The Minoans
Lost Civilizations
Bronze Age Crete is one of the most thoroughly explored archaeological regions, yet the island retains an air of mystery. This book offers an authoritative introduction to the world of the Minoans, the first ‘modern’ civilisation on European soil. With its grand palaces, a sophisticated bureaucracy complete with writing (including undeciphered scripts), exquisite artworks, powerful depictions of women and advanced urban engineering, this ancient civilisation was remarkably modern.
This readable account presents key features of Minoan archaeology – architecture, art, religion, writing and bureaucracy, and the economy. It also explores how this pioneering European civilisation has influenced Western culture, examining its reconstruction and representation in museums. This concise and up-to-date guide is essential for understanding both the history and the lasting legacy of the Minoans.
Ellen Adams is Reader in Classical Archaeology and Liberal Arts at King’s College London. She has participated in many archaeological excavations in Greece and published widely on the subject. She is the author of Cultural Identity in Minoan Crete: Social Dynamics in the Neopalatial Period (2017).
