Minoan Vessels and Maritime Routes – a cultural event at Knossos
A cultural event titled Minoan Vessels and Maritime Routes was recently held with great success at the Knossos Research Centre. The event was organized by the Region of Crete, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, the British School at Athens, the French Institute of Greece, and the non-profit organization Photoxenia. Davide Fecarotti and Noé Arthur Vercaemst (film directors) presented a short film titled One Vessel, Different Stories. The film combines art, archaeology, ecology, and archival material, shedding light on aspects of the underwater world through the power of imagery. It focuses on the seabed of Crete and its coastline as represented in ceramic vessels from the Late Bronze Age.
The event included an opening address by Georgia Milaki, Deputy Regional Governor for Culture and Equality of the Region of Crete. Stella Chrysoulaki, General Director of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, spoke on Underwater Landscapes in Minoan Pottery, while Kostis Christakis, the Knossos Curator, gave a talk titled Clay and Paint: the Marine World in Minoan Vessels.
Participants had the opportunity to view actual pottery shards and vessels decorated with floral and marine motifs from the collections of the Stratigraphic Museum of Knossos, showcasing the evolution of the representation of the natural world in Minoan pottery from 1600 to 1100 BC. An especially fascinating presentation was given by Dr. Valassia Issakidou, who showed seashells and fish bones from the Neolithic to the Roman period, informing the audience about the significance of studying bio-archaeological remains in understanding ancient societies.
The event was coordinated by Mrs. Maria Choulaki (Photoxenia), whom we warmly thank. Special thanks to Mrs. Georgia Milaki for her support of the cultural activities at the Knossos Research Centre and for her pivotal contribution, as Deputy Regional Governor for Culture and Equality of the Region of Crete, to promoting the rich cultural heritage of Crete.