Crete (Κρήτη)

[Q Man]

Crete (Κρήτη)

Government: Principality (Achaea)
Pantheon: Greco-Roman (G)



Ruler: George Alexandros IV <King Minos>
Capital: Cnossos (Pop.: 20k)
Other Cities (and pop.):
Canea: 15k

Location: Aeropa (Mare Librum Islands)
Language: Greek
Pop.: 200k
Flag/Emblem:
Flag: Golden fish w/ a
black bull's head
regardant<> on a blue field.

Coinage: Phoenician Standard.
Important Persons: Nobs, officials, clerics, etc.
Alliances: Hellenic Leauge.
Hostilities: Cyprus.
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: None.
Intrigues: Unknown.
Magickal Devices: The dreaded Knife ov Nethersummoning is in the
hands of Prince Alexandros, && the Cretans also have the Minoan
Doubleaxe once again. Other things ov less potency are in the
possession ov the realm && various nobs && others ov importance.

Alignment: Neutral



Thumbnail Sketches: Crete is just a little smaller than Corsica,
having a territory ov some 3,250 sq. mi. Its southern coast
lacks god harbors && is high && bluff, but that ov the north has
many xcellent ones. Much of the island is mountainous, && the
slopes are tree-clad, tops snow-covered where they exceed 7,000
feet or so. The forests are thick, && oak, chestnut, && fine cypresses are
the most valuable woods found therein. Recently, the gummint has
taken steps to repopulate the wild lands, so now there are panthers,
bears, wolves, boars, and deer in addition to the wild goats which have so long
been a feature of Crete. Other sorts of small game is also present.

The people of Crete are ov mixed sort, the original inhabitants being
absorbed by the Grecians, then intermixed with AEgyptians &&
Phoenicians, Lybbosians and Shamish, before being brought into
the Hellenic sphere once again. Although the vast majority ov the
people are ov the peasant class, they are relatively cosmopolitan in their
outlook. There is bondage but neither slavery nor serfdom on Crete.
Both the middle && upper classes are small, && the state relies
primarily on its free peasantry for defense. A small squadron ov galleys
is also maintained for this purpose.

Coastal lowlands produce crops ov wheat && some maize as well.
Some cotton && tobacco is now being raised. Vitaculture is active,
&& orchards of orange, lemon, quince, grapefruit, && citron stand
beside those of olive, carob, almond, pear, apple, && mulberry
(mostly for semiculture). Livestock consists of poultry, goats, sheep,
&& donkeys. Fishing is a major industry.

Minor deposits of lead, copper, iron, manganese, salt, zinc, coal,
&& sulphur are mined.

Cretan pottery is exported to many places in the Mare Librum.

[Q Man]

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Minotaur in its labyrinth. Roman, 3rd AD, Conimbriga, Portugal.

[Q Man]

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Minoan Bull Leaper: bronze, 1,700 BC, Crete, now BM. Informative piece by Jeremy McInerney: t.co/eIjxElZzZo

[Q Man]

This is so bad ass....

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3,500 year old Minoan Bulls head rhyton (drinking vessel) found in the Palace of Knossos, Crete

[Q Man]

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Labyrinth & centaur (drawing of a greek [sic!] inscription from Creta), G. Marcanova, Collectio antiquitatum (1471?)

[Q Man]

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7th century BC Cretan bronze helmet

[Q Man]

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Minoan restored gold & crystal table, thought to be a board game, found at Knossos and dated 1600 BC

[Q Man]

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Why not to eat octopus t.co/Mnn8EnTcey Minoan stirrup jar 1,500 BC, Heraklion Arch Mus. #justssaynotocalamari

[Q Man]

I absolutely love unsolved texts!

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The mysterious 3,500 year old Phiastos clay disk, found on the island of Crete & written in unknown hieroglyphics

[Q Man]

I find this high quality ancient art to be mindboggling!

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Duck, Akrotiri, 17th BC.

[Q Man]

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The Antikythera Ephebe bronze, dated to 340 BC and found in an ancient shipwreck in the Aegean Sea just off Crete

[Q Man]

Really impressed by this! Always fascinated: The legends from Knossos, Ariadne, Theseus & the Minotauros!

[Q Man]

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Ancient Greek silver labyrinth coin found in the Cretan ruins of Knossos, dated to c.400 BC

[Q Man]

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Exquisitely carved Cretan bull: agate sealstone just 2.2cm across, late Minoan 1600-1400BC t.co/Y1bSGgZoTV

[Q Man]

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The Minotaur, a bull-headed monster born to Queen Pasiphae after she had coupled with a bull.
#monstersinantiquity

[Q Man]

Olive tree of Vouves



"This tree is found on the Greek island of Crete. It is believed that it is at least 2,000 to 3,000 years old, although experts cannot tell its exact age. Despite this, it still produces olives, and they are considered highly prized." (1)

[Q Man]

In Greek mythology, the labyrinth (Greek: λαβύρινθος labyrinthos) was an elaborate structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos.



Silver coin from Knossos depicting the labyrinth, 400 BC.

[Q Man]

Bulls hold a special place in Crete, and, the deadly sport of bull-leaping is practiced.

[Q Man]

Labrys (Greek: λάβρυς, lábrys) is the term for a symmetrical double-bitted axe originally from Crete in Greece, one of the oldest symbols of Greek civilization; to the Romans, it was known as a bipennis.[1]

[Q Man]

The lejends are not true. It is not just a labyrinth: it is a megadonjon.

[Q Man]

Gorgons are found on the isle of Crete, where the bull is considered to be sacred. Although Crete is nominally a Greek pantheon realm, above all of the Greek gods is the worship of a Great Goddess, one whose nature remains a mystery. She is often depicted as holding snakes, though it is the bull that ends up being sacrificed to her. Within this context, there are also rumours of a darker side to the religious life of Crete, involving a Dark Goddess, human sacrifice, and, cannibalism (especially that of children). The truth of these rumors remains unknown.

In the meanwhile, there is the overshadowing prophecy of a "Bull from the Sea" that may arise, and, destroy Crete. Magma para-elementalists think that this is all religious cow manure, and, that the only empirical fact with regards to this is the increasing activitie of the volcanoes ov Thera, some 88 miles to the north-northwest ov Crete. Thera has erupted before, in the past, about 666 years ago, and, this was enough to drive back civilization in the eastern part of the Mare Librum by hundreds of years. It seems that history might repeat itself, and, that the Minoan prophecy of the Final Days, and, the "Bull from the Sea", might come to pass.

[Q Man]

Leopards, sacred to Dionysus, are found on the isle of Crete, and throughout the other Greek realms.

[Q Man]

Minotaur lizards are found on and under the isle of Crete.

[Q Man]

A minotaur lives in the center of the labyrinth of Cnossos. Born of the perverted mating of the Queen and a bull, he is now offered the sacrifices of young men && women (teenagers), often slaves bought from Achaea (Hellas) and other realms of the Mare Librum.