minoan

Everyday

1. (history) To do with the Minoans, an ancient Bronze Age civilisation on the Greek island of Crete, from about 3000 to 1100 BC. tree →
2. (noun) A person from that civilisation. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons on Ancient Greece, the Minoans built great palaces like Knossos, painted colourful wall pictures (frescoes) of dolphins and bull-leaping, and traded by sea. Their name comes from the legendary King Minos, who in myth kept the Minotaur in a labyrinth. Their writing, Linear A, has still not been deciphered. Phrases: «Minoan civilisation», «Minoan palace», «Minoan art».

Examples

• The Minoans lived on the island of Crete. tree →
• The Minoan palace of Knossos had hundreds of rooms. tree →
• Minoan frescoes show dolphins and young people leaping over bulls. tree →
• The Minoan civilisation is named after the legendary King Minos. tree →
• Nobody can yet read the Minoan writing called Linear A. tree →
• A huge volcanic eruption on Thera hurt Minoan trade. tree →
• Minoan sailors traded with Egypt. tree →
• The Minoans were one of the first great civilisations in Europe. tree →

Note

Written with a capital M because it comes from a name. Pronounced «mi-NOH-an». King Minos and the Minotaur are myths; the Minoan palaces are real archaeology. Not a maths word, but BC dates count backwards (3000 BC is earlier than 1100 BC).