The Wildlife of Ancient Crete: Cretan Owl (Athene cretensis) 🦉

/ Rei Arkangelakis / 8 Comments

Long ago, during a time period far before Minoan civilization (the Pleistocene or Ice Age), the Cretan Owl dwelled and thrived before its untimely extinction. The last of this species tapered off after the island was inhabited by humans. While 130,000-year-old stone tools were found on Crete, denoting the brief settlement of early hominids, humans officially settled there around 6,500 BCE. Late Miocene (approximately 11 million years ago) fossil remains from Northeastern Hungary have been assigned to this genus of owls (Athene).

Athene cretensis’ first appearance was in a scholarly paper by paleontologist P.D.M. Weesie titled “A Pleistocene endemic island form within the genus Athene: Athene cretensis” (published in 1982).

a reconstruction of the Cretan owl

Key Traits of the Cretan Owl

At roughly 23 inches (60 centimeters), the Cretan owl towered over the present-day little owl (Athene noctua). Flightless or near-flightless, its short wings and long legs ensured a terrestrial advantage over its feathered counterparts. Its legs gradually lengthened over time. Athene cretensis also had a notably different humerus from other owls. The bone structure reflects the fact that this owl didn’t have any known predators, so flight wasn’t entirely necessary for its survival.

What the Cretan Owl Ate

Due to the Cretan owl pellets that were recovered from the Liko cave, this owl’s primary prey was rodents, but especially the endemic mouse Mus minotaurus, which was one of the largest in its genus.

Why the Cretan Owl Went Extinct

One of the likely reasons that A. cretensis went extinct is that its main food source also went extinct. The arrival of humans also introduced a new predator into the area that this bird didn’t need to worry about before. At that point, its ground-dwelling tendencies were a major disadvantage.

Source

“A Pleistocene endemic island form within the genus Athene: Athene cretensis” by P.D.M. Weesie

Of Olive & Sea (My Cretan Ancestry) – a poem

/ Rei Arkangelakis / 2 Comments

The three-thousand-year-old pithoi1,
the ancient ruins in the plateau of Lasithi2,
the crystalline Mediterranean & Aegean seas,
the sacred elder olive trees…
remnants of Krētē3 live within me,
these mortal bones and eternal soul
that intuitively, intrinsically know:
My mother and her mother and hers
have all instilled Minoan wonders
that will forever stir our matrilineage
and revivify each time I honor my heritage.

A bunch of olive trees by the sea
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons user Palauenc05

Οι πίθοι,
τα αρχαία ερείπια στο Λασίθι,
η κρυστάλλινη Μεσόγειος & το Αιγαίο Πέλαγος,
οι ιερές ελιές…
απομεινάρια της Κρήτης ζουν μέσα μου,
σε αυτά τα κόκαλα και την ψυχή
που γνωρίζουν διαισθητικά:
Η μάνα μου και η μάνα της και η δική της
έχουν ενσταλάξει Μινωικά θαύματα
που θα εμπνέουν για πάντα τη γενεαλογία μας
και αναβιώνουν κάθε φορά που τιμώ την κληρονομία μου.

While I may have acquired generational trauma, I’ve also had a rich culture passed down to me, and for that, I’m infinitely grateful. The aforementioned trauma has made it difficult to connect with my heritage in the traditional sense (i.e., discussing my lineage with my family), but I connect in my owns ways: through poetry, this blog, cooking authentic Cretan cuisine, reimagining ancient clothing, reading/learning about Minoan Crete, writing in my mother tongue, etc. 🇬🇷

  1. large, ancient storage jars used to store and transport liquids and grains ↩︎
  2. Located in Eastern Crete, Lasithi houses ancient sites like the Minoan palace of Zakros and the cave of Trapeza. ↩︎
  3. In Greek, Crete is not pronounced “creet”, it’s pronounced “krEEtee”. ↩︎

A Mystifying Minoan Monument Recently Discovered in Crete

/ Rei Arkangelakis / 2 Comments

In June 2024, on Papoura Hill in Kastelli, Heraklion, Crete, an ancient monument was discovered that has both mystified archaeologists and offset the plans for a new airport. As with so many discoveries related to Minoan civilization, the purpose of this expansize maze-like structure is unknown.

However, here is what’s presently known:
🔸 It stems from the Protopalatial period (2000-1700 BCE – based on the style of pottery fragments found nearby).
🔸 It was built utilizing eight 1.4-meter-thick stone rings.
🔸 It spans 157 feet in diameter.

Surprisingly, parts of it are still well-preserved.

An aerial view of the circular structure. Credit: The Greek Ministry of Culture

Archaeologist Speculations: Tombs or Area of Worship?

According to The Greek Ministry of Culture, some of its features are notably similar to Minoan tombs and Hellenic mounds due to the intricate, circular stone-ring arrangement. What’s undermining this specific  speculation is the vast number of ancient animal bones that have been uncovered. That finding, along with its location (an area of elevation), potentially points to a monument with a ritualistic purpose (offerings, sacrifices, feasts, etc.).

While these speculations seem sound, the construction plan itself did not share many similarities to other Cretan buildings of the same time period. Instead, it more closely resembled constructions from West Asia in the brink of the Bronze Age (i.e. the elliptical Middle Minoan building of Hamaizius and a circular proto-Hellenic cyclopean building of Tiryns).

Prioritizing the Protection of Ancient Sites

In addition to this labyrinthine structure, excavations have unearthed over 30 other archaeological sites throughout the area. A new airport has already been in-progress, but now that such amazing archaeological findings have been unveiled, a balance between modernization and maintaining cultural heritage must be maintained. In fact, when discussed, it was concluded that the latter is to be continually prioritized.

In general, The Greek Ministry of Culture is devoted to protecting ancient sites from modern development to safeguard the continuation of research and the conservation of history. This recent discovery, among dozens of others, gives deeper insight into a rich culture that still mystifies researchers to this day.

Sources

Smithsonian Magazine: Discovery of 4,000-Year-Old Structure in Greece Stumps Archaeologists
Live Science: Mysterious 4,000-year-old ‘Palace’ with Maze-like Walls Found on Greek Island of Crete
Hellenic Republic Ministry of Culture: ΥΠΠΟ: Εύρημα μοναδικό για τη μινωϊκή αρχαιολογία