The famous labyrinth-decorated coins from Knossos, Crete, date from the last three centuries BCE. Issued by the Hellenic trading colony founded on the site, their designs surely allude to the legendary Labyrinth at Knossos, in which King Minos imprisoned the ferocious Minotaur, but long since destroyed by the time the coins were issued from around 300-70 BCE. The Minoan palace/temple complex at Knossos, destroyed several times during its long history, but finally abandoned c.1380 BCE was excavated by Arthur Evans during the early 20th century, but no examples of the labyrinth symbol have been found within the structure, although fragments of complex labyrinthine designs were discovered on wall frescoes. Similar Minoan frescoes recently excavated at the site of the ancient city of Avaris in Egypt are dated to 1550 BCE and provide fascinating clues to the early origins and spread of the Minotaur and Labyrinth stories. Image: Greek coin with Knossos labyrinth amd with the word Knossos imrpinted ,150BC.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 23:38:25 +0000
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