The Minoans
Lost Civilizations
Published on 1. August 2025
Book
Hardback
200 pages
978-1-83639-047-3 (ISBN)
Description
Bronze Age Crete stands as one the most extensively explored parts of the world archaeologically, yet the island maintains an air of labyrinthian mystery. This book offers an authoritative introduction to the world of the Minoans, the first 'modern' civilization on European soil. With its grand palaces, a sophisticated bureaucracy complete with writing (including enigmatic, undeciphered scripts), exquisite gold and ivory artworks, unique and powerful depictions of women, and advanced urban engineering, including flushing toilets, this ancient civilization had remarkably modern elements.
This book presents key features of Minoan archaeology, including architecture, art, religion, writing, bureaucracy and the economy. It also explores how this pioneering European civilization has influenced Western culture since its discovery, and how Minoan culture has been reconstructed, reimagined and represented in museum displays. This concise and up-to-date guide is essential for understanding both the history and the lasting legacy of the Minoans.
This book presents key features of Minoan archaeology, including architecture, art, religion, writing, bureaucracy and the economy. It also explores how this pioneering European civilization has influenced Western culture since its discovery, and how Minoan culture has been reconstructed, reimagined and represented in museum displays. This concise and up-to-date guide is essential for understanding both the history and the lasting legacy of the Minoans.
Reviews / Votes
In this book, Ellen Adams has provided a very readable, lively, informative and thought-provoking overview of the Minoans. I highly recommend it to anybody seeking a brief introduction to this great civilization of Bronze Age Crete. * Nicoletta Momigliano, Professor of Aegean Studies, University of Bristol, and co-editor of Hellenomania * This book expertly summarises over a century of research into Minoan Crete, while also considering its contemporary resonances, presentation and reception. It is an ideal introduction to a fascinating subject. * Andrew Shapland, Sir Arthur Evans Curator of Bronze Age and Classical Greece, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Laminated cover
Illustrations
66 illustrations, 43 in colour
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
524 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83639-047-3 (9781836390473)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Ellen Adams is Reader in Classical Archaeology and Liberal Arts at King's College London. She has participated in many archaeological excavations in Greece and published widely on the subject. She is the author of Cultural Identity in Minoan Crete: Social Dynamics in the Neopalatial Period (2017).
Content
Chronology
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: Needing the Minoans
Chapter 2: Finding the Minoans
Chapter 3: Identifying the Minoans
Chapter 4: Monumentalising the Minoans
Chapter 5: Housing the Minoans
Chapter 6: Writing the Minoans
Chapter 7: Controlling the Minoans
Chapter 8: Ritualising the Minoans
Chapter 9: Reconstructing the Minoans
Chapter 10: Displaying the Minoans
Chapter 11: Reinventing the Minoans
Further Reading
References
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: Needing the Minoans
Chapter 2: Finding the Minoans
Chapter 3: Identifying the Minoans
Chapter 4: Monumentalising the Minoans
Chapter 5: Housing the Minoans
Chapter 6: Writing the Minoans
Chapter 7: Controlling the Minoans
Chapter 8: Ritualising the Minoans
Chapter 9: Reconstructing the Minoans
Chapter 10: Displaying the Minoans
Chapter 11: Reinventing the Minoans
Further Reading
References
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index