Crete, Knossos and the Minoan Civilization ~ Psarantonis ~ Yannis Markopoulos

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• published: 28 May 2011
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Crete and her Minoan Art and Minoan Civilization.... The video starts with sceneries from Crete as it is nowadays to create an introduction for the historical monuments of Knossos, for the Art of a Bronze Age civilization that flourished on the Mediterranean island of Crete from about 3000 BC to 1000 BC. The term originates from the legendary King Minos, ruler of Crete in Greek mythology, and was first used in 1894 by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, whose extensive excavations on the island form the basis of our understanding of Minoan art. Knowledge of Minoan culture is based almost entirely on archaeological evidence rather than written sources, and in many ways the culture remains mysterious. However, the quality and quantity of surviving art-facts show that the island was highly prosperous (it has a good climate and plentiful natural resources and was well situated for trade in the ancient world), and it seems to have enjoyed lengthy periods of peace. The civilization was evidently destroyed shortly before 1000 BC, perhaps partly because of an earthquake and partly because of invasion. The most important city of ancient Crete was Knossos, and the huge palace there is the best remaining example of Minoan culture. There were at least two later palaces on the original site, built between 2000 BC and 1600 BC, which was the high point of Minoan culture. The palaces were complex and sophisticated in design, with numerous courtyards and staircases, and they were virtually unfortified, suggesting the settled nature of the civilization. Numerous frescoes have been uncovered at Knossos, and Minoan art also survives in the form of small-scale sculpture, jewellery, and metalwork. The most extensive remains of Minoan art are found in pottery, ranging from giant wine jars to small, exquisitely decorated vessels. The decoration is sometimes abstract, but often incorporates imagery involving sea creatures. Another creature that figures prominently in Minoan art is the bull, which featured in religious ritual (in Greek mythology, King Minos kept a monster -- the Minotaur -- that was half-man and half-bull). The best collection of Minoan art is in the Archaeological Museum at Heraklion on Crete. The finest representation outside Crete is in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, most of it from the collection of Sir Arthur Evans. More: http://www.explorecrete.com/Knossos/knossos.html?gclid=CKKahtHjiqkCFQOGDgodLTOzjw http://www.heraklion-crete.org/knossos.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knossos http://www.fotopedia.com/wiki/Minoan_civilization http://www.ou.edu/finearts/art/ahi4913/aegeanhtml/minoan.html http://www.historywiz.org/minoanart.htm About the possible "why" the Minoan civilization disappeared from Crete: http://www.decadevolcano.net/santorini/atlantis.htm Crete and Atlantis "Some people associate Crete with Atlantis rather than Santorini. This is not opposite to the Santorini theory. Santorini and Crete shared a culture, that dissappeared on Crete about 100 years later than the eruption. Likely, the impacts of the eruption were enormous for the whole region and might have weakened the power of the Minoans on Crete, so that they could not survive for more than 100 years longer. Also, Crete would fit better to some aspects of Atlantis as described by Plato." Music: video part a (Introduction, Crete, Knossos) Composer: PSARANTONIS Antonis Xylouris (Greek: Αντώνης Ξυλούρης, 1939- ), nicknamed Psarantonis (Greek: Ψαραντώνης) is a Greek composer, singer and performer of lyra, the bowed string instrument of Crete and most popular surviving form of the medieval Byzantine lyra. He comes from the mountainous village of Anogeia in Crete and is the younger brother of the late Nikos Xylouris, a notable Cretan singer/musician as well as the older brother of Yiannis Xylouris, an equally notable Cretan musician. Psarantonis is known for the special timbre of his voice and his lyra playing style. Apart from the lyra Psarantonis plays various traditional instruments. More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psarantonis http://www.psarantonis.gr/ Song title: Να κάμω θέλω ταραχή (1986) tags: να καμω θελω ταραχη na kamw thelo taraxi ψαραντωνης psarantonis αντωνης ξυλουρης antonis xylouris cretan music κρητικη μουσική μαντιναδα Music: Video part b (Knossos, Minoan Civilization, Minoan Art, Archaeological Museum at Heraklion) Composer: YANNIS MARKOPOULOS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yannis_Markopoulos http://www.yannismarkopoulos.com/ Composition: "The Liturgy Of Orpheus": Eurydice Awaits http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.572235 Choir: Flanders Opera Chorus http://www.naxos.com/person/Flanders_Opera_Chorus/77871.htm Soloist: Elena Kelessidi , Soprano Conductor: Edwig Abrath Soundtrack: NAXOS Records: "Greek Classics", September 2007.