CRETE

Crete has been selected by Roberto Amati in relation to the real history of european integration, then enlisted in the People, Dates, Places and Events category, accompanied by own fact SHEET useful to the comprehension, completed of historical MAPS AND IMAGES or with a direct linking to the related Blog contents dedicated to the entire history of european integration and the future of Europe.

Crete is one of the most important place in the history of european integration and will probably have influence on the future of United europe, as prior settlement for the European peoples and melting pot point of cultures from Asia, Africa and Europe, cause of his geographic position will probably have the same importance in next times to come.

Where is Crete? Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean, sited in the eastern part between the coasts of Greece and Egypt, ideal point of passage for maritime tradings with Middle East and Africa, also for cultural influences and historical events. To give an example at the end of the IV Crusade (1204 A.D.) the isle was sold to the Republic of Venice, which fitted Crete into its growing commercial empire after a millennium of dominion of the Roman Empire. Its position favoured the melting pot of cultures and the first European civilization of the Minoan people, whose main settling are found at Knossos (Knosós or Cnossus), Phaestus (Phaestos) and in numerous other locations throughout the island (while the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion/Irákleio contains a collection of most of the Minoan civilization’s major artifacts). By 3000 B.C. the Minoan civilization signed the Bronze Age and reached its peak in the XVI century B.C., trading widely in the eastern Mediterranean, producing striking sculpture, frescoes, pottery, jewelry, and metalwork still known all over Europe as a typical example of the cultural and artistic of the European identity.

But Crete had a great past in the mythic age, when had been the birthplace of the greek God Zues escaped from his father and grown up under a goat to one day vindicate Uranus and take the leadership of the Olypiads God's council. Time after Zeus (in shape of a white bull) kidnapped and abused Europa on the island, giving birth to Mino the first king-priest of Crete and founder of the Minoan civilty. There came the first European alphabet (Linear-A) and in the isle emerged the cult of the Minotaurus, a middle bull and middle man living in the labyrinth of the royal palace of Knossos where was used to eat young people sent from all around as gift or pledge to the Minoan king: as long as the hero Teseus (founder of Athens) came to free athenians hostages (thanks to the "philus of Arianne") and killed the monster. How many traits of the European artistic and cultural identity can you find here? But the use of sacrifical or orgiastic rites continued during the historical age, with the baccanales or Cybele (mother of gods) also imported in Rome by Julius Caesar and with the ancient sacrifical rites of the bull to god Moloch, following the Phoenician uses coming from Babylon. The civilties loyal to the celest bull of the sky were the ancient in Middle East (read this article) and throught the Phoenician spreaded in Tartessus civilty, in the Iberian peninsula where the bull shows are pratcticed still nowadays, and the Mitraism symbolism and sacrifical rites used in Europe before the Christianity affirmation.

In Crete emerged the first christian community already in I century A.D. after the evangelization of Saint Paul and the Diaspora Israelites of 70 A.D., following the conquest of Jerusalem by the Romans, who had annexed the isle together with all Greece in II century B.C.. In fact, after having suffered a major earthquake that destroyed almost all Crete centres around 1450 B.C., it was occupied by Mycenaeans and time after by the Dorians (others Greek-speaking peoples), so becoming integrated part of the greek world and culture (Magna Graecia). In 395 A.D. the island passed under the the Eastern Roman Empire (after Byzantine Empire) and the native Cretans never abandoned their Greek language and christian Orthodox religion until nowadays, despite the domination of the Ottoman Turks who wrested the capital city of Candia (italic name for Crete) from the Venetians in 1669 A.D. after one of the longest sieges of the whole history of european integration, who had been finally expelled in 1898 A.d. after which the island held autonomous status until its union with Greece in 1913 A.D..

Crete is famous in the world also for the particular material used for thousands years until nowadays to model and forge common use objects as plates, anphoras, cups, vasi. In the greek myth it had been used to create Pandora, the first human woman "virgo" who became the femine ancestor of the Ellenic peoples! Time after Zeus ordered her to spread all troubles, evils and illness among humanity (by breaking a vase of crete), while the Gods transferred to the Northern Garden where living in peace, safely and eating ambrosia to get immortality. Today Crete is known as typical touristic destination, land of ancient greek origins and traditions, ruins of the Minoan age and traces of Minotaurus, even if the isle can offer nice coasts, healthfulness internationally renowned cousine and good weather quite all the year, to enjoy in the several natural harbours and coastal plains where are located the major towns as Chaniá (historically Canea), Réthymno (Rhithymna) and the capital Irákleio. The Cretan landscape is dominated by characteristic Mediterranean scrub (maquis or garigue), palm trees are intermittent along the coasts, and cedars in the east part of isle aside an array of plant species (notably flowers) thrive in the moderate climate, many of them native to the island.

---