Description
Join in the conversation about one of the most unique cultures of the ancient world that flourished on Crete, regarded today as the first advanced culture on European soil: meet the Minoans.
Between 7000 and 1100 BCE, on the beautiful island of Crete in Greece, a magnificent prehistoric culture was produced: most people know it as ''Minoan" the term used for its pinnacle from 3200 BCE onwards. Exceptionally advanced with highly developed technologies, the sophisticated Minoans possessed an imaginative power and childlike freshness the Eastern Mediterranean world had never seen before.
We will look beyond the widely held view of the hippie culture of flower-loving peaceful Minoans by using archaeological finds: from the complex architecture of palaces, towns, and tombs to the first writing systems of Europe. We’ll assess Minoan arts and crafts, from the mind-blowing craftsmanship of frescoes, jewels, and figurines. We’ll discuss how the emerging picture is not one of a monolithic culture but of a highly organized, stratified society that had the ability to absorb elements of Bronze Age contemporaneous civilizations, like the Egyptians, and transform them according to their own personality, constantly evolving until their decline.
Led by Dimitra Pilarinou, an expert on Minoan Archaeology, this interactive seminar will present an overview of the Minoan world. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased knowledge of the multifaceted aspects of the cradle of Europe's civilization.
About Your Expert
Dimitra Pilarinou is a Greek archaeologist and Licensed Tour Guide with a Masters degree in Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean. She has worked in excavations all around Greece, has given speeches on various topics in Seminars and Congresses, and has appeared on documentaries about the Minoans on History Channel and Travel Channel.
Audience
This conversation is suitable for all ages.
Duration
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.