A mountain in north-central Crete, Mount Juktas (Greek: Γιούχτας - Giouchtas), also spelled Iuktas, Iouktas, or Ioukhtas, was an important religious site for the Minoan civilization.[1] Located a few kilometers from the palaces of Knossos and Fourni and the megaron at Vathypetro, Mount Juktas was the site of an important peak sanctuary in the Minoan world. At the base of Juktas, at Anemospilia, is a site that has suggested to some that the Minoans practiced human sacrifice, but the evidence is currently somewhat in question.
Mount Juktas is the site of one of the most important peak sanctuaries in the Minoan world, and probably the first of them.
Archaeologial importance
Archaeologists have studied the site over an extensive period, examining fragments of pottery, remains of walls, and some unique kinds of stone that must have been hauled up the mountain because they do not otherwise occur there.
Religious importance
The mountain remains important in the religious life of the people of the area to this day – a Greek Orthodox chapel is located about a kilometer south of the sanctuary along the ridge of the mountain. Every year, people from towns down in the plains below Mount Juktas bring flowers in procession to the chapel.
Archaeology
Juktas was first excavated in 1909 by Sir Arthur Evans. It can be regarded as an adjunct archaeological site to the important Knossos site a few kilometres distant.[2] Among the finds at the Juktas Minoan peak sanctuary were clay human and animal figurines, stone horns, stone altars, bronze double axes, and both bowls and tables with Linear A inscriptions. See references for a more comprehensive inventory. Pottery sherds from the site date back as far as Middle Minoan IA.
References
Anna Simandiraki, Middle Minoan III Pottery from Building B of the Peak Sanctuary of Mount Juktas, Crete, and a general re-assessment of the Middle Minoan III Period, PhD Thesis, University of Bristol, 2002, British Library catalogue
C. Michael Hogan (2007) Knossos fieldnotes, The Modern Antiquarian
Donald W. Jones (1999) Peak Sanctuaries and Sacred Caves in Minoan CreteISBN91-7081-153-9
mount, juktas, mountain, north, central, crete, greek, Γιούχτας, giouchtas, also, spelled, iuktas, iouktas, ioukhtas, important, religious, site, minoan, civilization, located, kilometers, from, palaces, knossos, fourni, megaron, vathypetro, site, important, p. A mountain in north central Crete Mount Juktas Greek Gioyxtas Giouchtas also spelled Iuktas Iouktas or Ioukhtas was an important religious site for the Minoan civilization 1 Located a few kilometers from the palaces of Knossos and Fourni and the megaron at Vathypetro Mount Juktas was the site of an important peak sanctuary in the Minoan world At the base of Juktas at Anemospilia is a site that has suggested to some that the Minoans practiced human sacrifice but the evidence is currently somewhat in question Mount JuktasJuktas is said to resemble the face of Zeus Highest pointElevation811 m 2 661 ft Coordinates35 13 57 N 25 8 37 E 35 23250 N 25 14361 E 35 23250 25 14361 Coordinates 35 13 57 N 25 8 37 E 35 23250 N 25 14361 E 35 23250 25 14361GeographyMount JuktasIsland of Crete Greece Contents 1 Peak Sanctuary 1 1 Archaeologial importance 1 2 Religious importance 2 Archaeology 3 References 4 Line notes 5 External linksPeak Sanctuary EditMount Juktas is the site of one of the most important peak sanctuaries in the Minoan world and probably the first of them Archaeologial importance Edit Archaeologists have studied the site over an extensive period examining fragments of pottery remains of walls and some unique kinds of stone that must have been hauled up the mountain because they do not otherwise occur there Religious importance Edit The mountain remains important in the religious life of the people of the area to this day a Greek Orthodox chapel is located about a kilometer south of the sanctuary along the ridge of the mountain Every year people from towns down in the plains below Mount Juktas bring flowers in procession to the chapel Archaeology EditJuktas was first excavated in 1909 by Sir Arthur Evans It can be regarded as an adjunct archaeological site to the important Knossos site a few kilometres distant 2 Among the finds at the Juktas Minoan peak sanctuary were clay human and animal figurines stone horns stone altars bronze double axes and both bowls and tables with Linear A inscriptions See references for a more comprehensive inventory Pottery sherds from the site date back as far as Middle Minoan IA References EditAnna Simandiraki Middle Minoan III Pottery from Building B of the Peak Sanctuary of Mount Juktas Crete and a general re assessment of the Middle Minoan III Period PhD Thesis University of Bristol 2002 British Library catalogue C Michael Hogan 2007 Knossos fieldnotes The Modern Antiquarian Donald W Jones 1999 Peak Sanctuaries and Sacred Caves in Minoan Crete ISBN 91 7081 153 9Line notes Edit Donald W Jones 1999 C Michael Hogan 2007 External links EditJuktas Peak Sanctuary at Ian Swindale s Minoan Crete website Younger John Linear A Texts Religious Texts This article relating to archaeology in Europe is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This Crete location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mount Juktas amp oldid 1048821082, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
