Leon's Message Board

With our previous post on Laodicea we completed our look at the cities of the seven churches addressed in Revelation 2-3, sites which we visited in March of this year.  We were also able to see some of the biblical islands, including Crete.

Crete is mentioned on two occasions in the New Testament; in Acts 27:7ff., in connection with Paul’s journey (as a prisoner) to Rome, and then later in Titus 1:5. Additionally, Cretans are mentioned as being among those present on the Day on Pentecost (Acts 2:11). In the Titus text Paul wrote the evangelist, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.”

Crete is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean, following Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus.  Excavations at Knossos, Crete have  confirmed the existence of well established civilizations dating back to the time of Abraham (ca. 2000 B.C.), and beyond.

Palaces were located at such coastline cities as Knossos, which served as the heart of economic, political and religious life.

Palace of Knossos at Crete. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

Sir Arthur Evans, British archaeologist, excavated this site beginning in 1900. He used what was then newly developed methods of stratigraphy, and kept accurate and careful records of his findings.  His many years of work were published in a four-volumes, The Palace of Minos (1921-1936), Minos being the ancient legendary king.

Large storage jars at Knossos, Crete. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

More to come on Knossos, Crete.  Remember to click on image for larger view.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 at 12:13 PM and is filed under Archaeology, Bible History and Geography, Bible Study. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.