The book of the ancient Greeks: An introduction to the history and civilization of Greece from the coming of the Greeks to the conquest of Corinth by Rome in 146 B.C. — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The book of the ancient Greeks: An introduction to the history and civilization of Greece from the coming of the Greeks to the conquest of Corinth by Rome in 146 B.C.
John Stuart Mill · en
After the glory of the Golden Age of Crete came destruction. Some
tremendous disaster broke for ever the power of the Sea-Kings. We do
not know {20} what happened, beyond the fact that Knossos was burned,
but from our knowledge of the life of the time and the methods of
warfare, we can make a picture of what probably took place. There
may have been some terrible sea fight, in which the fleet was worsted
and driven back upon the shore. Then the conquerors would march upon
the town and besiege it. The inhabitants, knowing that all was at
stake, would defend it to the last with the most savage fury, cheered
on by the women, who knew that if the city was taken there would be
no hope for them. Their husbands and sons would be slain, the city
utterly destroyed by fire and themselves taken captive. This is what
happened at Knossos. We know the fate of the city, but nothing of
the conquerors. Egyptian records of this time say that "the isles
were restless, disturbed among themselves," but that is all we know.
The invaders, whoever they were, and from whereever they came, do not
seem to have been men of a highly civilized type, for they left
untouched many works of real art, and carried off only such articles
as could be turned into material wealth. These were the things they
evidently valued, and the degree of civilization to which nations or
individuals have attained, can usually be measured by the comparative
values they put on things.
And so Knossos fell, and she tasted of "the woes that come on men
whose city is taken: the warriors are slain, and the city is wasted
of fire, and the children and women are led captive of strangers."[10]
{21}
The old Knossos was never rebuilt, though another city grew up in the
neighbourhood. The site of the old palace became more and more
desolate, until at length the ruins were completely hidden under a
covering of earth, and the ancient power and glory of Crete became
only a tradition. And so it remained for long centuries, until
archaeologists, discovering what lay beneath those dreary-looking
mounds, recalled for us that spring-time of the world.
[1] Iliad, XIV.
[2] Odyssey, XIX.
[3]Odyssey, III.
[4] Iliad, XVIII.
[5] See p. 374.
[6] Important excavations in other parts of Crete have been carried
on by Mr. and Mrs. Hawes. (See Bibliography, p. 410).
[7] Sir Arthur Evans: in the _Monthly Review_, March, 1901.
[8] Iliad, XVIII.
[9] Odyssey, VII.
[10] Iliad, IX.
{22}
CHAPTER III
THE MAINLAND
I. TROY AND THE FIRST DISCOVERIES