Step into the World Before Greece Had a Name...
In Myths of Crete and Pre-Hellenic Europe, Scottish folklorist and journalist
Donald A. Mackenzie
takes readers on a captivating journey into the forgotten civilizations that flourished long before the rise of classical Greece. First published in 1917, this groundbreaking work delves into the lost world of the
Minoans
-a sophisticated maritime people whose island empire was shattered by natural disasters and foreign conquest, only to live on in legend.
From the haunting tales of
King Minos and the Labyrinth
, to the myths of
Daedalus and Icarus
, to echoes of
Atlantis
, Mackenzie reveals how Greek mythology borrowed heavily from the deep well of earlier Cretan traditions. Drawing on early archaeological findings, vibrant frescoes, goddess figurines, and fragments of oral storytelling, he reconstructs a compelling picture of a pre-Hellenic society steeped in mystery and ritual.
Both
thought-provoking and highly readable
, this book blends folklore, history, and archaeology into a sweeping narrative that explores the roots of European myth. Ideal for readers fascinated by ancient history, mythology, goddess culture, or the origins of Western civilization, Myths of Crete and Pre-Hellenic Europe invites you to rediscover the forgotten legends and lost peoples that shaped the mythic foundations of Europe.