Mythical Legacies and Bronze Age Realities: Revisiting Knossian and Naxian Connections (15 min)

Presenters

Shannon Crewson, McMaster University; and Kristine Mallinson, Westminster College

Abstract

Recent excavations at Stelida, Naxos, revealed a Minoan-type peak sanctuary, casting a new light on the island’s religious landscape during the Bronze Age. While peak sanctuaries are an iconic part of the Minoan ritual landscape, these types of sites are rare outside of Crete. The discovery of a Minoan-like peak sanctuary at Stelida now presents one of the few known non-Cretan examples of this type of cult site. In addition, the work at Stelida now suggests possible links to Knossos in the form of a stone ladle, handleless conical cups, and bronze anthropomorphic figurines. This new understanding of Naxos’s role in the wider Aegean invites a revising of the Theseus and Ariadne myth, which involves both Knossos and Naxos (Od. 11.320; Hesiod Theog. 947).

This paper discusses a combination of Bronze Age sites on Naxos, including Stelida, Grotta, Rizokastellia, and Yria, alongside contemporary folklore and Naxian mythology. This is done to investigate the reasons behind the development of the Theseus and Ariadne mythological story. This mythological story of Theseus, Ariadne, and Dionysus has endured on the island for thousands of years, culminating in the emergence of the carnival celebrations and the annual reenactment of the Dionysus myth. We suggest that, perhaps, in the creation of the Ariadne story, the ancient Greeks were recalling a deep memory of a popular and vibrant Naxos during the Bronze Age. By exploring how archaeology and literary traditions connect, this paper reveals the lasting impact of Naxos’s mythological heritage.