Maze of Crete: The Mystery of the Origin of Greek and Roman Mythology

Author: (British) McKenzie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: A myth proven by reality, a pre-Greek civilization that disappeared suddenly, like Atlantis and Pompeii. The mystery of the origin of Greek and Roman mythology: In 1900, the ruins of the labyrinth on Crete were brought back to life! It is a super-large palace as mysterious as the pyramids. Later, archaeologists unearthed human bones that had been eaten, all of which were closely linked to the man-eating Minotaur hidden deep in the labyrinth in Greek mythology. Is it a myth or a terrifying historical legend? What role does Crete play in the mysterious civilization of ancient Greece? This is a myth from Greece: Long ago, a son of King Minos on Crete was killed in Athens. Enraged, the king demanded that King Aegeus of Athens sign a shocking treaty: Every year, Athens must send 7 pairs of young men and young women to Crete as food for a man-eating Minotaur. It is said that this monster was born from the queen and a bull. To cover up his shame, the king ordered the construction of a massive and complex palace with double axes, hiding the man-eating monster deep within. Fearing the power of Crete, Athens paid the tribute on time, causing immense grief among its people. During the third tribute, Prince Theseus, determined to pacify the people and eliminate the monster, bravely declared himself a young man to Crete. The handsome and young Athenian prince was deeply loved by the daughter of King Minos, who gave him a magic sword and a ball of thread. The clever and brave Theseus, upon entering the labyrinth, tied one end of the ball of thread to the entrance of the labyrinth and released it, walking along the winding and complex corridors toward the depths of the maze. In the end, he finally found the Minotaur. He grabbed the Minotaur's horns and, with the sword given by the princess, fiercely killed the Minotaur, rescued the children who had been offered as tribute, and escaped from Crete. This beautiful myth deeply fascinates archaeologists. In 1900, British archaeologists Evans and others unearthed the ruins of a palace on Crete. It covered an area of about two hectares, with hundreds of rooms connected by winding corridors, its structure so complex that it was rare. The double-axe symbol was also found in the labyrinth, and scholars unanimously believed that this was the Double-Axe Palace of the Minos Kingdom. So, was the act of cannibalism real? In a small room of the palace, archaeologists discovered thousands of clay tablets inscribed with text, one of which clearly read, "Seven women from Athens were brought as tribute, along with one boy and one girl." This reminded people of the story of the Minotaur and sparked speculation. Surprisingly, in the spring of 1980, British archaeologists announced in Athens that they had unearthed over 200 fragmented human bones in a house from the Bronze Age on Crete. They belonged to eight to eleven teenagers aged ten to fifteen, their skeletons showing marks of being slaughtered. So, what advantage did Crete have that allowed it to hold such an important position in Greek civilization? The research of archaeologists has filled in this brilliant page of Crete in human history.