In the summers of 2019 and 2020, Josho Brouwers and Arianna Sacco travelled around the island of Crete, visiting various archaeological sites and museums. Here’s an overview of all the articles that were written based on their travels. Enjoy!

Blades from Malia
Status symbols of the Minoan elite?
Finds from the Minoan settlement at Malia include a number of beautiful swords and daggers, now in the Archaeological Museum of Iraklion.

With a view to the sea
The Minoan palace at Malia
We explore the archaeological site of Malia in Crete, located close to the sea. Here, remains of a “palace” have been unearthed, as well as parts of the surrounding Minoan town.

The Chieftain Cup
Another fascinating object from Agia Triada
The Chieftain Cup, currently in the archaeological museum of Iraklion, depicts a scene on one side that features a commanding figure, probably a leader of some sort.

The Harvester Vase
A beautiful vessel from Agia Triada
From the Minoan administrative centre of Agia Triada comes a black steatite vase depicting what appears to be a procession or processional dance connected to either a sowing or harvesting festival.

The Agia Triada sarcophagus
From Agia Triada comes a remarkable limestone sacrophagus with figurative scenes that may shed light on the nature of Bronze Age religion.

Agia Triada
An administrative centre in southern Crete
Near Phaistos is the archaeological site of Agia Triada, once a flourishing Minoan town that featured a palace-like structure or “villa”.

Talos, the bronze guardian
An Attic red-figure vase of the early fourth century BC depicts the death of Talos, the bronze guardian of the island of Crete.

The Phaistos Disc
The earliest “printed” text
One of the most curious finds from the Minoan palace at Phaistos is a small, clay disc featuring a stamped text on both sides.

The palace at Phaistos
Controlling the Messara Plain
At Phaistos, near Crete’s southern coast, on a hill overlooking the Messara Plain, are the impressive remains of a large Minoan palace.

Jumping the bull
The bull-leaping fresco from Knossos
We take a closer look at the bull-leaping fresco from Knossos (now in Iraklion), one of many depictions of ancient Minoan bull-sports.