Thirsty Seafarers at Temple B of Kommos: Commercial Districts and the Role of Crete in Phoenician Trading Networks in the Aegean

The island of Crete was an important place for cultural and economic exchanges between Greeks and Near Easterners in the Aegean during the 1st millennium BC. This book aims to understand the Phoenician presence and trade in Aegean temples, as well as how Crete shaped its role within the context of Mediterranean trade routes from East to West.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 170 pages
Publication date: 08 September 2022
Publisher: Archaeopress

The island of Crete holds a significant place in the history of cultural and economic exchanges between the Greeks and Near Easterners in the Aegean during the 1st millennium BC. The city of Kommos, in particular, and its magnificent temple, stand as testament to the intricate connections between diverse populations, including the Greeks and the Phoenicians. In this captivating book, an in-depth examination of various objects and artifacts from Cretan sites such as Knossos, the Idaean Cave, and Eleutherna is presented. Moreover, the case of Kommos is compared to other Aegean cult structures with similar characteristics, including the Sanctuary of Apollo in Eretria, the Heraion of Samos, the temple of Kition in Cyprus, and the Temple of Vroulia in Southern Rhodes. These remarkable structures not only served as religious sanctuaries but also emerged as bustling economic and social hubs, intricately woven into networks of commercial districts interconnected by land and sea routes. The book aims to unravel the intricate tapestry of the Phoenician presence and trade in Aegean temples, as well as explore how Crete played a pivotal role in shaping its role within the broader context of Mediterranean trade routes from the East to the West.

Dimension: 290 x 205 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803273228