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The Eteocretans and Breadcrumbs for Understanding the Keftiu

A famous passage from Homer’s Odyssey speaks of the Greek hero Odysseus on his return home to Ithaca. In the verse, Odysseus pretends he’s the grandson of King Minos of Crete. The hero of the Trojan War tells his wife, Penelope, of the marvellous island as if it were his true homeland before revealing he is her husband. The King of Ithaca speaks of Crete long after the fall of the mysterious Minoan (Keftiu) Civilization. Odysseus’ account goes something like this:

There is a land called Crete in the midst of the wine-dark sea, a beautiful and fertile land, seagirt; in it are many people, innumerable, and there are ninety cities. Language with language is mingled together. There are Akhaians, there are great-hearted Eteocretans, there are Kydones, and Dorians in their three clans, and noble Pelasgians.

According to Homer, Crete supposedly had 90 thriving cities during this age. Today, revered archaeologists say hundreds of religious temples, cities, and other large Keftiu sites may still be buried. A few examples of thriving Keftiu cities as yet uncovered include Albe on Heraklion Prefecture’s South coast, the lost Asterousia, Einatos, where the seaside town of Tsoutsouras now stands, the port city of Dia, Dragmos in the island’s Far East, and many more. (Antonis Vasilakis)

So far, however, we only have fragments that attest to the greatness of the Keftiu civilization. However, Homer’s mention of the Eteocretans of ancient Crete may be helpful for unravelling the secrets of the mythical thalassocracy the ancient Egyptians considered the gateway to the unknown. So, our quest to understand the human journey begs us to take a fresh look at the ancestors of the Cretan character and the guardians of legendary Cretan treasures.

Uncovering Keftiu Grandeur

Few researchers go to the trouble of understanding the timeline of the Odyssey. You see, after his escape from the nymph Calypso on Gavdos Island (ancient Ogygia), Odysseus stayed for a time with the Cretans. At length, the Cretans delivered him home to Ithaca. However, long before Odysseus built the Trojan Horse, the puzzling Keftiu had long since passed into history.

Knossos Keftiu Temple — Knossos Palace/Temple photo showing the original foundations of the famous site, as well as the reconstructions by archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans – Author’s photo

So, the Crete Odysseus described to Penelope was only a mirror reflection of the Utopian paradise where the original Cretans prospered. Artefacts at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum offer us glimpses of their magnificent society. And the majestic ruins of sites like Knossos, Phaestos, Malia, Zakros, Galatas, and many others only hint at Keftiu’s greatness. More could be gleaned if the unique language of the Keftiu could be deciphered. And the unsolved aspects of the so-called Eteocretan language may hold priceless clues for that decipherment. Linear A, the cryptic language of the people of early Bronze Age Crete, and the impressions on the famous Phaistos Disc have yet to be deciphered. However, the secret of who the Keftiu really were may yet be unravelled from the Eteókrētes (true Cretans) in existing examples of the Eteocretan language found in Eastern Crete. Ancient scripts from far back in the 7th Century BC offer a separate avenue of linguistic study. The Belgian Hellenist Yves Duhoux, a leading authority on Eteocretan, offered this:

“It is essential to rigorously separate the study of Eteocretan from that of the ‘hieroglyphics’ and Linear A inscriptions.”

Fragments of this ancient Cretan language were excavated from various sites on the island. Some of these were accompanied by ancient Greek corroborative scripts found at the ancient town of Praesos. It is thought that a new capital was raised here after Knossos had fallen sometime around 1200 BC.

The lost “Dreros Laws” (Dreros #1 )bilingual scripts – Traveling Classroom Foundation

Other fragments of the language, like the one represented above, were found at Dreros and installed in a museum at Neopolis (see Dreros #1). Unfortunately, these Geek texts disappeared after the Nazis invaded and took control of Crete. Also, the migration of the Eteocretans away from the shores of Crete and other Keftiu islands was documented elsewhere. For instance, in the tomb of Egyptian Pharoah Rameses III, it was written:

“The Isles were restless: disturbed among themselves at one and the same time.”

The Dreros fragments were published by the legendary French Hellenist Henri van Effenterre. His wife was instrumental in piecing together what we know of the great Palace/Temple at Malia.

Links to Our Heritage

Few complete words of this mysterious language have come to light. However, we do know the inscriptions show a language that bears no obvious kinship to Indo-European or Semitic languages. The Minoans spoke and wrote in a language totally unrelated to Etruscan or any other known ancient language of the Aegean or Asia Minor.

During the years of World War II (1941-1945), the Austrian-Nazi archaeologist August Schoergendorfer explored the island extensively. Working under Major General Julius Ringe, the Schoergendorfer undertook illegal excavations at various sites. Recent work by Dr. Georgia Flouda of the British School at Athens reveals much of the Nazi interest in the Minoans. For some experts, these discoveries show that Hitler’s archaeologists were probably searching for more than precious statues and seal stones. And as current experts on the subject contend, much of the mystical past the Nazis seemed to be hunting for still lies hidden beneath the fertile soil of this island.

It seems feasible that the Nazis spirited away much more valuable icons and with them the linages to human heritage. This report from 2002 by Megan Young discusses how the Nazis were on the hunt for anything that could help or support ideologies. It also tells of the Nazi penchant for destroying or hiding any idea or symbol that did not. The Nazis were sceptical that the Keftiu (Minoans to them) were the true forebearers of European civilization. This can be seen from the work of Fritz Schachermeyr, August Schörgendorfer, and the later Viennese professor Ernst Kirsten.

The site of the Monastiraki Palace/Temple in the Amari Valley where Nazi archaeologists were led by the notes of J.D.S. Pendlebury – Photo courtesy Olaf Tausch CC 3.0

A fascinating and important figure in all this was the man the Nazis called the “Lawrence of Crete.” J.D.S. Pendlebury, who was the chief archaeologist on the island, was certainly the most knowledgeable expert on these subjects. He was executed as a spy by the Germans, and his notes led Nazi archaeologists to places like the Palace at Monastiraki (above), where unusual excavations took place. Furthermore, the fact that Schörgendorfer’s colleague, Dr. Schachermeyr, advocated Nazi scientific racism should also generate new scrutiny. Returning to the discussion of Das Eteokretische – as the Germans call the language of the Eteocretans, I believe understanding the legacy of these people will bring to light many pieces of the Keftiu puzzle.

In his thesis in 1942 while on Crete, the renowned Ernst Kirsten relegated the importance of the Keftiu (Minoans) to be nothing more than a footnote in history. The Austrian archaeologist and geographer presented the role of the Dorians with cultural-historical and racial concepts. More importantly, he did so with the same vigour as the hardcore Nazis attempted to justify their final solution. The Dorians, another group historians squabble over, came to Crete from the Peloponnese like the sons of Hercules. So, these scientists seemed to be trying to hide Crete’s best secrets. I believe a final analysis will show the fascists put a lot more than curiosity behind their investigations into the Keftiu.

The Keftiu Utopia!

Whether or not they were truly blessed by the gods is a subjective matter. The hypothesis these Keftiu were the mysterious Sea People who played havoc on Egypt is also a matter of conjecture. Evidence, such as from the Old Testament in the Bible, suggests the Philistines were these Sea People. A name often associated with these Sea People, the Tjeker, were a tribe theorized to have originated at Zakros in the far East of Crete. These Tjeker may have conquered the city Dor, on the coast of Canaan near modern Haifa. According to these theories, they turned it into a large, well-fortified city which was classified as “Dor XII” (1150 – 1050 BCE).

However, I’ve no doubt the Nazis identified with the barbaric and unbending nature of the Dorians. It seems probable the genetic superiority Hitler’s scientists sought was at the core of their efforts. And if secrets were to be taken, who better to spirit away any evidence that a peaceful civilization had once ruled the Mediterranean than the unhinged fascists?

Pandemonium by John Martin (1789–1854) from the novel Vril: The Power of the Coming Race by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Public Domain

How could the Third Reich (or any subsequent invasion) be condoned if another Utopia ever existed? We find more evidence of Hitler’s interest in Crete with the infamous Thule Society and the origins of the Aryan race. The image above is from a novel experts say was the basis for the occult Thule Society. The Vril Society was the inner circle of Thule occultists before WW2. Kirsten, it seems, had the job of creating a kind of “Greekness” that was more closely akin to Hitler’s view of a master race – than a mystic Utopia where not even a weapon was needed. The most important point of the mystery of the Eteocretans for the Nazis was an unshakable justification for their conquests.

With the Dorians, the old ways of equality disappeared in favour of masculine ideas. , which I’ve no doubt the “Fatherland” far favoured over a goddess-driven peaceful society. Hitler’s scientists came up with strange notions to compensate. The idea the Indogermanic Dorians were the real forebearers of European civilization is but one. Besides stealing cultural reality from the Minoans, Kirsten rewrote the foundations of the Iron Age. , but this is a much larger discussion. Minoan metallurgy was on the verge of ironmaking technology. So, the retreating Eteocretans probably carried iron technology in their exodus into central parts of the island.

“In the southwest part of the island of Crete today lives a Dorian Greek tribe. They are very tall, fair haired and have blue eyes.”

In 1942, the illegal excavations carried out at the Minoan Palace at Monastiraki were under the supervision of Ernst Kirsten. The excavations were not carried out across the whole site but only at a sacred spot in the northwest quadrant of the site outside the village in the Amari Valley of Rethymno Prefecture. As far as I can discover, there is no published record of what the Nazis found at this lesser-known Minoan site.

We know that the Germans used the notes of the famous British archaeologist J.D.S. Pendlebury to isolate something there. Pendlebury was killed for his part in organizing Cretans against the Nazis, so it is unlikely anybody will ever find out the secret of Monastiraki. The point in mentioning this here is to suggest a covering up of the real importance of the Minoans. But, there is also hope in the reality that there is so much more to discover here in Crete.

Karphi overlook — The view from the last refuge of the Eteocretans at Karphi, high up above the Lassithi Plateau – Photo courtesy Cretan Beaches

Finding the Keystone

There’s interesting reading in a HAARETZ story from January 2019 that deals with the Thule Society and the Nazi quest to find Atlantis. Author Noa Manheim brings to our attention what may have been the First Reich, a legendary land sunk under the sea because of its quest to conquer the world. Yes, the Nazis apparently tried to link the Minoans, Atlantis, and their theories of Aryan superiority. Occultist Nazis believed in something known as a Thule Atlantis. The Ahnenerbe project set out to prove that the Aryan race was descended from Nordic gods. Millions of Reichmarks were spent trying to find irrefutable archaeological proof of linkages from antiquity to Hitler’s ideologies.

In conclusion, there are less than a dozen known Eteocretan inscriptions, and none of them are complete. All the ones found so far come from the eastern half of Crete, from either Dreros or Praisos. The stolen ones from Dreros near Neopolis probably offer us the best chance of piecing together more about the mysterious Minoans. As for the last refuges of the fascinating Eteocretans, not much has been found at either Karphi or Vrokastro, the famous remote holdout towns in East Crete. The featured image of the terracotta goddess is one of the most significant finds at the Karphi refuge, from which it seems the Eteocretans disappeared.

The good news is that Crete is a huge island and a place where a new discovery comes to light almost every day. Given the vastness of the Keftiu Civilization at its apex, the chances of finding more of these scripts seem positive. Somewhere beneath the fertile soil of Greece’s biggest island lies the answer to the mystery of the Eteocretans. And when these puzzle pieces are found, then the voices of the mysterious Keftiu people will no longer be silent.

From the original at Argophilia News

In Search of Keftiu: A Shimmery New Explanation

Science

By the time artisans finished decorating the inside of the tomb of the Egyptian vizier Rekhmire, only a pale reflection of the greatness of the people known as the Keftiu remained. The carvings and paintings dedicated to the 18th Dynasty noble associated with Thutmosis III and Amenhotep II told of gifts from afar, one hundred years after the Thera cataclysm ended the world’s first Thalassocracy. The enigmatic people deemed “Minoan” by Sir Arthur Evans, became a footnote in history by 1400 BCE. All that remains, so far, are the ripples in time these enigmatic people left. What if the explanation were the simplest one?

Forgotten for thousands of years, were the traces archaeologists research and toil to unearth and classify these days. Until Evans, all the world knew of the remarkable Keftiu empire were stories passed down orally from the people of the region. As astonishing as this sounds, it wasn’t until Evans began investigating these tales and clues he found studying the Mycenaeans that any hint of one of humanity’s great civilizations was witnessed. Now, we have unbelievable palace temples, treasure troves of miraculous artifacts, and better clues as to who these fascinating people were. Besides being Keftiu, these ancient people might also have been referred to as the Caphtorim, or people even those people associated with the Akkadian term Kaptara.

Phaistos Disc – Crete by Drones Imaging on Sketchfab

Still, we are in the dark about connecting these Keftiu on a timeline or putting together big pieces of the historic puzzle they represent. No one knows for sure what exactly became of the Keftiu (Minoans). We only have a kaleidoscopic view of their rich culture, fragments of their language, most still undeciphered (Phaestos Disc above), and theories about almost every facet of their existence. As the renowned archaeologist, Diamantis Panagiotopoulos wrote in his paper, “Keftiu in Context: Theban Tomb-Paintings As a Historical Source”:

“One century has now elapsed since the identification of Keftiu with Cretans and at first glance, after this long period of intensive research, there seems to be little hope of contributing any original ideas on the subject.”

And the absence of reference to Keftiu makes things more interesting. Of course, there is no mention of the term “Minoan”, since this term was a construct of Evans. So, Keftiu as a people and as a civilization being obscure from our histories is intriguing, to say the least. Even if Cretan Hieroglyphs, Linear A, and other iconography were to be deciphered, only a corner of the monumental puzzle would be put in place. The following from Evangelos Kyriakidis via “Indications On the Nature of the Language of the Keftiw From Egyptian Sources” adds credence to the Keftiu being Minoans from Crete:

“Of all the Cretan names the only one which is very easily recognisable is the twice repeated ‘am(a,l)-ni- f(a,u). Its striking similarity with the modern ‘Amnissos’ and with the Linear B a-mi-ni-so is conclusive, though its repetition in the same text is puzzling. Several notes have to be made on this. The association of the name of Keftiu with a port site so close to Knossos, the largest Cretan city, renders the association of Keftiu with central Crete very likely indeed.”

The best minds in the field of Aegean prehistory cannot even agree on the substantive evidence from most of the artefacts already unearthed. On chronology and Bronze Age ceramic style, etc., there is agreement. But critical pieces like the famous Phaistos Disc and other seemingly critical pieces create more questions than answers. Who the Keftiu really were remains as puzzling a question as it was before Evans, in most instances. Could these be the people associated as the bodyguards of King David? Were the Keftiu the ancestors of the Philistines (see this DNA study)? And, were the Cherethites who protected the King who possessed the sacred Ark from the line indicated in the aforementioned study from Crete? The name mentioned in Ezekiel 25:16 and Zephaniah 2:5 translates to “Cretans” according to some scholars. (See James E. Jennings) Along these lines of inquiry, we find sensational and fascinating associations from biblical references.

Anubis Shrine by Virtualsweden on Sketchfab

For instance, in 1922, when Howard Carter opened the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, one of the most amazing artefacts was a processional ark, listed as Shrine 261, as the Anubis Shrine (above). On the news of the discovery, some in the archaeological community said that the Anubis Shrine could, in fact, be the long-lost Ark of the Covenant. The similarity of the chest on which the Egyptian god sat with that of the famous ark is striking indeed. There are many such “loose” parallels that scholars and enthusiasts mull over to this day. But science is about what can be proven, even if speculation often leads to fact.

Not long ago, I was visiting the renowned archaeologist Dr. Jan Driessen at the Sissi Archaeological Project. The discoverer of yet another Minoan palace/temple site is one of the most cited experts in the world on these subjects. At length, I asked him about the number of Sissi-like sites that might exist on Crete undiscovered. His answer startled me, even though I already suspected. “There could be a hundred, perhaps more,” the director of the Belgian School at Athens said. This affirms, at least numerically, assertions from Homer’s Odyssey. (Pearlman – U. Chicago Press)

“Yet even so will I tell thee what thou dost ask and enquire. There is a land called Crete, in the midst of the wine-dark sea, a fair, rich land, begirt with water, and therein are many men, past counting, and ninety cities.” – Homer, The Odyssey

Keftiu are Philistines — *A DNA study shows Philistines originated in Europe, probably Crete – Balage Balogh, Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon*

Driessen, along with Athanasia Kanta, Kostis Christakis, the curator at Knossos, the aforementioned Dr. Panagiotopoulos, and a score of other archaeologists working here in Crete, are the gatekeepers of what is currently known of the Keftiu. Most of the archaeologists I speak with have no problem with identifying the “Keftiu” of Egypt mentioned with Evans’ Minoans, but it’s also true that there is virtually no physical evidence beyond scattered fragments. Biblical connections, all the conjecture about lost Atlantis, metaphysical supposition, and a nebula of possibilities surround fundamental questions as to who we are and where we came from. At least in a Neolithic, prehistoric, Bronze Age context. And, on their somewhat stoic adherence to scientific principles, I wholeheartedly agree with them. We would be nowhere without their diligence and adherence to procedure and good form. But I am not an archaeologist. And, the stories that have led to so many discoveries are what interest me almost as much as the hard evidence residing in places like the magnificent Heraklion Archaeological Museum (go there if you can).

These Keftiu, if I may, were unbelievably refined, intelligent, and artistic, not to mention powerful during their time. I refer to them, like other authors, as the first thalassocracy, to which none of the experts so far have disagreed. This theory is the simplest and most logical explanation for the Keftiu/Minoan Utopia some describe. Still, the extent and nature of their maritime empire is as in question as any other facet of their existence. The greatest minds in the field only assume the nature and power of Knossos, for instance. Other sites like Phaistos and Zakros, even Galatas, Malia, and Sissi as well, remain as the life’s work to be done by the Driessens of archaeology. And we must admire them all for this uncommon dedication. But we must also push, as humanity, to help them uncover and preserve more of this glorious past. For within the undiscovered palace or tomb somewhere on Crete, we may find the Rosetta Stone of these Keftiu, or for all we know, that remnant of the Ark Hollywood films tease us with.

*Examples of Kamares Ware found at Knossos (1800-1700 BC) in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum – Bernard Gagnon CC 3.0*

Finally, beyond the scattered evidence, or in the tombs of Senenmut, Useramun, Menkheperresenebm, or Rekhmire, it is intriguing to consider there is no other definitive mention of the Keftiu. And on the subject of the first thalassocracy, several experts have dissenting views. I would contend, however, that their vision, logic, and contextual senses are off by a wide gulf. Whatever else we know of Keftiu, it sure that these people thrived (somehow) in unfortified cities smack in the middle of a barbaric world. And for not hundreds but over a thousand years. Unless they were beneficiaries of some blessings of Poseidon, or Atlantean technologies, then we must certainly consider their prowess at sea as a factor.

I believe that a partial explanation for the relative lack of iconography concerning the Keftiu may be found by looking at how the Egyptians seemed to envision and deal with artistically these fascinating people. Look at the so-called “hybridised” Keftiu/Syrian figures in tombs were inefficiencies by Egyptian artists, according to Dr. Panagiotopoulos. These images were only used to convey how the Keftiu appeared in the collective mind of the people under the pharaohs. In my opinion, he is right because this would explain to a great extent why there is so little earlier evidence of the Keftiu in other tombs. Still, the archaeologists caution me that relative to the Keftiu, the Egyptians did not generally focus on other cultures and states. So, the depictions and records of these people existing at all seem to attest to their importance. If I may explain, perhaps the significance of the Keftiu can be framed more aptly.

Aegean figures were often associated with lands to the north of Egypt, in much the same way Nubian figures came to represent the regions to the south. (See Uroš Matić) Both Syria and Keftiu came to represent what lay north of the realm of Pharoah. And for Ketiu, it seems clear from all the scant evidence that the ancients considered the Keftiu (Minoans) as the gatekeepers of the unknown that lay outside Egypt’s grasp. So, what if Ketiu itself was a true mystery, a place inaccessible altogether, except by the power of Keftiu thalassocracy? This would explain a lot. Maybe Crete was just that inaccessible in the time before written history, and the Keftiu decided who and what came and went. This is a novel but new and fascinating idea (insert due humility here). I suppose it’s possible that the level of control and access these Keftiu had could have been so supreme that very little would have been known of them before the Mycaneans. That is, except for their supremacy and gifts.

Gifts from Keftiu. Fragrant oils, unimaginable textiles, incomparable ceramics and art were all guarded and exclusive to the extent that their desirability was super-enhanced! What would a local merchant think on the day a state-of-the-art ship from Amnissos or Kommos arrived in port? Would ancient customers scramble to be the first to see the colourful delicacy found nowhere else? And treasures ferried to their shores aboard the first vessels to truly harness the wind blown by the gods! Ah. You see, I digress. Driessen and the other scientists will frown but do what they do best: weigh every molecule of evidence and reweigh it. And we must help them to find the Keftiu in whatever ways we can. That is if we truly want to know who we are, what we became, and what we could be. A rebirth of Keftiu? Perhaps.

Publisher’s note: This paper was originally published on Argophilia Travel News

Photo credits: The Griffin fresco image – courtesy author, researcher, and historian Mark Cartwright

The Resurrection of Glaucus, Prince of the Keftiu

Science

On Crete, many rare herbs grow in wild meadows or beneath the trees, and some cling precariously to the sheer rock cliffs deep in the mountains. Some of these plants are indigenous only on Greece’s largest island and nowhere else on Earth. One of these rare plants may hold secrets well hidden by the gods over time. We believe a legend offers clues as to the source of creation, life, and rebirth. Now that you are interested, let me share a myth with you.

A Miracle of Keftiu

It was a shimmering Summer day, and Glaucus was playing blissfully with a ball one of the athletes had given him. Tossing and kicking his toy in and out of the columns of the palace temple, the son of King Minos was a picture of Keftiu health, beauty, and vitality. At length, the colorful ball dropped out of sight. Glaucus raced to retrieve it, down a stairway into the enormous storerooms where olive oil, wine, and honey were stored in huge vases or Pithoi. Glaucus pranced down the stairs into the cellar to fetch his ball, and he met the most peculiar sight there.