THE PALACE OF MINOS." 



By Arthur J. Evans. 



Loss than a generation back the origin of Greek civilization, and with 

 it the sources of all great culture that has ever been, were wrapped 

 in an impenetrable mist. That ancient world was still girt round 

 within its narrow confines by the circling ••stream of ocean." Was 

 there anything beyond? The fabled kings and heroes of the Homeric 

 Age, with their palaces and strongholds, were they aught, after all, 

 but more or less humanized sun myths? 



One man had faith, accompanied by works, and in Dr. Schliemann 

 the science of classical antiquity found its Columbus. Armed with the 

 spade he brought to light from beneath the mounds of ages a real 

 Troy; at Tiryns and Mycense he laid bare the palace and the tombs 

 and treasures of Homeric kings. A new world opened to investiga- 

 tion, and the discoveries of its first explorer were followed up success- 

 fully by Dr. Tsountas and others on Greek soil. The eyes of observers 

 were opened, and the traces of this prehistoric civilization began to 

 make their appearance far beyond the limits of Greece itself. From 

 Cyprus and Palestine to Sicily and southern Italy, and even to the 

 coasts of Spain, the colonial and industrial enterprise of the "Myce- 

 nseans" has left its mark throughout the Mediterranean basin. Pro- 

 fessor Petrie's researches in Egypt have conclusively shown that as 

 early at least as the close of the Middle Kingdom, or, approximately 

 speaking, the beginning of the second millennium B. C, imported 



a Reprinted from the Monthly Review, Vol. II, London, January-March, 1901, pp. 

 115-132. The most scientific account of the exploration of the Cretan labyrinth is 

 the official statement of Mr. Evans in the Annual of the British School at Athens, 

 1899-1900. The following is a brief list of papers on the subject by men who speak 

 with authority: (1) Paul Walters in Arch., August, 1900, 3, pp. 141-151 (pi.; 6 

 figs.); (2) Mr. Evans, Biblia, September, 1900; (3) Mr. Evans and Mr. I). E. 

 Hogarth, Biblia, January, 1901 (see also Biblia, November and December, 1900); 

 (4) Mr. Louis Dyer, the Nation, August 2, 1900; (5) Mr. Evans, Murray's Monthly 

 Magazine, February, 1901, a' d (6) Mr. Hogarth in the Contemporary Review, 

 December, 1900. In Biblia, 1901, pp. 121-128, Mr. Evans describes the recent dis- 

 coveries at Knossus up to the middle of May; and the Nation, June 27, 1901, con- 

 tains extracts from letters of Mr. Evans to the Times dated May 16 and June 12, 

 telling of the latest results. 



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