Origin of the saffron crocus traced back to Greece:Since ancient times, saffron has been giving dishes a golden-yellow hue and an aromatic flavour. The use of the stigmas of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) is depicted in frescos from Crete and Santorini, which are as old as 3600 years. Nowadays, the valuable plant is mainly cultivated in Iran accounting for more than 90% of the saffron production. For the remainder of this informative article, click on the logo image above. Saffron:
Map of Ancient Greece illustrating the distribution of saffron:
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Category: Knossos
Translation of Linear B tablet KN 571 Rb 01 by Rita Roberts:This is the very last tablet Rita Roberts has had to translate to fulfill the requirements of her third year of university. In 3 years she has translated at least 250 tablets. Congratulations are in order!
Translation of Linear B tablet KN 562 Se 01 by Rita Roberts:
summer haiku d’été – the blue bird fresco = fresque de l’oiseau bleu the blue bird fresco with wild roses and irises springs to lifeles roses et iris sur la fresque de l’oiseau bleu renaissent encore Richard Vallance The blue bird fresco is to be seen in Knossos. La fresque de l’oiseau bleu se trouve à Knossos.
Imagine my utter astonishment when I just now revisited a rare Minoan Linear A tablet from Malia, and deduced that it may be written in proto-Greek! And here it is, complete with a fairly complete decipherment, except for the word puwi, which utterly escapes me:As I have just pointed out in the illustration of this tablet above, the implication for the eventual (all but complete?) decipherment of Minoan Linear A are nothing short of staggering ! The first time I attempted to decipher this tablet, I got absolutely nowhere, but this time round the story is quite different. Compare the decipherment of this rare Minoan Linear A tablet with my decipherment of a Minoan Linear A medallion, on which is inscribed what appears to be the Linear A ideogram for “man”, but in fact is not.
I have explained this in some detail in the preview of my article, “The Mycenaean Linear B “Rosetta Stone” to Minoan Linear A Tablet HT 31 (Haghia Triada) Vessels and Pottery”, to be published in Vol. 12 (2016) of the prestigious international journal, Archaeology and Science (Belgrade) ISSN 1452-7448 (the article being currently under wraps until it is eventually published, probably early in 2018), and which will run to at least 50 pages.
Stunning frescoes from Knossos, Third Palace, Late Minoan III b (ca. 1450 BCE) Post 1 of 2
Knossos, Queen’s Megaron restored, Third Palace, Late Minoan IIIb (ca. 1450 BCE) Post 3 of 3:
Knossos, Queen’s Megaron restored, Third Palace, Late Minoan IIIb (ca. 1450 BCE) Post 2 of 3:
POST 1,100: Knossos, Queen’s Megaron restored, Third Palace, Late Minoan IIIb (ca. 1450 BCE) Post 1 of 3:
There is only one building on the site of the ruins of Knossos which has been fully restored, and that is the so-called magnificent “Queen’s Megaron”. It is an edifice of startling beauty, and contains the first known throne in any ancient palace in Europe.
The Throne Room is adorned with stunning frescoes of griffins, as illustrated here:
Knossos, Bull Portico photos, Third Palace, Late Minoan IIIb (ca. 1450 BCE) Post 2 of 2:
Knossos, Bull Portico photos, Third Palace, Late Minoan IIIb (ca. 1450 BCE) Post 1 of 2:
Here you see the first 3 photos of the Bull Portico photos, Third Palace, Knossos, Late Minoan IIIb (ca. 1450 BCE). The architecture is simple, but magnificent. The fresco of the bull is stunning. The bull was the standard symbol of almost all ancient Occidental civilizations, and that of Persia as well, until later into Antiquity. I wish to draw your attention specifically to the incredibly accurate circular designs on the frieze. As with all Greek architecture, the proportions are absolutely perfect, from one circle to the next.
Even the Parthenon of Athens was flanked by bulls at its entrance, as illustrated here:
More photos from Knossos (stairs and foundations): Post 2 of 2
More photos from Knossos (stairs and foundations): Post 1 of 2
More photos from Knossos (upper Agora, Hall of the Double Axes):
Columns from the Late Minoan IIIb Palace (ca 1450 BCE) Post 2 of 2:![]()
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Columns from the Late Minoan IIIb Palace (ca 1450 BCE) Post 1 of 2: