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Knossos
Knossos.
The legendary Labyrinth.
Go back millennia to a time when Knossos was the jewel of Crete, center of commerce and pilgrimage. A Neolithic sea captain is driven to find a new homeland for his people when the neighboring tribes turn against them. Proud, ambitious priests and priestesses rule Crete through its many gods. Daidalos, a wronged architect, builds the Labyrinth after a devastating personal tragedy; his successors, the priest-architects of Daidalos, are charged with expanding and glorifying his master work. A dutiful scribe attends the dead after a natural disaster of world-changing fury. A dynasty of Mycenaean conquerors changes Crete, for good or ill. And a crazed girl’s passion and the mysterious bull-man of the Labyrinth will change history.
In these ten stories of Minoan Crete, spanning a period of five thousand years, Knossos is at the heart of it all.
The legendary Labyrinth.
Go back millennia to a time when Knossos was the jewel of Crete, center of commerce and pilgrimage. A Neolithic sea captain is driven to find a new homeland for his people when the neighboring tribes turn against them. Proud, ambitious priests and priestesses rule Crete through its many gods. Daidalos, a wronged architect, builds the Labyrinth after a devastating personal tragedy; his successors, the priest-architects of Daidalos, are charged with expanding and glorifying his master work. A dutiful scribe attends the dead after a natural disaster of world-changing fury. A dynasty of Mycenaean conquerors changes Crete, for good or ill. And a crazed girl’s passion and the mysterious bull-man of the Labyrinth will change history.
In these ten stories of Minoan Crete, spanning a period of five thousand years, Knossos is at the heart of it all.
727 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
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73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 20, 2018
This book reminds me of nothing so much as what I call ‘historian’s snippets’. Sometimes a historian, in a factual work, will introduce each chapter with a fictional scene before going on to explain and analyse the archaeological material that tells us what likely happened in the past to create the artefacts we have discovered. This book feels like that. Partially because of the format, and partially because of the story-telling.
Most novels tend to stick to one group of characters who stories are being told, and even if it covering several years in their life, it is still a fairly narrow slice in time. A few novels do jump around over more considerable time frames, often those tracing the fortunes of a family, but it’s uncommon. However, it is understandably something that historian’s snippets do a lot. Knossos does it too. Ten chapters follow different characters at various points of Knossos’ history, over the course of several thousand years.
Now, I must say I generally like historian’s snippets. They’re a fun and engaging way to bring to life some of the drier discussions in history, and break up a stuffy academic text. They add interest. In a novel, however? I’m not convinced. Jumping around in time so much, having to create short, self-contained stories for each set of characters; it just doesn’t feel very productive for storytelling. It’s hard to invest in the characters when you know that they won’t be sticking around, and will soon be swept aside for an entirely new cast. And yes, historian’s snippets do this too, and I like them well-enough; but the historian’s snippets are never the point of their books. If a feel a little distant from the characters in those scenes, it’s because I know that the scenes are enjoyable diversion, and not the actual focus of the book. But in a novel, the storytelling is the whole purpose. As a result, I felt disconnected from the many characters in this book, and couldn’t bring myself to care for any of them.
I would call this book an interesting exercise in imagining key points in Cretan history, but not necessarily a thrilling read.
December 4, 2014
Knossos takes the big view of the history of Crete, unfolding the years between 1900 and 1200 BC in a series of interrelated, extended stories. The emphasis is on the place—eventually the actual building complex that we know as Knossos—rather than individuals, but Gill also builds characters we care about within each time period. She develops the daily life in each epoch with precision and convincing richness. The novel starts with a sea-going trader, the legendary Knos, who brings his people to Crete and ends with the final crumbling and abandonment of Knossos. Gill uses her strong historical background to bring a portrayal of this complicated set of buildings as modern archaeology has suggested they were most likely used—not a famous palace but a sacred and bureaucratic space. She creates a logical explanation for the rise of the Minotaur legend and other mythological elements associated with Minoan history. She rationalizes these elements rather than moving into their fantastical possibilities, an approach that works with her place-centered reconstruction of events. If you want to enjoy learning the broad expanse of Minoan history with an engaging plot, this is a good read.
February 9, 2018
Amazing
Wonderful storyline. Compelling and realistic characters. Addicting read. Highly recommended for anyone who lives the Minoan culture. Go read it!
Wonderful storyline. Compelling and realistic characters. Addicting read. Highly recommended for anyone who lives the Minoan culture. Go read it!
May 16, 2019
Really good book
August 6, 2014
Knossos Review
The story Knossos by Laura Gill which I received through Goodreads in exchange for a review, spans across 5000 years from 7000 B.C. to the end of the Bronze Age. It is portrayed in ten episodes or short stories which are very well written and captivating to read.
In the first story, the stage is well set for the entire book where a number of clans (Dolphin Clan, Octopus Clan, Cypress Clan, Seagull Clan, Goat Clan, Bull Clan and there may have been more) live in the same proximity. Clan members of differing clans associated with, lived next door to and worked along side clan members from other clans. Each clan had its own leader who became its elder at the Council which then governed the entire population.
Knos, a mariner of the Bull Clan, experiences rejection as his neighboring clans turn against him. He is driven from his homeland to find a new place for those people who chose to go with him. Unfortunately, due to high seas and the need for shelter, not to forget the consultation with the gods, he does not reach his intended destination, but rather a new place which he had not previously explored during his many sea voyages. It was here that they settled ........ Knos lead them here ............... the name of Knos was used many times by his descendants for many generations ...................... Knossos it became.
The following nine stories take place on this island with the legendary Labyrinth being built on top of earthquake ruins in the fourth story by the architect Daidalos in 1922 B.C. For his livelihood, Daidalos would take his son, Ikaros, and travel from island to island taking on building projects. He was about to leave this island when the high priestess, Pasiphae, kidnapped Daidalos’ son and would not release him, thereby preventing Daidalos from leaving. Using a father’s love for his son, Pasiphae and her brother, Yishharu, manipulated and tricked Daidalos into building this magnificent Labyrinth. He became known throughout the land as the master architect Daidalos of the Labyrinth. Over the centuries, the Labyrinth was destroyed by earthquakes, rebuilt and destroyed by earthquakes over and over again.
In Knossos, the author captures her audience ........ at least she captured me. I wanted to continue reading. What was going to happen next ........... what prompted that action? ................. would a human or an animal sacrifice be made to appease the gods? The characters in each of the stories are unique; many of them are priests, priestesses, scribes, bull-dancers, architects and conquerors. The plots are filled with action dictated by madness, cruelty, rigidity and fear of the gods whom the population felt were in control of the entire world and everything that happened.
In any historical fiction, I question what exactly is fictional and is there anything factual in this story? In Knossos, the entire 10 stories would clearly have to be fictional and Laura Gill did a wonderful job of connecting 5000 years through ten fictional stories. What made the story believable though, was the use of what could be factual ......................... earthquakes, tidal wave, power of the high priest and priestess, belief in numerous gods, use of sacrifice, building a city upon another city which had been destroyed by earthquakes. I enjoy history and appreciate the nudge from a historical fictional novel to learn more. In Knossos, the magnitude and frequency of earthquakes in the stories, inspired me to do some research on recorded earthquakes in that part of the world and on the seismic information on the existence and movement of the earths plates. A great learning experience for me!
A criticism that I have of Knossos is that there were too many unfamiliar names used in each of the stories. I was compelled to go back, write down names as I encountered them and even then I often found it necessary to continually return to my notes. For example, in the first story alone, the names that were used were (and there might even have been more): Knos, Urope, Fidra, Hariana, Orana, Astaryas, Melit, Dharos, Knos Junior, Divos, Nurbas, Sinopi, Shobai, Dravan, Rabbas, Nidnu, Sarduri, Iroas, Yikadi, Menuash, Abbek, Aramos, Rauda, Uzbet, Masar, Alit, Lairi. Fortunately, there are maps of the lineage found in the back of the book however, there were all the minor characters and unrelated characters with which to deal and sort out. Each story gave me the same concern so that I found the stories to be slow going even though I really enjoyed them.
Overall, the story is a great read. I felt so connected with the book as I have recently returned from Crete and had spent some time at the ruins of the Knossos Palace. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction would certainly enjoy reading this one.
The story Knossos by Laura Gill which I received through Goodreads in exchange for a review, spans across 5000 years from 7000 B.C. to the end of the Bronze Age. It is portrayed in ten episodes or short stories which are very well written and captivating to read.
In the first story, the stage is well set for the entire book where a number of clans (Dolphin Clan, Octopus Clan, Cypress Clan, Seagull Clan, Goat Clan, Bull Clan and there may have been more) live in the same proximity. Clan members of differing clans associated with, lived next door to and worked along side clan members from other clans. Each clan had its own leader who became its elder at the Council which then governed the entire population.
Knos, a mariner of the Bull Clan, experiences rejection as his neighboring clans turn against him. He is driven from his homeland to find a new place for those people who chose to go with him. Unfortunately, due to high seas and the need for shelter, not to forget the consultation with the gods, he does not reach his intended destination, but rather a new place which he had not previously explored during his many sea voyages. It was here that they settled ........ Knos lead them here ............... the name of Knos was used many times by his descendants for many generations ...................... Knossos it became.
The following nine stories take place on this island with the legendary Labyrinth being built on top of earthquake ruins in the fourth story by the architect Daidalos in 1922 B.C. For his livelihood, Daidalos would take his son, Ikaros, and travel from island to island taking on building projects. He was about to leave this island when the high priestess, Pasiphae, kidnapped Daidalos’ son and would not release him, thereby preventing Daidalos from leaving. Using a father’s love for his son, Pasiphae and her brother, Yishharu, manipulated and tricked Daidalos into building this magnificent Labyrinth. He became known throughout the land as the master architect Daidalos of the Labyrinth. Over the centuries, the Labyrinth was destroyed by earthquakes, rebuilt and destroyed by earthquakes over and over again.
In Knossos, the author captures her audience ........ at least she captured me. I wanted to continue reading. What was going to happen next ........... what prompted that action? ................. would a human or an animal sacrifice be made to appease the gods? The characters in each of the stories are unique; many of them are priests, priestesses, scribes, bull-dancers, architects and conquerors. The plots are filled with action dictated by madness, cruelty, rigidity and fear of the gods whom the population felt were in control of the entire world and everything that happened.
In any historical fiction, I question what exactly is fictional and is there anything factual in this story? In Knossos, the entire 10 stories would clearly have to be fictional and Laura Gill did a wonderful job of connecting 5000 years through ten fictional stories. What made the story believable though, was the use of what could be factual ......................... earthquakes, tidal wave, power of the high priest and priestess, belief in numerous gods, use of sacrifice, building a city upon another city which had been destroyed by earthquakes. I enjoy history and appreciate the nudge from a historical fictional novel to learn more. In Knossos, the magnitude and frequency of earthquakes in the stories, inspired me to do some research on recorded earthquakes in that part of the world and on the seismic information on the existence and movement of the earths plates. A great learning experience for me!
A criticism that I have of Knossos is that there were too many unfamiliar names used in each of the stories. I was compelled to go back, write down names as I encountered them and even then I often found it necessary to continually return to my notes. For example, in the first story alone, the names that were used were (and there might even have been more): Knos, Urope, Fidra, Hariana, Orana, Astaryas, Melit, Dharos, Knos Junior, Divos, Nurbas, Sinopi, Shobai, Dravan, Rabbas, Nidnu, Sarduri, Iroas, Yikadi, Menuash, Abbek, Aramos, Rauda, Uzbet, Masar, Alit, Lairi. Fortunately, there are maps of the lineage found in the back of the book however, there were all the minor characters and unrelated characters with which to deal and sort out. Each story gave me the same concern so that I found the stories to be slow going even though I really enjoyed them.
Overall, the story is a great read. I felt so connected with the book as I have recently returned from Crete and had spent some time at the ruins of the Knossos Palace. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction would certainly enjoy reading this one.
July 8, 2023
I enjoyed this pretty long book enough to read it to the end, and overall it paints a really unique, long-term picture of Knossos as it could have been. A number of the stories are very compelling: the first one, about Knos, the Daidalos story, and Rusa's story of adulthood (the eruption of Thera) are standouts. I started reading it immediately after leaving the Knossos site itself!
It was very long and I often had to put it down for long periods. There are a lot of names, and it could make things tough to follow, especially if you're not an ancient history person (though I'm not sure who else would pick up this highly specific deep cut book!)
Overall impressed with the work that went into this and the sheer amount it covers. But it could have done with being shorter, as parts did drag and some stories were stronger than others. It would go from intensely keeping my attention to being a harder to follow endurance read.
I appreciate what it does a lot and I'd like to try this author's other books, but I wouldn't recommend Knossos unless you're a massive Minoan/Bronze Age nerd. If you are, I bet you'll appreciate it too.
It was very long and I often had to put it down for long periods. There are a lot of names, and it could make things tough to follow, especially if you're not an ancient history person (though I'm not sure who else would pick up this highly specific deep cut book!)
Overall impressed with the work that went into this and the sheer amount it covers. But it could have done with being shorter, as parts did drag and some stories were stronger than others. It would go from intensely keeping my attention to being a harder to follow endurance read.
I appreciate what it does a lot and I'd like to try this author's other books, but I wouldn't recommend Knossos unless you're a massive Minoan/Bronze Age nerd. If you are, I bet you'll appreciate it too.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews