Tom Foran Clark

Frederick had made copious notes regarding Minoa on pages and pages of information he'd printed from the Internet -- several paper piles. From all Frederick had amassed, Emery pinpointed:

Minoan civilization, the ancient Cretan culture of the Bronze Age, was named for King Minos of Crete, the son of Zeus and the Phoenician princess Europa.

At about the same time as the building of the Sphinx and Great Pyramid at Giza, and other pyramids elsewhere in Egypt -- circa 3,000 B.C., while the earliest parts of the Bible were being written -- Minoan civilization flourished on Crete. There were three basic historical periods: Early Minoan (c.3000 B.C.–2200 B.C.), Middle Minoan (c.2200 B.C.–1500 B.C.), and Late Minoan (c.1500 B.C.–1000 B.C.). Another way of looking at it: Prepalatial (2600-1900 B.C.), Protopalatial (1900-1700 B.C.), Neopalatial (1700-1400 B.C.), and Postpalatial (1400-1150 B.C.).

Early Minoa rose out of its neolithic state with the importation of metals, the tentative use of bronze, and the appearance of a hieroglyphic writing -- a pictographic script known as Linear A. The Minoans traded with Egypt and the Middle East. Ceramics, ivory carving, and metalworking reached their peak. Minoan maritime power reached across the Mediterranean. Goddess veneration predominated. Eventually, this matriarchal arrangement would give way to a patriarchal political system, concentrated in, and regulated through, the person of a king.

The king of Knossos had been Minos, who built up an extensive network of trading links throughout the Aegean Sea. To Egypt and Mesopotamia, the Minoans exported pottery, grains, wines, and oils. From them, Minoa imported luxury materials such as precious metals, jewels, and ivory. The fabulous Palace of Minos was built. Across the island, additional palaces followed. The Minoans constructed a paved road network to connect the major cultural centers. Soon, an increasingly bureaucratic administration began to permeate Minoan society, engendering new distinctions between the classes, bringing in a social hierarchy that divided the people into nobles, peasants, and slaves.

Around 2000 B.C., the first Palace of King Minos was built (it would be destroyed three hundred years later). The imposing palace was built on the hill of Kefala next to the river Kairatos. In the surrounding forest grew the Cephalonian Pine, a tree that supplied the beams and columns for the palace and neighboring Little Palace, Royal Villa, villa Dionysos, south Royal Temple, Tomb, and Caravanserai. In the Hall of the Double Axes, the chambers were adorned with griffins, lilies, dolphins, and spirals. Excavations showed the area had been inhabited since Neolithic times -- circa 6000 B.C. The area lay on a great seismic site. The Palace, destroyed time after time, always emerged from its ruins more magnificent than before -- until the last time, when there was no more recovering.

The first Minoan kings were Archedius, Gortys 2 and Cydon 1. These were all sons of Tegeates, who founded Tegea in Arcadia. Tegeates was a son of the impious Lycaon 2, who lived at the time of The Flood [see Mythical Chronology]. The three brothers emigrated from Arcadia to Minoa, and it is said that the city Gortyna was named after Gortys 2, and Cydonia after Cydon 1. After them, Dorus 1's son Tectamus sailed to Minoa with Aeolians and Pelasgians, becoming king of the island. During the time when he was king of Minoa, Zeus carried off Europa from Phoenicia. Tectamus' son Asterius 3 married Europa and became king, being succeeded in the throne by Minos 1, son of Zeus and Europa. After Minos 1, his son Lycastus 1 became king being succeeded by his own son, the more famous Minos 2. Some said it was King Minos of Minoa (Minos 2) who was the son of Zeus and the Phoenician princess Europa. This Minos had two brothers, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon. Minos 2 married Pasiphae, a daughter of the sun-god Helios. Among their children were Phaedra, Ariadne, Andregeos, and Minotaurus -- this latter was a notorious beast: half human, half bull.

Minos enjoyed great popularity. He was the king; he was a celebrity; he was a cult figure elevated almost to a divine level, winning the blind adulation of the effectively brainwashed public. He was venerated for keeping the surrounding seas safe from pirates. He was called a liberator in the war of good against evil. He was neither questioned, nor held accountable. As for his detractors, they doubted Minos was the son of Zeus and the Phoenician princess Europa. Some even went so far as to say King Minos was not only not the son of a god, he was not even favored by the gods. In fact, the gods looked with disfavor on him! "Look at Poseidon," they said.

Poseidon was brother to Zeus and Hades. The three gods had divided up creation: Zeus was ruler of the sky, Hades had dominion of the Underworld, and Poseidon was the god of water. Poseidon was always depicted as a powerfully muscular, bearded-man, carrying the mighty trident. He was the god of earthquakes, horses, water. His best known epithet was Enosichthon -- "Earth-shaker." His other epithet was Gaieochus -- "earthguarder."

He was a son of the titans, Cronus and Rhea. He was a brother of Zeus. Though Poseidon was one of the supreme gods of Mount Olympus, as the god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses he spent most his time in his watery domain. Poseidon had married Nereus's daughter, the sea-nymph Amphitrite. If King Minos was on such good terms with Poseidon, whose nickname was "earth shaker," then why did Poseidon seem so much disposed to bringing tsunamis and earthquakes Minoa's way?

King Minos never responded. "The gods look well on Minoa," the King said simply, dispelling every criticism.

Much of the king's popular appeal came from his well-rehearsed down-home Minoan style. He just had that certain "it" -- that endearing local Minoan demeanor, sense of humor, and style. Most people didn't realize that their king was actually from Phoenicia. It was easier to disarm the public when you could make them think that you were "one of them."

But even the skillful work of the king's speechwriters could not disguise the fact that Minos was not a deep thinker -- not a student of ideas -- nor even very curious. Minos was a shrewd, lustful, conniving king, but he was not given to contemplation. He was not thoughtful or deep. He was not melancholy; he was not mad. It was very easy to take King Minos lightly.

By and large, he had a tendency to rush into action. King Minos had overcome a drinking problem -- and a soma problem. Then he'd found religion. Minos insisted, "The gods speak through me." That then became his addiction -- obsession, escape from reality. He believed the gods wanted him to be king -- and that the godss worked through him -- even as tens of thousands of innocent Athenian /Minoan men, women, and children died in war. It was the gods' war. King Minos was fighting the evildoers -- "over there" in Attica-- so that the Minoans wouldn't have to fight them on their own home soil. This was truly an ingenious way to win the trusting hearts of Minoans, who had been programmed to fear the evil Athenian barbarians who wanted to kill them because they "hated Minoan freedom." It was easier than thinking. They followed Minos like sheep.

During the reign of Minos 2, Minoa had conflicts with Athens and Megara. As to the conflict with Athens: King Aegeus of Athens killed Androgeus, the eldest son of King Minos, while Androgeus was a guest of Aegeus in Attica -- or when he was killed by jealous Athenian teens competing against Androgeus -- at a sports festival held in Athens (these "panmahia" competitions were also held in Minoa and elsewhere in the Aegean Islands). Theseus and Iraklis (Hercules) were said to have co-founded "panmahia" the unarmed combative martial art of Greece -- contests simulating various aspect of actual battlefield combat. Upon the murder of Androgeus at Athens' panmahia sports festival, his father King Minos retaliated, avenging the death of his son with war. Beyond the damage done to the Athenians by Minos' army, the gods punished the Athenians with drought, famine, plague. The oracle at Delphi told the Athenians that their troubles would not end until they appeased Minos, so the Athenians immediately asked for terms of peace. Minos required that every nine years, seven boys and seven girls would be sent to Minoa as a tribute.

Now the collectors from Minoa arrived for the tribute Athens was required to send every nine years: seven boys and seven girls. There was no disagreement allowed. King Minos stuck to his guns, no matter how mountainous the evidence was that he was wrong. He never admitted to a mistake. That was viewed as "strong" -- rather than stubborn, arrogant, or immature. It was easier than engaging in critical thought. "You're either with us or against us. If you're against us, you're also against the gods. And you're a betrayer to your country, and and an evildoer."

The king's speech, delivered in a chamber of the Palace of Knossos, in which Minos announced he would, every nine years, force the Athenians to pay him a tribute of seven youths and seven maidens: "In the normal course of events, kings come to this chamber to report on the state of Minoa. Tonight, no such report is needed. It has already been delivered by the men and women of Minoa, rebuilding the Palace -- palaces -- after the earthquake and invasion; you acted, rebuilding our communities. We Minoans had known wars -- but not at the center of great Knossos -- not on a peaceful morning. Minoans had known surprise attacks -- but never before on thousands of civilians. All of this was brought upon us in a single day -- and night fell on a different world -- a world where freedom itself was under attack. My fellow Minoans, the entire world has seen for itself the state of Minoa -- and it is strong. (Applause.)

"We have seen the state of our country in the endurance of my wife Pasiphae, and our remaining children, Phaedra and Ariadne. All of Minoa was touched on the evening of the tragedy, singing 'The Gods Look Well onMinoa.' We have apprecated the lighting of candles in memory of Androgeus. We have seen the decency of a loving and giving people. Each of us will remember what happened that day, and to whom it happened. We'll remember the moment the news came -- where we were and what we were doing. We will carry memories of a face and a voice gone forever. A life has ended -- creating a task that will not end. I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest. I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the Minoan people. The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that the gods are not neutral between them. (Applause.) Tonight we are a country awakened to danger, called to defend freedom. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done. (Applause.)

"Minoans have many questions tonight. Minoans are asking, 'Who attacked our country?' The evidence we have gathered all points to Athenians. They are the same murderers who killed my son. The report on the state of Minoa has been delivered by the men and women who see it is prudent to respond to the death of my son, Androgeus, murdered in Athens at the Olympic games. Tonight, Minoa makes the following demand on the Athenians: Every nine years, the people of Athnes will deliver to me, Minos, the King of Knossos, fourteen teenagers -- seven young men and seven virgin maidens. (Applause.) This demand is not open to negotiation or discussion. (Applause.) The Athenians must comply, and must comply completely. The people of Athens will ship to Knossos fourteen teenagers every nine years, or every Athenian will face the fair justice of Minos. These measures are essential. In murdering Androgeus, the Athenians have committed an act of war against our country. They have proven themselves enemies of freedom. Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. (Applause.)

"The goal in Attica is not to make money; the goal of Athenians is to remake the world -- to impose radical beliefs on people everywhere. The Athenians practice a fringe form of extremism that perverts the peaceful teachings of Minoan scholars. Their directives command them to kill all Minoans -- making no distinction among military and civilians, including women and children. There are thousands of trained Athenian murderers. They are recruited from their own neighborhoods and brought to camps where they are trained in the tactics of killing. They are sent back to their homes or sent into hiding to plot evil and destruction. The Athenians say, "All Minoans are liars.' (Laughter.) We Minoans say, 'We are not.' (Applause.) We Minoans say, 'All Minoans condemn Athenians.' (Applause.)

"Minoans ask, 'Why do they hate us? They hate what we see right here in this chamber -- our fine government. They hate our freedoms -- our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to assemble and discuss with each other. They want to overthrow existing governments in all peace loving countries. The murderers kill not merely to end lives, but to disrupt and end a way of life. With every atrocity, they hope that Minoa will grow fearful, retreating from the world and forsaking our friends. They stand against us, because we stand in their way.

"Athens is not only repressing its own people, it is threatening people everywhere by sponsoring and sheltering and supplying murderers. By aiding and abetting murder, the Athenians offend the gods. But the gods look well on Minoa. (Applause.) Great harm has been done to us. We have suffered great loss. And in our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment. We will rally the world to our cause by our efforts -- by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail. (Applause.) I want to speak tonight directly to our neighboring islanders throughout the Mediterranean. We respect you. You are not the enemy of Minoa -- unless your government supports the murderers in Athens. (Applause.) Our war on terror begins with Athens, but it does not end there. It will not end until every Athenian murderer -- anywhere -- has been found, stopped, and defeated. (Applause.) We will starve the murderers, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to murdering Athenians. (Applause.)

"Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support the murderers will be regarded by Minoa as a hostile regime. (Applause.) We are not immune from further attack. We will take defensive measures against terrorism to protect Minoans. We are not deceived by pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind before. They are the heirs of all past murderous ideologies. They pursue a path leading only to an unmarked grave of discarded lies. (Applause.) Our response to my son's murder involves far more than retaliation. The only way to defeat murder as a threat to our way of life is to stop it, eliminate it, and destroy it where it grows. (Applause.)

"I've called the military to alert, and there is a reason. The hour is coming when Minoa will act, and you will make us proud. (Applause.) What is at stake is not just Minoa's freedom. This is the world's fight. This is civilization's fight. This is the fight of all who believe in progress, tolerance, and freedom. We ask every nation to join us. We will ask, and we will need, the help of police forces, intelligence services, and trade systems around the world. Many will be involved in this effort. The civilized world is rallying to Minoa's side. Minoa is grateful that many nations and many international organizations have already responded -- with sympathy and with support. An attack on one is an attack on all. They understand that if this murder goes unpunished, their own cities, their own citizens may be next. Murder, unanswered, can not only bring down buildings, it can threaten the stability of legitimate governments. Minoans are asking, 'What is expected of us?' I say, 'live your lives --hug your children.' I know many citizens have fears tonight, and I ask you to be calm and resolute, even in the face of a continuing threat. I ask you to uphold the values of Minoa. We are in a fight for our principles, and our first responsibility is to live by them. (Applause.)

"I thank you, my fellow Minoans, for what you have already done and for what we will do together. (Applause.) There are struggles ahead, and dangers to face. But this country will define our times, not be defined by them. As long as Minoa is determined and strong, this will not be an age of murder; this will be an age of liberty. (Applause.) Fellow Minoans, assured of the rightness of our cause, and confident of victories to come, we will meet violence with patient justice. We thank the gods for being on our side. The gods deserve our thanks -- for the gods watch over Minoa."