‘Out in the dark blue sea there lies an island called Crete, a rich and lovely land, washed by the waves on every side, densely peopled and boasting ninety cities.”
Homer Odyssey 19, 172-174
THE EMERGENCE OF CIVILIZATION
Τhe first European civilization emerged here, over 4000 years ago established by the Minoans. According to the Greek mythology, the first queen of Crete was Europe (Europa) and her husband was King Minos. The king refused to sacrifice a bull to the gods and Poseidon punished him by making his wife fall in love with a bull. From this union the Minotaur was born and was hidden in a labyrinth. Another legend says that to avenge the death of his son by the Athenians, King Minos made them send seven young girls and boys to Crete every nine year, as a sacrifice to the Minotaur. During an expedition of the mythical hero Theseus (the son of the King of Athens) and with the help of Ariadne (the daughter of the King Minos), Theseus managed to kill the Minotaur and find his way out of the labyrinth.
THE PALACES
The great palaces of Knossos, Phaistos, Zakros and Palaikastro (amongst others) are left to remind us of what once was the beginning of the first administrative centers, rulers, laws and civilians. The reasons why however, this civilization collapsed remain a somewhat gray area for historians and archaeologists but it appears that Crete was invaded by the Myceneans around 1400 BC.
ROMAN TIMES
In 69 BC Crete was conquered by the Romans and Gortys was then made the capital of the island.
BYZANTINES, ARABS, VENETIANS AND OTTOMANS
Later on, the Byzantine Empire followed in the beginning of 3rd century AD until the 8th century with the invasion of the Arabs. Byzantines reoccupied the island until the end of the second byzantine period (1212) when it was conquered by the Venetians. The rule of the Venetians lasted until 1669 when the island was once again conquered –this time by the Ottomans. The Ottoman rule lasted until 1898 when Crete was under international administration. In 1913, Crete was officially a part of the Greek state.
WORLD WAR TWO- THE BATTLE OF CRETE
During World War II the battle of Crete played a major part in the outcome of the war. The resistance the Nazi troupes encountered was something they never expended to find, delaying their plans for a massive invasion in the rest of Europe. Eventually all of Crete fell under German Nazi occupation. Many Cretans were executed for their part in the resistance against the German invasion. The cities of Heraklion and Chania were heavily bombarded and reminders of the war can still be seen today.
ARTS IN CRETE
During all those years, painting, literature, poetry and architecture flourished. The famous painter El Greco (Domenicos Theotocopoulos) was born in Crete (Fodele) and he painted his first byzantine icons there. Artists and scholars both from Venice and from Constantinople mingled creating a unique form of art namely the ‘Cretan school of art’. In the most recent past, one of the most talented writers of Greece, Nikos Kazantzakis was born (1883-1957) He was the writer of the famous novel Zorbas the Greek. Today the grave of Kazantzakis is standing on Heraklion Fortress Walls which is located near the New Gate.
