 CRETE
Crete,
the land of Daidalos and Ikaros, (the first two men who tried to fly),
the land of Minoan vases and famous frescoes. Shining and starlit, with
its black baggy breeches and fringed kerchiefs. Romantic Crete, with
its sea, rocks and gleaming plateaus.
Crete, land of full-bodied wine. Sleepless Crete, land of endless feasts
under star-studded skies. Crete, scented with wild fennel and fresh
basil. Dizzying Crete, of the worlike dances. Crete, home of EI Greco,
the famous rennaissance painter Kornaros, Kazantzakis and Prevelakis.
Crete, whose door is always wide open to both east and west. The dream
of Crete, where a person might soar in flight. Crete,”the island of
miracles”.
This
island’s fertile soil and towering peaks witnessed the development of
one of the most important civilizations on earth. The Minoans built
palace-states, the famous palatial centres of Knossos, Phaistos, Malia
and Zakros (1700-1450 B.C )
A geological catastrophe. The eruption of the volcano of Santorini in
1450 B.C. halted the Minoan civilization at its height. With the invasion
of the Archaians and the Dorians on the island the new were founded.
Then the Roman occupation set in (69-330 A.D.)
Christianity came to the island early. During the Byzantine era the
much coveted wealth of Crete was shown off by the mosaic floors of its
basilicas and in half the churches of Greece.
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