Category: archeological sites

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The Cucuteni Culture

A few weeks ago a met a very friendly and interesting couple from Roumenië who participated in some of my excursions. On the last stop of the last excursion they made with me we sat together for a coffee and started talking about our interests in history and culture. During this conversation they showed me pictures of ceramics that look a lot like the ceramics the Minoans had made (2600 – 1400BC) I was very much amazed by the pictures but even more by the fact that these ceramics were made around 5200 – 3000BC!! in Europe!

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This vase and other ceramic foundings are part of the Cucuteni or Tripolye Culture, it is a neolithic archeological culture that was found in Transylvania. The today area of North-East Roumania, Western Ukrain and Moldova.

This Culture is called the Cucuteni Culture because the first findings of it were found in the village Cucuteni in Roumenië in spring 1885 when the first excavations started after fragments of ceramic were found during road constructions.

to be continued…..

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Archeological museum in Heraklion

The archaeological museum in Heraklion has become one of the best museums in Europe,  the finds of the Minoan civilization exhibited there are beautiful, it is unbelievable what the Minoans could make 4000 years ago, I am amazed at every display again and ag, no matter how many times I see them.

The entrance fee for the museum is only 10€, students with a student card of the EU do not pay any entrance fee and senior sitizens of the EU pay half price.

You can also pay a combination ticket for both the archeological museum and the archeological site of Knossos, that costs 16€.  But than you have to visit both place within 2 days.

In case you will visit both, take my advice and visit first the archeological museum, because then you will be able to imagine life in the palace during the Minoan sivilization much more easy.  And that is what you need on the archeological site of Knossos, a lot of imagination, YOUR imagination, so feel free to create your own story with the what you will see on both places.

On Sunday, September 30, 2018 access is free so if you are in Crete, do not miss this opportunity!

Here are pictures of some of the finds.

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The statue of Antoninus in Gortyna

Antoninus Pius was emperor of the Roman Empire when the Romans had occupied the island of Crete.  That is why you can see his statue on the archeological site of Gortyna.

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He never visited Crete but he was a very beloved emperor known for his peacefull way of ruling the whole Roman empire of that time without ever leaving Italy.  He ruled over the whole meditarenean area as also Great Britain.

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