Crete: Difference between revisions
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz mNo edit summary |
imported>Domergue Sumien (Languages and scripts of ancient Crete) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}} | {{subpages}} | ||
{{TOC|right}} | {{TOC|right}} | ||
'''Crete''' is a large [[island]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] south of [[Greece]], currently part of [[Greece]]. It is centered at 35 degrees 15 minutes of North latitude and 24 degrees 45 minutes East longitude. | '''Crete''' (Modern [[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Κρήτη, Kriti'', Ancient Greek: ''Κρήτη, Krḗtē'') is a large [[island]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] south of [[Greece]], currently part of [[Greece]]. It is centered at 35 degrees 15 minutes of North latitude and 24 degrees 45 minutes East longitude. | ||
[[Image:Greece-Factbook.gif|thumb|left|350px|Greece and Crete]] | [[Image:Greece-Factbook.gif|thumb|left|350px|Greece and Crete]] | ||
==Economy== | ==Economy== | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
In stories from [[Greek mythology]], [[King Minos]] had a [[Minotaur]] inside a giant [[labyrinth]], but it was killed by the [[Athens|Athenian]] [[hero]] [[Theseus]] who used string to find his way out of the maze. | In stories from [[Greek mythology]], [[King Minos]] had a [[Minotaur]] inside a giant [[labyrinth]], but it was killed by the [[Athens|Athenian]] [[hero]] [[Theseus]] who used string to find his way out of the maze. | ||
Not much is known about the [[ | Not much is known about the language of early Minoan [[civilization]], but this language was not Greek. The [[Greek language]] (through the archaic variety of Mycenaean Greek) arrived in Crete progressively, from 1450 BC on, during the late period of the Minoan civilization, along with the settlement of Mycenaean rulers.<ref>As stated in [http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/4/eh41.jsp?obj_id=7844 The permanent exhibition of the Irakleio Archaeological Museum].</ref><ref>AMOURETTI Marie-Claire & RUZÉ Françoise (1978, reed. 1988) 'Le Monde grec antique', Paris: Hachette, p. 24, 32, 34-35</ref> Three scripts were used in the Minoan civilization: | ||
* The [[Cretan hieroglyph]]s, especially documented thanks to the [[Phaistos]] Disc, remain undeciphered. They could have been used of the early language of Minoans. | |||
* The [[Linear A]] syllabary remains undeciphered. It could have been used of the early language of Minoans. | |||
* The [[Linear B]] syllabary is deciphered: it was used to write Mycenaean Greek during the late period of the Minoan civilization. It was totally different from the classical, Greek alphabet, which appeared much later. | |||
Revision as of 05:21, 10 August 2010
Crete (Modern Greek: Κρήτη, Kriti, Ancient Greek: Κρήτη, Krḗtē) is a large island in the Mediterranean Sea south of Greece, currently part of Greece. It is centered at 35 degrees 15 minutes of North latitude and 24 degrees 45 minutes East longitude.
Economy
Crete has the lowest unemployment in Greece. The tourist sector forms the largest part, but there is substantial agricultural production and processing.
Current military
There is a large Royal Air Force base at Heraklion and a US-UK signals intelligence facility.
Second World War
In Operation Mercury, Crete was conquered by German air assault forces, but at extremely heavy cost that prevented Germany from using large airborne forces in the rest of the war.
Ancient society
It was the site of the Minoan civilization.
In stories from Greek mythology, King Minos had a Minotaur inside a giant labyrinth, but it was killed by the Athenian hero Theseus who used string to find his way out of the maze.
Not much is known about the language of early Minoan civilization, but this language was not Greek. The Greek language (through the archaic variety of Mycenaean Greek) arrived in Crete progressively, from 1450 BC on, during the late period of the Minoan civilization, along with the settlement of Mycenaean rulers.[1][2] Three scripts were used in the Minoan civilization:
- The Cretan hieroglyphs, especially documented thanks to the Phaistos Disc, remain undeciphered. They could have been used of the early language of Minoans.
- The Linear A syllabary remains undeciphered. It could have been used of the early language of Minoans.
- The Linear B syllabary is deciphered: it was used to write Mycenaean Greek during the late period of the Minoan civilization. It was totally different from the classical, Greek alphabet, which appeared much later.
- ↑ As stated in The permanent exhibition of the Irakleio Archaeological Museum.
- ↑ AMOURETTI Marie-Claire & RUZÉ Françoise (1978, reed. 1988) 'Le Monde grec antique', Paris: Hachette, p. 24, 32, 34-35