Knossos Lost City

The Lost City of Knossos is termed as the middle of Minoan civilization. The city is five miles from the coast of Crete. It was found between 3000BC and 1400 BC, and it symbolized the Bronze Age culture. Mythically, Zeus, the god had a son called Minos who became the king of Knossos. The discovery of the city led to many human beings speaking about the Minoan empire's influence. The city was fueled by way of trade and the mastery of the sea. Therefore, Knossos became the advanced town with paved roads, fine art, running water, metalwork, and pottery. It is unfortunate that when the Greeks seized Crete, the Minoan civilization had begun to crumble. The misplaced city of Knossos says a lot about the modern civilization and how the culture affected the people. Therefore, it is evident that the lost city gives ideas about the past or what projections of our modern longings that inspire our modern selves.

Factual Information

Many scholars have described the background of the lost city. The “ancient history of Crete” as the author call it was a large architectural complex that was believed to be the living quarters for rulers. The foundation covered 6.5 acres with the ground floor having more than three hundred rooms. The Minoans city is known for its strong foundation and thickened walls. Sir Arthur Evans discovered the Knossos city, and he assumed it to be the palace of King Minos. However, the city would have been a necropolis; meaning a city of the dead or a temple complex for gods and goddesses, the author refers it as a “home of legends. (Karen 12)” Evans assumed that when he discovered the large complex, it would only be a palace. Several archaeological information were recorded with the first being the fresco paintings of fresh plaster. The frescos at Knossos were discovered as tiny broken fragments on the floor. Sir Evans preserved the evidence so as to carry out reconstruction process on the pieces. Evans employed Emile Gillieron, a Swiss who was specialized in archaeological drawings. It is evident that the repair turned out to conclude that Sir Evans was a less creative man making many archaeologists apprehensive about his findings. The writer refers it as a city that was “reclothed (Michailidou 23)”.

The existence of the lost city of Knossos is faced with competing theories that explain the civilization of the Minoans that can be linked to the today's modernization. The city acted as the opening way to the recent trade that is characterized by metalwork, pottery, and improved transportation. However, just like many cultures today were influenced by external interference; the Minoans civilization was tempered by the Greeks thus leading to its fall. For example, the volcanic eruptions in the nearby Santorini Island caused a plume of gases and ashes to fill the sky. The scientists believed that the volcanic forces caused a Tsunami that altered the climate. The Minoans roads suffered, and thus the Knossos civilization was hardly incapable of defending their territory. The Knossos city is sometimes referred to as a palace or a town because of the huge water baths, shrines, workshops, and living quarters (Mark 1).

Literary Evidence

The information provided about the discovery of the lost city of Knossos records Sir Arthur Evans as the archaeologist who excavated sites on Crete. Crete is known as the largest Greek Island. Evans uncovered the remains of the ancient Knossos city. Written literature about the city, proves that the city thrived in the second millennium BC and was the home of the Minoans. There is written evidence that the city suffered destruction that affected the prosperous and peaceful civilization. The royal apartments and the throne rooms would suggest that the palace is still the oldest in Europe. The literary evidence is unique because of the oral and written information about the castle capture Sir Evans, an English archaeologist to have been a part of its reconstruction (Karen 17). Written evidence provides information that the city would have been destroyed by a volcanic eruption that caused devastation in the surrounding locations. However, the artistic evidence collected at other sites on the Crete suggests proof of burning. Oral, written, and artistic evidence suggests that a particular nation would have overpowered the Minoans. For instance, the mainland Greeks would have been exacting revenge on King Minos for sacrificing young maidens and men. “Shall be force detain thee” phrase is used to show how the Greeks wanted to devastate the Minoans (Hirst 19). The archaeologists used the written and oral evidence of the fallen palace to reconstruct evidence on the utilization of the city. The collection of evidence provided the cultural, economic, and political environment of the society.

Literary Legacy

The lost city of Knossos can be remembered for a lot of things. For example, the social, economic, and political legacy that the society can link to the modernization is significant in understanding the today's' culture. The city was a thriving center for trade as it had good infrastructure and business activities such as pottery and metalwork. Knossos can be linked to the today's growth in the economic sector that has caused international integration. However, it was not too long that the city fell and many archaeologists and scientists believe that the center of Crete was destroyed by invading Greeks and natural calamities such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes (Michailidou 34). It is evident that the Mycenaean writing system known as the Linear B remains a legacy even after the Thera volcanic eruption. The City is still considered as a city of legend and trade’s people. The long-standing debate between archaeologists remains the primary concern about the functions of the palace. Some believe that it acted as a religious, administrative, or both center. The presence of archeological drawings provides evidence that the palace is a legend that symbolizes the Minoans culture and civilization. Although the city was destroyed by the Greeks, it is still a center of civilization to the modern society. Its destruction tells the readers that, political and physical; forces can rise to bring a thriving city down. However, the reconstruction done by Sir Arthur Evans encourages the rulers to rise and rebuild the broken political regimes so as to preserve the legacy (Mark 56).

Evaluation

The lost city of Knossos is a significant myth that enables the modern society to reflect and critique our society. Knossos is the ancient civilization of the Minoans’ people. The archaeological site allows the people to evaluate their community and cities based on the written and oral evidence that was extravasated from the site. For example, before the fall of the city, it was a thriving place for trade. It had good infrastructure, running water, thriving businesses such as metal working and pottery. This can be likened to the modern society that is successful in carrying out activities. However, the lost city was destroyed by natural calamities such as volcanoes and earthquakes. Other archeologists believe that wars caused the destruction from invading mainland Greeks (Karen 39). This can be likened to the today’s society that suffers a lot of loss from natural disasters such as tsunamis and tornadoes. Moreover, the trading systems can be affected by wars and lack of peaceful coexistence between communities that can affect the trade patterns. However, the efforts of Sir Arthur to reconstruct the palace suggests that he wanted to revive the once dying culture and civilization of the Minoans. The same actions should be taken by the society including the governments to revive dying economies so as to avoid the collapse of culture. The lost city of Knossos is a good reflection of the modern society that rises and falls with forces that are not within the people’s reach. The city is the real example of the modern modernization it is a reflection of how the modern cities have grown to be international business centers. Moreover, the lost city reflects how the society today is affected by calamities and wars that interfere with the firm operations. The myth can be referred to as a significant reflection of the current modernization (Karen 58).

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Works Cited

Hirst, Kris. "The Lost Palace Of Knossos." The Palace of Minos The Labyrinth of Minoan Culture (2015). .

Karen, Greece. Knossos Archaeological site. 30 April 2015. .

Mark, Joshua J. "Knossos." Ancient History Encylopedia (2010). .

Michailidou, Anna. Knossos - A Complete Guide to the Palace of Minos. Ekdotike Athenon, 2014.