Crete

Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth and Reality

Ancient myths meet archaeological treasures in this new blockbuster at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Carly Hilts went along to learn more about the great palace at Knossos, legendary location of the Minotaur-haunted labyrinth, and real-life repository of Minoan culture.

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This week: Knossos

According to the catalogue for the new exhibition at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, Knossos is the place where ‘myth, archaeology and reinforced concrete come together’ – a neat encapsulation of some of the world famous site’s many complexities. Perched on a…

Opposite page Still growing, this olive tree at Azorias, on Crete, is a staggering 3,250 years old; its fruit may well have been harvested for the earliest known production of olive oil. above The Palace of Knossos, with olives visible in the background.

Olives: oiling the wheels of civilisation

Olive trees thrive on poor soil where little else will grow, which means land that would otherwise be barren can produce food. This realisation triggered a true agricultural revolution – but when and where did it take place? Colin Renfrew and Evi Margaritis believe the clues were grown on Crete.