The Lost Years

In a number posts I’ve mentioned the similarities between Plato’s Atlantis, the island of Thira/Santorini and the Minoans. In my research for my series Servant of the Gods, my focus was on the Atlantean myth. I love researching and looking for information which would help with writing my story. In the course of my sleuthing there has been a myriad of theories put forward as to where Atlantis was but not the fallout for the people. Who were they and what became of them after the destruction of their home?

In the advent of the Dark Ages that followed, all forms of art ceased, major settlements were abandoned and there was a decrease in population. It lasted for 300 plus years. What emerged were nomadic groups, moving from place to place for their livestock to eventually settle down and colonise regions as we know them today. The farming communities inspired Hesiod’s Works and Days, himself a farmer and who had rather negative attitude towards women. This was also known as the Homeric Age.

Homeric fight
by Antoine Joseph Wiertz Belgian painter (1806-1865) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Homeric_fight.jpg

During this period, there was evidence to suggest conflict and attacks on the Mycenaean Empire and their subsequent downfall. Prior to their collapse, the Mycenaean’s led an invasion to Troy/Ilios/Ilium and this no doubt affected their ability to retain power. In spite of their diminishing control, they did invade Krete not long after the eruption of the volcano on Thira. The might of the Minoans had been decimated due to the long war with Troy and the destruction of major centres such as Knossos, Phaistos, Mallia, Zakro and Chania. In all, there were 90 cities on Krete/Crete. It was an easy conquest. Then came the Sea People, race still yet to determined, and basically overran the surviving people. How many Minoans survived the aftermath of the natural disaster and invasions cannot be determined, yet there has been settlements found on Krete, on the highest mountain peaks. There is a great documentary which explains the downfall of the Minoans and the neighbouring Empires and these reclusive sites.
Secrets of the Aegean Apocalypse – Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQykroaMGx8

Prior to the Dark Ages, the Minoans was a thriving and sophisticated race. They traded with the Etruscans, Hittites, Egyptians, and the Mycenaean’s; evidence has shown the Etruscans and Mycenaean’s were influenced by their architecture and script. There is a link between Linear B script of the Mycenaean’s and the Minoan Linear A, syllabic writing. The most famous of Minoan script is the Phaistos disk found at Phaistos on Krete.

Phaistos disk
Online Museum of Greek Art & Archaeology http://cciv214fa2012.site.wesleyan.edu/the-bronze-age/exhibit-2/

How do the Minoans compare to the legend of Atlantis? We don’t know what happened to the Atlanteans following the devastation of the island. Were they completed wiped out? I don’t think so, I believe there were survivors, much like the Minoan race. The Atlanteans had the ability to write as well, they were quite learned people. Where did they go? Now that is the million dollar question. They can’t have disappeared. If the Minoan people were still around, though in small numbers, then its possible traces of the Atlantean race still existed.

However, evidence is the key and without it and theories aside, proof is needed. I personally don’t believe we have to look too far afield from the Aegean Sea, but I’m not an archaeologist nor a professor of ancient history. I am an ancient history enthusiast and eager student trying to piece together a big puzzle.

Thank you for visiting and reading.

As always, your comments are valued and welcomed.

Historical fiction fantasist Luciana Cavallaro, a secondary teacher, meanders from contemporary life to delve into the realms of mythology. Subscribe to her FREE short story http://eepurl.com/bhESs1

Reference:
Greek Dark Ages, Ancient History Encyclopaedia
Crete, Ancient History Encyclopaedia
Linear A and B tablets, Online Museum of Greek Art & Archaeology

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ancient egyptians, ancient greeks, Ancient History, Antoine Joseph Wiertz Belgian, Dark Ages, Etruscans, Greek Mythology, hesiod, Hittites, legendary tales, minoans, mycenaean, myth of atlantis, plato and atlantis, Plato’s Atlantis, Syllabic Writing, The Dark Ages