DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7519#0183
148 THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF CRETE
3. MIDDLE MINOAN III (M.M.IIl)
(See Map 9)
The Third Middle Minoan Period was in the nature of the
beginning of a new era, as Evans has called it. It marks the
rise of the great palaces as we see them to-day, for, in spite
of considerable alterations in detail, the plans of Knossos and
Phaistos are essentially those of M.M.ina. The present section
will take the story down from the severe earthquake at the end
of M.M.116 to the equally severe one towards, but not quite at,
the end of M.M.111&.
The map shows how quickly the island recovered from the
disaster and how much more thickly populated it had become
before the end of the period. There is one point in particular
worth noticing, and that is that in the East and South of the
island the settlements seem to be concentrating on the big
cities, while in the North and centre villages and towns are
springing up all round. The balance of power has come to
stay there, and although the power of Phaistos is shown
by the magnificence of its palace, yet it ruled over few
towns.
The wild country West of Ida is being penetrated, and seeing
that remains have been found at Apodhoulou and Pistagi, it
would not be at all surprising to find that a settlement existed
at Rhethymnos, for the two former sites are on the direct route
between Phaistos and the North coast. Furthermore, whether
the site at Khalara near Patsos is a cave, as it certainly seemed
from a superficial investigation, or merely a rock shelter for
burials, it implies something of a population in the district.
The old sacred caves seem to be losing their popularity.
Except for a few sherds Trapeza has nothing to show and the
cult has evidently been transferred to Psykhro. The Kamarais
cave, too, is falling into disuse. Other caves, however, at
Keratos and Spiliaridhia near Avdhou have acquired sanctity
and serve the spiritual needs of the newly grown population.
Skoteino and the cave of Eileithyia seem to keep their hold.
The only peak sanctuary that keeps its position is that on
Juktas, and, as we have seen, that hill had also the character
of a city of refuge.
In architecture the disaster which had just occurred gave the
builders of the palaces a comparatively free hand. They kept
3. MIDDLE MINOAN III (M.M.IIl)
(See Map 9)
The Third Middle Minoan Period was in the nature of the
beginning of a new era, as Evans has called it. It marks the
rise of the great palaces as we see them to-day, for, in spite
of considerable alterations in detail, the plans of Knossos and
Phaistos are essentially those of M.M.ina. The present section
will take the story down from the severe earthquake at the end
of M.M.116 to the equally severe one towards, but not quite at,
the end of M.M.111&.
The map shows how quickly the island recovered from the
disaster and how much more thickly populated it had become
before the end of the period. There is one point in particular
worth noticing, and that is that in the East and South of the
island the settlements seem to be concentrating on the big
cities, while in the North and centre villages and towns are
springing up all round. The balance of power has come to
stay there, and although the power of Phaistos is shown
by the magnificence of its palace, yet it ruled over few
towns.
The wild country West of Ida is being penetrated, and seeing
that remains have been found at Apodhoulou and Pistagi, it
would not be at all surprising to find that a settlement existed
at Rhethymnos, for the two former sites are on the direct route
between Phaistos and the North coast. Furthermore, whether
the site at Khalara near Patsos is a cave, as it certainly seemed
from a superficial investigation, or merely a rock shelter for
burials, it implies something of a population in the district.
The old sacred caves seem to be losing their popularity.
Except for a few sherds Trapeza has nothing to show and the
cult has evidently been transferred to Psykhro. The Kamarais
cave, too, is falling into disuse. Other caves, however, at
Keratos and Spiliaridhia near Avdhou have acquired sanctity
and serve the spiritual needs of the newly grown population.
Skoteino and the cave of Eileithyia seem to keep their hold.
The only peak sanctuary that keeps its position is that on
Juktas, and, as we have seen, that hill had also the character
of a city of refuge.
In architecture the disaster which had just occurred gave the
builders of the palaces a comparatively free hand. They kept