193-200

Articles

• Blomberg, Peter E.

During the last few years there have been some papers dealing with the astronomical knowledge ofthe Minoans on Crete around 2000 BC and also of later cultures on Crete and the surrounding Greekspeakingareas. These works not only deal with possible observation lines but also show that theMinoans had built structures that could be used for determining the time of the equinoxes and solstices,for developing stellar navigation as well as finding the seasons suitable for sailing and agriculture.There have also been some papers presenting an astronomical iconography seen in Minoan figurinesand seals. This paper discusses these suggested symbols of celestial bodies and some uses ofthem. It is also shown that there are links between the Minoan-Mycenaean period and Hellenistictimes, i.e. from the 3rd/2nd millennium BC down to around 200 BC. This leads to the hypothesis thatthe western map of constellations has its roots on Crete during the Minoan period around 2000 BC.

• History and Archaeology

History of astronomy, Constellations, Minoan culture, Petsophas, Knossos