The Palace of Minos
A Comparative Account of the Successive Stages of the Early Cretan Civilization as Illustrated by the Discoveries at Knossos

Published 1921–35, this highly illustrated multi-volume excavation report documents the discovery of Minoan civilisation on Crete.

Arthur Evans (Author)

9781108061056, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 29 August 2013

444 pages, 325 b/w illus. 4 colour illus. 1 map
29.7 x 21 x 2.3 cm, 1.06 kg

Inspired by Schliemann's discoveries at Mycenae and Troy, Sir Arthur John Evans (1851–1941), keeper of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum from 1884 to 1908, trustee of the British Museum and fellow of the Royal Society, used his inherited wealth to purchase land in Crete at Knossos. From 1900 he commenced excavations there in co-operation with the British School at Athens. Work continued for eight full seasons, uncovering a Bronze Age palace and bringing to light further architectural and artefactual remains of Minoan civilisation, including numerous texts in Linear A and Linear B. Evans' speculative reconstruction of the site in reinforced concrete remains controversial, and some of his interpretations are disputed, but his pioneering work is painstakingly detailed in this highly illustrated multi-volume work, published between 1921 and 1935, with an index volume appearing in 1936. Part 1 of Volume 4 first appeared in 1935.

90. Plans for structural re-constitution carried to completion
91. The Minoan goddess as patroness of the palace bull-ring
92. Discoveries of 1930 - outer line of enceinte wall and entrance system to the west
93. Fresh lights on polychrome pottery of the Great Age
94. A 'snake room' of domestic cult
95. The sacred 'adder mark' and a stone statuette of goddess as 'snake mother'
96. Altars and ritual of the Knossian goddess
97. Architectural friezes and other reliefs from the 'Middle Palace' at Knossos
98. Anticipations of later 'palace style'
99. The 'palace style' pottery of L. M. II.

Subject Areas: Archaeology by period / region [HDD]