DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7519#0362
POST-MINOAN CRETE
327
III. THE ORIENTALIZING AND ARCHAIC PERIOD
(See Map ig)
With the eighth century the true Hellenic Period in Crete
begins. The map is particularly instructive as showing the
drift westwards of the population, or more probably the
settling of that part of the island by immigrants from the
Mainland. The great cities of Axos, Polyrrhenia, and Hyrta-
kina are founded, and very probably excavation would show-
that Phalasarna, Elyros, and Sybrita also, have remains of this
period. Only slightly smaller are the new foundations of
Rhokka, Bene, and Ornithe, the latter probably the ancient
Osmida. Eleutherna and Kydonia have expanded rapidly.
Most interesting of all, however, is the votive deposit in the
cave of Ida, the earliest elements in which are about contem-
porary with the latest elements in the Diktaian cave. Since
the birthplace of Zeus was placed by different legends at both
these sites, the apparent transference of the centre of worship
from one to the other at this period gives us a very good idea
°f the shift of power. The worship of Diktaian Zeus, however,
was still carried on at Palaikastro in the East end of the island,
where by now the population seems to have concentrated on
the one big site of Praisos. Farther West the sites of Lato and
Dreros, in Lasithi the city on the Papoura, and Phrati on the
slopes of Dikte, all show the wealth of the island. In the
South Rhytion, Gortyna, Pyloros, and Phaistos, in the centre
Knossos, Prinias (the ancient Rhezenia ?), and Astretsi (the
ancient Diatonion ?) make us feel that at last we are in touch
with Greek literature and history.
The desperate conditions of the early Iron Age have disap-
peared. The type of site now favoured is strong and defen-
sible enough—that was inevitable with the petty inter-city
Wars—but it is not inaccessible and is more in the nature of an
acropolis with the city built on the slopes (PI. VII). The coast
still seems to be avoided, probably more because of the absence
°f dignified sites than because of any specific danger. No
doubt excavation below the classical and Roman strata of later
harbour towns would reveal at least a dockyard of the Archaic
Period.
Of the constitution and laws of these cities we have some
information.1 The island was by now thoroughly ' Dorian '
and the constitution was much the same as that of Sparta.
1 Particularly Aristotle, Politics, II.
327
III. THE ORIENTALIZING AND ARCHAIC PERIOD
(See Map ig)
With the eighth century the true Hellenic Period in Crete
begins. The map is particularly instructive as showing the
drift westwards of the population, or more probably the
settling of that part of the island by immigrants from the
Mainland. The great cities of Axos, Polyrrhenia, and Hyrta-
kina are founded, and very probably excavation would show-
that Phalasarna, Elyros, and Sybrita also, have remains of this
period. Only slightly smaller are the new foundations of
Rhokka, Bene, and Ornithe, the latter probably the ancient
Osmida. Eleutherna and Kydonia have expanded rapidly.
Most interesting of all, however, is the votive deposit in the
cave of Ida, the earliest elements in which are about contem-
porary with the latest elements in the Diktaian cave. Since
the birthplace of Zeus was placed by different legends at both
these sites, the apparent transference of the centre of worship
from one to the other at this period gives us a very good idea
°f the shift of power. The worship of Diktaian Zeus, however,
was still carried on at Palaikastro in the East end of the island,
where by now the population seems to have concentrated on
the one big site of Praisos. Farther West the sites of Lato and
Dreros, in Lasithi the city on the Papoura, and Phrati on the
slopes of Dikte, all show the wealth of the island. In the
South Rhytion, Gortyna, Pyloros, and Phaistos, in the centre
Knossos, Prinias (the ancient Rhezenia ?), and Astretsi (the
ancient Diatonion ?) make us feel that at last we are in touch
with Greek literature and history.
The desperate conditions of the early Iron Age have disap-
peared. The type of site now favoured is strong and defen-
sible enough—that was inevitable with the petty inter-city
Wars—but it is not inaccessible and is more in the nature of an
acropolis with the city built on the slopes (PI. VII). The coast
still seems to be avoided, probably more because of the absence
°f dignified sites than because of any specific danger. No
doubt excavation below the classical and Roman strata of later
harbour towns would reveal at least a dockyard of the Archaic
Period.
Of the constitution and laws of these cities we have some
information.1 The island was by now thoroughly ' Dorian '
and the constitution was much the same as that of Sparta.
1 Particularly Aristotle, Politics, II.