Memoria2 het paleis van Knossos

Summary

At the beginning of the 20th century, British archaeologist Arthur Evans uncovered the ruins of a grand building in Knossos, Crete, which he believed to be the palace of the mythical King Minos. The palace's labyrinthine structure led Evans to connect it to the myth of the Minotaur. Evans reconstructed significant parts of the palace using modern techniques like reinforced concrete and metal, and named various rooms, such as the throne room and storage areas. He even hired a Swiss artist to recreate frescoes and statues, like the famous 'snake goddess', based on his interpretations of the artifacts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sir Arthur Evans, a British archaeologist, uncovered the ruins of a large structure at Knossos on Crete in the early 20th century.
• 😀 Evans believed he had discovered the palace of the mythical King Minos, based on the structure’s resemblance to the labyrinth described in Greek mythology.
• 😀 The ruins at Knossos included remnants of walls and architectural features that Evans thought were part of the labyrinth used to imprison a monster.
• 😀 Evans reconstructed significant parts of the palace, including large rooms and corridors, based on his interpretation of what they might have originally looked like.
• 😀 He used modern construction methods like reinforced concrete and metal in his reconstructions of the palace, blending ancient and contemporary techniques.
• 😀 Evans coined names for various sections of the palace, such as the throne room and large royal chambers in the west wing.
• 😀 He identified storage areas within the palace, referring to them as 'the great magazines' based on their layout.
• 😀 Evans had frescoes (wall paintings) recreated on the palace walls, hiring a Swiss artist to fill in missing sections with their own interpretations.
• 😀 One of the most famous reconstructed artifacts was the 'Snake Goddess' statue, which Evans reimagined by adding a head and arm based on similar finds.
• 😀 Evans' reconstructions were highly influenced by his own theories, leading him to fill in gaps where original artifacts were missing, sometimes based on speculative ideas.
• 😀 Evans' work at Knossos, while groundbreaking, has been critiqued for its blending of modern elements with ancient ruins, raising questions about historical accuracy.

Q & A

Who was the British archaeologist responsible for the excavations at Knossos?

The British archaeologist responsible for the excavations at Knossos was Sir Arthur Evans.

What did Sir Arthur Evans believe he had uncovered in Knossos?

Sir Arthur Evans believed he had uncovered the ruins of the palace of the mythical King Minos.

What feature of the palace made Evans think it was the labyrinth of King Minos?

Evans believed the ruins resembled a labyrinth, which, according to legend, King Minos had built to imprison a terrifying monster.

What type of reconstruction did Sir Arthur Evans carry out at Knossos?

Evans carried out extensive reconstructions of the palace, including large rooms and chambers, based on his interpretations of how they might have looked.

What modern building techniques did Evans use during the reconstructions?

Evans used modern building techniques, including reinforced concrete and metal, during the reconstructions at Knossos.

How did Evans contribute to naming the different parts of the palace?

Evans gave names to the various parts of the palace, such as the Throne Room, and to areas he believed were royal quarters and storage rooms.

What role did a Swiss artist play in the reconstruction process?

A Swiss artist was hired by Evans to help reconstruct frescoes on the walls of the palace. The artist painted over missing sections using their own interpretations when original fragments were absent.

What was the 'snake goddess' statue, and how was it reconstructed?

The 'snake goddess' statue was one of the notable artifacts found at Knossos. Evans reconstructed the statue based on similar findings, adding elements such as the head and left arm based on his own ideas of how it might have appeared.

Why did Evans reconstruct the walls and ceilings using modern materials?

Evans reconstructed the walls and ceilings using modern materials like reinforced concrete to stabilize the structure and make it more durable for future generations.

What is the significance of Evans's work in the field of archaeology?

Evans's work at Knossos is significant because it helped uncover the ancient Minoan civilization, although his reconstructions were based on interpretations that sometimes blended fact with theory. His contributions to the understanding of ancient Crete were groundbreaking at the time.