Theseus' slaying of the vicious half-man, half-bull minotaur in Daedalus' labyrinth on the island of Crete is one of the best-known stories of Greek mythology. In this two-part documentary, host Bettany Hughes (who has appeared in earlier series' on ancient history and here acts as both tour guide and instructor) uses the legend as a starting-point for an introduction to ancient Crete's Minoan civilization. The first hour is devoted to the archeological work of figures such as Sir Arthur Evans and Harriet Boyd, who uncovered the great palace complexes—most notably at Knossos—spurring the study of this civilization that flourished on the island during the second millennium B.C.E. This section closes with a look at the decipherment of the “Linear B” tablets that led scholars to the conclusion that Crete was taken over by mainland Greeks, after a volcanic eruption (around 1450 B.C.E.) on nearby Thera devastated the island. The second part of The Minotaur's Island offers an overview of Minoan culture based on the most recent research, focusing in particular on the areas of trade and religion. While the observations about human sacrifice and the possibility of cannibalism during Crete's years of decline smack a bit of sensationalism, this is an informative and engaging history lesson, overall. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)
The Minotaur's Island
(2003) 98 min. DVD: $24.99. Acorn Media (avail. from most distributors). Volume 24, Issue 1
The Minotaur's Island
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