9 September 2022. Iraklio, Crete.

This blog post covers the second tranche of photos taken at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.

The object shown above is the so-called Chieftain Cup found at the Minoan palace of Agia Triada. Archaeologist Robert Koehl has argued that this chalice represents a homoerotic same-sex rite of passage, perhaps associated with ancient kidnapping rituals that were once part of the passage to manhood of young men on Crete.

Below is the Harvester’s rhyton, also from the Minoan palace of Agia Triada. It depicts a scene of workers singing as they return from the barley harvest.

Above are several examples of the extraordinary artistic mastery of Minoan artisans.

Above left is an example of a carved rhyton, which closely resembles that depicted in a wall painting in the tomb of Rekhmire during the time of Pharaoh Thutmose III – Amenhotep II, ca. 1479-1400 BCE (above right). Minoans were master carvers, potters, and painters, and the evidence from Egypt shows that products and artisans from the land of Crete were in demand as luxury goods and services both there and throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Trade was absolutely essential for the Minoans, who did not have native sources for copper and tin, necessary for the production of bronze weapons and utensils, or of the gold and ivory used in statues and jewelry.

Above, I mentioned wine as one of the Minoan export products. The Minoans likely adopted the practice of wine-making from their long association with Egypt. One of the oldest vinting operations in Europe is located on Crete at the Minoan manor house at Vathypetro. I haven’t been able to visit this 4,000-year-old winery, but it’s on my bucket list. The museum houses a similar setup in its collection (below left). A Minoan pitcher with a grape motif is shown below right.

This post is also running long, so I’ll try to finish up the museum in the next post. I leave you with music played on a recreation of the lyre that is painted on the Agia Triada sarcophagus. Dated to 1420-1380 BCE, the Agia Triada image may be the oldest depiction of a lyre in the world.

— Να εχεις μια ωραια μερα. —