraduate research project, however.
Regarding 6:29, Bettany Hughes description of Queen Pasiphae's so-called "interview" with the the Cretan Bull was actually her bestiality copulation known in Latin as "coitus more ferarum".
You dont typically see hallucinations from opium….you just feel really really good
Assassins Creed: Odyssey is a great way to walk around exploring ancient Greece set roughly around 500bc
Great research and amazing storytelling!
At minute 57:20 it is said in the video that the people who came from Crete said about them that they came from a place called Kapto, and in turn it says that the place Crete is called Kaptor, worth checking
@Gary Allen tanx bro
I don’t know who this woman is but she did an awesome job with this.
Bethany Hughes, now in her 50s but still doing this work and T.V series
The presenter is so terrific that she caught my full attention!
I have to see it again!
Great narration and videography 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Bettany Hughs and the team bring the subject to life. Aaaah! Living History.
The sacrifice thing is kind of funny as even the Roman's made sacrifices. It was taboo in different ages but even then some would do it.
almost every human society/culture has done human sacrifices almost without exception. often its not explicitly called such or wild moral justifications are made for such, but yeah its amusing when scholars seemed shocked to find it. I think the problem is that these people idealize the culture before they know everything and so human sacrifice doesn't fit into the mental image they made of the "perfect" society.
I started thinking that a lot of these behaviors might be related with OCD tendencies, the disorder is highly driven by "rituals" or "sacrifices" to avoid "catastrophe"
@@An-kw3ec but many, if not all, rituals and sacrifices aren't to means to keep order of its own accord but rather seen as appeasing a person (whether spirit or deity). Its that when something bad happens its because someone willed and actualized it. This isn't really an OCD thing to appease a person but creates a sense of a personal relationship or connection to the spirit or deity. And so the rituals and ceremonies are more like having a conversation and not putting a room in order.
Sure there is a stress on ding things right and in proper order, but i think much of that is a means of remembering the ceremonies over time especially when there is no writing, audio or video to record it into perpetuity.
But even now days, even within secular societies have rituals. Like new years, valentine's day, 4th of july, Halloween and such. I wouldn't say they are done because of any sense of OCD but we perform them every year and often without much change from previous years. Its a way for us to communicate with each other and build connection in the very least.
A correction.. Theseas-us did not slaughter the Minotaur but killed him with his bare hands. According to tradition, he used the Pagration (Παγκράτιον) technique. Pagration was a martial art and the most important (and most violent) sport in the Olympic Games. For the ancient Greeks, Theseas-us and Herakles (he killed the lion of Nemea in the same way), are considered the inventors of Pagration.
So the Greeks invented martial arts, not china or India?
WHAT A WONDERFUL DOCUMENTARY....👍👍👍👍
I can't be the only one who noticed prominent nips throughout this documentary. I'd like the thank the editors and producers who allowed the nips into the final cut.
I really like this narrator. Beautiful and smart!
Excellent video.
Ironic the way Bettany looks so much like the young Actress (Jennifer Connelly) in the movie Labyrinth, with David Bowie.
Riveting! Chilling! Exotic! I love this!
Minoans are still live today in Crete in in the eastern corner of the island
They went there after the invasion of the Greeks and keep their language untill the classical times
in recent times i dont usually watch in one go much works this is diff,when she said''dared to venture back down to the lowlands''i found me self turning for the next page
My first thought after the eruption on Thera, the tsunami and the ash covering the local islands was the land is no longer able to provide food for the survivors. Later she talks about cannibalism. But before that she explained the change in the pottery with octopi all over them. My thoughts were since there is no food on land they will turn to the sea so I thought the change in the pottery decorations was simply proving their diet was more from the sea now than it had been. In no way did I see that as an indication that it was a religious change in what god(s) they worshipped. Pots found in their homes so would have sat on their dinner tables. Not pots found in or around shrines, temples or places of worship. But who am I?
I agree that religion didn’t always play the central role in changes.
"Pots found in their homes so would have sat on their dinner tables"
Would have been (in your mind) =/= was found in that place.
Were they found on tables, or are you making this assumption that they were?
Making an assumption based on other cultures, especially later ones is not necessarily the greatest idea when considering history.
@@mnomadvfx a thought is a thought - not a claim of proof nor proof of anything. What did you intend to prove with your thoughts?
Possibly both. She also talks later on about the shift from away from the female goddess figurines to a male boy god figurine. Though I'm sure the truth is much more complex than that. The shift in gods could also have come from the influence of refugees or invaders.
@@mnomadvfx - Would found where they eat be better?
She actually said “mythical cock and bull story “ without cracking a smile 😊!
Wow what a excellent documentary I was hypnotize
My favorite docu!
Behind every myth there is hidden the truth!
The Labyrinthine was the palace itself because of its immensity and the Minotaur was the bull,
taking part in the
bull-leaping games…
When the Athenians would take place and be killed by the bull, the myth was that the Minotaur are them.
As For Evans,
he certainly had information about Kalikairinos and the area he had axcavated years earlier…
One thing about Evans
I admire, is that he never gave into the pressure from England to take all the discoveries back to the British Museum but he left it all in Crete and for that, was never allowed to go back to his homeland. At least that’s what I had read somewhere and I hope it is the truth and not a myth!…
Μαρία , δυστυχώς Evans πήρε πολλά αντικείμενα πίσω στην Αγγλία. Ττον θρόνο της Κνωσού, για παράδειγμα... Το μουσείο Ashmolean (Oxford) είναι γεμάτο με πολύ σημαντικά μινωικά πράγματα.
@@troianoleonardo thank you for your reply! I really did not know that. We really need to scrutinize everything we read…
@@troianoleonardo The land he excavated, he bought out right those Artifacts regarding property laws, were his. If the Throne was on the 5.5 Acres he owned, he could do with it whatever he pleased.
@@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164 I dont give a fuck!
@@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164 oh you got it removed. Happy? My wish remains. Its now been weeks of online harassment by animals for making a comment on history of archaeology and I genuinely wish you all go to hell.
Wow! Presenter Bettany Hughes is as captivating as the story she is telling!
Wait, what, there was a story too?
@@kjm2199 😂👍
I like looking at a beautiful woman as much as the next bloke, but her outfit is just so out of place as a presenter in a historic documentary. Even tourists wouldn't go to these archaeological sites in that dress. I'm sorry, but it does take away from the credibility of the program. Strange that she put on pants and a trenchcoat when up on the mountaintop in the wind and fog.
@@Colin-Fenix
I was waiting for the swimsuit edition of ancient Minoan archaeology. Hopefully, some of the best looking hosts and hostesses can contribute with their physical presence. 😉
@@paulheydarian1281 🤣
We are really guessing what ancient people believed in the past. Especially without decipherable writing.
Great ... and pretty presenter of very interesting history. Would very much want to be able to visit the area.
Does anybody know what the instrument playing in the background is called? It’s so eerie sounding but alluring at the same time.
Lord have mercy. She could read me history any time. Great documentary as well.
Bettany is so beautiful! I could watch her all day. Who needs pictures of Crete? Lol! As always, the BBC's docs are top notch.
I gave my wife two concert tickets to my favorite band for her birthday, which i ultimatly enjoiyed with my best buddy.... is that kinda the modern equivalent to poseidon gifting an unique beautiful bull to minos and expecting him to sacrafice this gift back in poseidons honor...
did poseidon even tell minos?
minos didn´t pray for a bull to sacrafice back to poseidon, he prayed for a beatiful bull... then he received a unique bull so he probably had his former best bull sacraficed in return
who would sacrafice the gift you just received? just exchange the bull for car so if some gifts you a brand new one ur supposed to scrap that one and keep ur old lemon, yea makes sense
i gave my kid a puppy for birthday... he sacraficed it on the spot...issn´t that what you expected of me father?
good boy :D
Beautifully shot...and the Presenter is rather cute
Great doc, remember this as a kid. I luved Bettany. She's beautiful, intelligent and good presenter. I think this was early to mid 2000's. Just bit confused with the language script cause Linear A has never been deciphered. But truly a wonder of the bronze age with many great myths.
She was talking about Linear B. That one was deciphered and turned out to be a really ancient form of Greek.
Mayhaps if the minoans were more warlike than we suppose that central court could have been a great spot for military ceremonies, parades, speeches etc.
that beginning...lol...level 1 human in the dungeon of the hornedbeast of agony...and the oddjob man daedolus hahhaha great video
I like how she can drive anything like James Bond .
More of this please
Mulțumesc mult sănătate multă numai bine vă doresc felicitări
Amazing
Thank you for exposing the truth.
Watched all of it
Minoan Civilzation probably was connected to the wider Eastern Mediterranean via sea routes. At any rate, island nations significantly get substantial protein from the sea. The sea is an excellent highway, even for that remote era, for trade (and piracy and war). Minoan civilization was clearly rich at it's height, but those riches probably came from sea trade with near and distant lands.
Anyone aware of any of Bettany's more current works, available on TH-cam? If so, Please share, Thanks!
I always enjoy the documentaries Hosted and Narriated by Bettany Hughes. (Although my perspective is not aligned with the "Mainstream Academic 19th Century Theory based Paradigm"), Bettany clearly has a more Realized Insight and I imagine by now, with a number of "Authentuc Peer Reviewed" Studies findings, she could easily transform her Perspective and so enjoy a whole other level of Explorations and Discoveries, hopefully she already has.
Beth Bartlett
Sociologist/Behavioralist
and Historian
weekly episodes on "more 4" Sat or Sun,
I could watch and listen to Bettany Hughes present Bronze Age Insurance actuarial tables.
I really tried, wanted to hear what is said here, but in the end…sorry that music and sound effects were too much for me,,,might try tomorrow with captions and sound off.
Mark you are my kinda amazing!!💜💜💜
It's an amazing documentary with an absolutely stunning documentarian! What is her name?
Bettany Hughes
Lol… I thought she was going to topple that scooter turning the corner going too slow! 😮
I found it interesting that there was a reference to the Mother Goddess in this mainstream broadcast. There are many references in antiquity to the association between female divinity and snakes, and struggles between patriarchal (Indo-European steppe peoples) and matriarchal (descendants of Anatolian Neolithic farmers) religions and cults. cf. Perseus and Medusa, Apollo and Pythia, and of course the echo of the Attana Myth in the Garden of Eden story, Prior to the bronze age collapse, based on this doco and what else I've read, that boys were sacrificed to the Earth Goddess in this part of the world, and virgin girls were sacrificed by Mycenean Greeks (cf Agamemnon and Iphigenia).
Εύγε Ηλία
The novelist Mary Renault wrote a book about Theseus and the bull-dancers that brings it all alive: The Bull From the Sea.
Wasn't that the Greeks who called a people making this purple dye "phoenicians"? So, were the ancestors of Greeks, minoans, related to the Phoenicians? Or, rather, the latter ones learned from minoans the art of making the purple dye. It's them who spread around the Mediterranean about 3k years ago, called the sea people - Phoenicians, Philistines, Cartagenes.
Awesome
these facts checking experts in the comments make for interesting reading as I listen
Very interesting & partly because of such a classy gal hosting
In the days when unwanted Infants were routinely abandoned and exposed the King decided to keep the monstrous offspring of his wife and a bull lol.
Wow, Bettany was young!
I wouldn't consider Greece European in that time frame 😅
One theory is that then Minoans left Egypt due to the invasion from the South, which might have been the Nubian, who may well have been allies of the Atlanteans, who according to Plato, conquered Egypt. The Nubian women had triplets corresponding to the will of Poseidon, and the face of the Sphinx seemed to be recast to the features of an African. Ergo, Kilroy was here.
Linear A is said to be Egyptian shorthand, and Linear B is said to be based on the Greek language.
Yeah right. And the aliens were said to be in Egypt. They weren't though. Said to be means nothing.
All Hail the Goddess that is known as Bettany Hughes !😍😁🥂
Bettany Hughes could easily have posed for Michelangelo, for one of his magnificent statues.
Crete. Birthplace of Zeus. The theater at Knossos where Odysseus saw enacted the deeds of Greeks at Troy. An overpowering upsurge of erotic energy from the earth, chthonic force of Zeus that so overcame us at Gornya we fucked madly standing in the ruins. Crete, whose natives to the south are the largest most handsome men on Earth! Crete is magical. I wish I could have lived in the only paradise Earth has had.
As a devotee of the Bull Headed god, this is excellent.
I think the christian god is pretty bull-headed... 😎
As a devotee of beef consumption, I agree.
there are many stories of a special bull, such as in the one where Zeus turned himself into a magnificent white bull and carried the young Europa upon his back across the waters to Crete, and there amid copious amounts of coitus the one day king Minos was conceived.
it be pretty cool if you had the date of the original publication date since it has to be close to 20 years old since Betany is in her 60's now...
greek had so many cultures in the past 6000+ years and they had dark ages and unbelievable comebacks till today.
greek have shaped practically the entire world, there is no language on earth which has not opted thousands of greek words in their language.
culturally greek have shaped the world like no other nation.
and on top of all greek have also ruled the biggest empires on earth including the roman empire and have spread the light in the darkest corner of earth.
the most succesful ethnic group ever in existence
I thought that Linear B would end up to be a mundane laundry list.
It's interesting to see this surface again, 8 - 10 years after it first aired. Most of this story is speculation. There is no record of what really happened there. A lot of the frescoes and small statues were found to have been made by Evan's hired artists to sell to museums (we do have a record of that). We also know now that the wave that hit the main island when Thera blew up was at least 100' (30.48 m) by the deposits of debris found that high up on the hills. It wasn't just a volcanic blast, but the core of the volcano, along with the middle part of Thera plunged into the sea, causing a huge explosion when it hit the sea water. Other than scientific facts all one can do is consider the speculations as possible. There are other theories. I don't agree with the idea of a religious war based on three or four broken statuettes. The fires could easily have been due to the fallout from the volcano, although that's another speculation. There is one little statue from Crete that has been analyzed and found to be fake, made during the time Evans was there. Evans also used concrete in place of stone when rebuilding the "palace" at Knossos. This is a fun video to watch, and I still enjoy it, but it is not the "latest scholarship" as someone else commented.
Don't think that "Human Sacrifice" wouldn't be used in our culture today. I believe that if people are led to believe that it would change the outcome of disaster, we wouldn't sacrifice as many other people as we believe would do the job. After all, we are still human beings.
Human sacrifice was so normalised in recent centuries that there was an economic theory linking the cost of an engineering project (dam, bridge, canal, railway, etc) with the anticipated number of workers' deaths.
Even now when we have workplace health and safety regulations, it is still considered normal that humans die because they don't have the money to buy food or life-saving medications, even though the things they need exist in abundance. Human lives are sacrificed for other humans' wealth every day.
I can't help but notice an outstanding feature of all these pictures of the "Keftiu" made by the Egyptians: they are not white-skinned. So, what color were the Minoans, really?
"The most outstanding differences were observed in haplogroups J2 and R1, with the predominance of haplogroup R lineages in the Lasithi Plateau and of haplogroup J lineages in the more accessible regions of the island. Y-STR-based analyses demonstrated the close affinity that R1a1 chromosomes from the Lasithi Plateau shared with those from the Balkans, but not with those from lowland eastern Crete."
The elite or the founders of the Minoan civilisation was white but there was mixed population there, obviously.
They were related to modern day Balkan people which descend from the Pelasgians, also the Varna and Vinca cultures.
Who gives a shit what color they were ? ! Though you could just look at their pictures of themselves.
The Mycenaean ship discovered off of the coast of Turkey, had a ballast of pure copper ingots ionically examined and determined to be from Lake Superior, Michigan.
No it wasn't, it was from Cypress.
Just the title being so flat out erroneous already kills the video before it even starts.