2019 Greek Odyssey – Day 18 Part 2

HERAKLION – yes folks another museum

This is the Heraklion Archeological Museum. It is full of goodies from Knossos and many, many other places. I cannot remember how much the admission fee was – but that is neither here nor there. Let’s go in and discover –

After the security scan I am in and there is a display of what I would call modern art decco items based on ancient items. A quick look – then off to the real stuff.

You cannot think of Crete without thinking of Knossos and the Minoans – the first exhibition – Neolithic Knossos – four thousand years of life in the Kairatos River Valley 7000-3000 BC contains many items of pottery and jewellery.

Above left is a clay pot 4500-3000 BC – centre is a marine ritual triton shell 3600-3000BC and left if a marble figurine of a standing male. The material and the natural rendering are unusual for the period 6500-5900 BC. That is nearly 8000 years ago.

Above left is what is known as ‘Vasiliki’ ware – mostly jugs and tea pots with exaggerated spouts. They were found at Vasiliki in Ierapetra, a flourishing town that was destroyed by fire around 2200 BC. Right are clay pots in the shape of a boat, house and there is an unusual pot with horns. Discovered at Lebena 3000-2100 BC.

These items comprise those that were sewn to clothing, banded diadems,. myrtle leaves and chains. Dating from 2600-1900 BC, they are made from gold and rock crystal. There are pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, ear-rings and pendants.

Below are vessels for serving liquids. They are products of a local workshop in Vasiliki 2300-1900 BC.

The shape and artwork on these vessels are incredible. Don’t you find them interesting? I do.

Moving along – more jewellery more intricate pottery items – I think the pottery is more interesting than the jewellery. Below are some clay vessels and elaborate teapots where herbs were placed on the strainer and hot water was poured over them into the vessel to prepare the tea. They really are wonderfully decorated – –

Speaking of elaborate vessels, what do you think of this?

It is part of a set of luxury Kamares vessels used for banqueting ceremonies on Phaistos. Ancient Phaistos was located about 5.6km east of the Mediterranean Sea and 62 km south of Heraklion and was the second largest city of Minoan Crete.

This krater has appliqued lilies that are delicately attached to the bowl and the stem. There is also a large fruit stand, a dish stand and a ewer. These pieces bear similar decorative motifs which indicates that they were made by the same artisan. You might say they were part of the Royal Dinner Service – dated from 1800-1700 BC.

This piece really caught my eye – unfortunately I did not get photos of the rest of the set – what was I thinking? Must have had a senior moment for sure.

Below left is a small jar decorated with fish caught in a net. This is one of the earliest examples of the shift in Minoan vase painting depicting the natural world. Phaistos 1800-1700 BC.