“The Religious Center of the City of
Knossos:
Excavations of a Plot in the Modern Village”
by
Dr. Athanasia Kanta
Director Emerita, 23rd Ephorate of
Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities
Director of the Study Center of Cretan and
Mediterranean Archaeology at Monastiraki Amari, Rethymnon
Thursday, November 2, 2017
5:30 pm reception, 6:00 pm lecture
Rainey Auditorium, Penn Museum
3260
South St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Excavations at the upper village of Knossos in recent years have brought
to light the religious center of the town. Our rescue excavation took place for
a few months in 2011 and 2012 and then continuously from 2013 to March 2017. A
total of 525 square meters have been excavated to a maximum depth of 8.5 m.
Although the area gave a hint that remains of a cultic character might
be expected, nothing prepared us for the diachronic evidence of cult from the
Protopalatial period (1900 BC) to the Roman period (2nd century AD)
and perhaps later. Architectural finds combined with sculpture and artifacts of
precious metals clearly indicate the way cultural tradition is transmitted
through the centuries.
This lecture is sponsored by:
INSTAP Study Center for East Crete
Center for Ancient Studies, University of
Pennsylvania
Graduate Group in Ancient History,
University of Pennsylvania
Graduate Group in Art and Archaeology of the
Mediterranean World, University of Pennsylvania
Archaeological Institute of America,
Philadelphia Chapter
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology
and Anthropology
