I’m terribly disappointed that PBS has followed the “edutainment” bandwagon into sensationalist coverage of the “disappearance” of the Minoans. I remember watching a video 15 years ago that talked about the pumice at Amnissos (I showed it in humanities classes for years), and speculating about the impact of a tsunami. None of this is new. I can’t find any credentials on the archaeologist involved (although he appears to be from Canada–otherwise I’ve never heard of him, and I’ve been studying Minoans since the 1970s), and no reliable “news” anywhere about the “decipherment” of Linear A. The earlier interpretation of the tsunami’s impact (going as far back as Marinatos) provides a plausible explanation for the rebuilding of damaged palaces after the Theran eruption, and since they seem to be wielding power well into the 15th century, it doesn’t appear that the destruction of the powerbase occurred until somewhat later than the episode suggests.

Plato’s account of Atlantis is probably 1% folk memory (the effects of Thera’s eruption on the Aegean) and 99% Plato’s allegory created to augment the Republic. Playing up spurious connections between reality and allegory is simply pandering to popular superstition and misunderstanding of historical and geological evidence. The Mycenaeans may indeed have been the perpetrators of the final blow, but that may not be the only explanation, either, since there was widespread unrest across the Aegean, often attributed to “Sea Peoples.”

A great deal of imagination seems to have gotten in the way of good science. This is the last episode of this show I’ll ever watch.

How can I order the DVD for this program?
Thanks

Isn’t this the same theory advanced by Spiridon Marinatos in his excavations of Santorini? I was surprised he was not mentioned. I researched the Minoans for a book which I wrote (unpublished) some ten years ago, fascinated by the digs in Akrotiri. Glad to see Marinatos’ theory strengthened. Is that dig still ongoing?

Sloppy and sensationalized. There was nothing new in the idea that a tsunami struck Crete and caused widespread destruction that may have caused the decline of the Minoan civilization, but the producers obviously feel they need to sex up this material for a general audience. A straight-forward approach would be a lot more honest. The subject’s interesting enough in its own right. The idea that you have to sensationalize it to make it appealing is insulting to the viewer’s intelligence.
And, btw, the narrator at the end said that this happen “5000″ years ago. Wrong– more like 1500 to 1600. Get it right.

1500 to 1600 BC, I should say. Typed too fast.

I was entralled by this program, I had not heard this view and found it very fasinating and plausible. I thought it was presented very well and always look forward to Secrets of the Dead. Would love to know if soundtrack is available, loved it.

The effects of the Thera eruption on Crete are not new, and the after effects of the explosion could have been very long lasting. The dust ejected in to the atmosphere could have lowered temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere for several years, leading to widespread crop failures like 1816, the ‘year without a summer’ which followed the eruption of Mt Tambura.

I enjoyed the program. However, it is old stuff. See the book by A.G. Galanopoulos and Edward Bacon, Atlantis: The Truth Behind the Legend published in 1989 (almost 40 years ago!). Indeed based on Spyridon Marinatos’ research excavations on Santorini.

I found the program interesting, but was bothered by an omission, The name of Spiridon Marinatos was never mentioned once by any of the many scientists interviewed. I have been in Thera and in Crete and read some of his theses. He was an amazing pioneer, who excavated the city of Akrotiri, underneath the layer of volcanic Pozzolana that had covered it for 3500 years. He proposed as early as 1939 that the explosion, via tsunamis, had ben the cause of the disappearance of the Minoan civilization. He died while excavating more of Akrotiri, and was buried in an unmarked tomb, right where he died, in the 1970’s. A MODEST MAN , HE WAS NOT EAGER FOR PUBLICITY, BUT FAIRNESS AND A SENSE OF PRIORITY, SHOULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST one of the current investigators MENTIOn HIS NAME. The new radiocarbon dates and the stratigraphy of Paliocastro confirm every point of his hypothesis. His daughter, Anna Marinatos has written a definitive analysis of the Santorini frescoes. Hope you publish this!

Where can I buy a copy of Sinking Atlantis. I live in Decatur Illinois

Having twice visited and studied Minoan archaeological sites on Crete and Thera, having lectured on the Minoan civilization often and having recently visited the outstanding exhibit on Minoan Crete at the Onassis Cultural Center in N.Y.C., I awaited with anticipation your May 14th showing of the “Secrets of the Dead – Sinking Atlantis.”

Unfortunately, this PBS documentary left me disappointed on several accounts. In the interest of brevity, I will list some of them with minimum commentary:

The conclusion that the Minoans came from the area of present day Iran is without any solid historical or linguistic foundation. The mere fact that linear A symbols may have some resemblance to ancient Persian symbols or hieroglyphics forms no basis for any serious conclusions. The Greek alphabet itself sprang out of the Phoenician alphabet but the Greeks were not Phoenicians. The Minoans probably came from Asia Minor (not Turkey) which is how that geographic area should be called in historical times.

It was an unsupported by fact leap for your piece to have stated that “Linear A has been decoded.” Only the Linear B syllabary was decoded by Michael Ventris in 1951-1953, and, as we know, it is an early form of Greek.

Plato was a philosopher, not a “historian” as it was stated in your piece.

One finds oneself ill-at-ease with the overemphasis on the clearly exaggerated aspect of human sacrifice by such a sophisticated, highly civilized and artistic people.

It is poor science in the extreme to interpret a few scrapings on human bones, no matter how suspect, as evidence of cannibalism. Since when in science we substitute suspicion for proof? In ancient times, as well as in contemporary Greece, it is not uncommon, in the process of cleaning the bones of interned people — after the flesh and the organs have decayed away — to scrape them with sharp objects and wash them before putting them away for “eternity.” The early Minoans may have used sharp flint stones for this activity. As for the legend of Athenian tribute of youths and maidens, it is probably an allegory of some form of taxation than so-called “cannibalism.” It is common for enemies to demonize their opponents with horror stories, even in our times. Thus, the words “hacked up in order to take the flesh off…in order to eat them” are an unfortunate and unjustifiable leap of guesswork and sensationalism.

The great archaeological contributions at Akrotiri and the insightful theories of the late S. Marinatos were not even mentioned. A bewildering omission indeed!

Had I viewed the subject program in another channel, I would have been disappointed. To view it on PBS, is a double disappointment since PBS has an obligation for better scholarship in programs of this type and it is expected to hold itself to a higher standard!

Paul van den Broek, 1989 is almost 20 years ago, not 40. Yes, though… 20-year-old info is not new. I was looking for some connection as to Minoans and crystal energy and Atlantean use of mind power. Not found in this program. Good program none the less.

In 10 years of studying bronze age Aegean culture I have never heard of an Iranian Minoan linguistics link. Most believe the Minoans to have originated in Asia Minor. I’ve seen one source that links the Minoan language and script with the language of the city of Ugarit in Syria.
But the Aryans of the Persian region and the central Asian steppes gave us the Indo European language groups, and not a Semitic language and script that predates the Achaean’s linear B, which Ventris proved as Proto Greek and the later Greek dialects.

Sigh. Count us with the folks who found this show EXTREMELY annoying. SENSATIONALIZED!!! Leaving out inconvenient information. Making dogmatic statements of fact, instead of presenting information in more cautious (and accurate!) fashion. UNSCIENTIFIC PRESENTATION. NatGeo’s recent “Strange days on planet earth” was a joy to watch. WHY do producers go out and hunt for unknown theorists (who IS McGillivray, anyway?) and then “sex up” subject material that is entirely interesting enough as it is. Not too surprised to see BBC in the credits, but thought WNET was better than this.

I am a bit perplexed with the comments deriding the scholarly content of this episode. The purpose of such a program is not to be a definitive work on the subject but to stimulate interest in the general public. I for one plan to read much more on this subject from many of the sources discussed above. From my perspective, I thought it was a smashing success.

Hello Earnest,
I couldnt agree with you more on your insightful comments on the Atlantis. I have seen the program on TV to be aired today 22nd May however thanks for the caveat. I do believe the Minoan was an advanced civilization more occult and mystical in in its essence in contrast to the later Hellenic period which had rationality as its foundation.

Having twice visited and studied Minoan archaeological sites on Crete and Thera, having lectured on the Minoan civilization often and having recently visited the outstanding exhibit on Minoan Crete at the Onassis Cultural Center in N.Y.C., I awaited with anticipation your May 14th showing of the “Secrets of the Dead – Sinking Atlantis.”

Unfortunately, this PBS documentary left me disappointed on several accounts. In the interest of brevity, I will list some of them with minimum commentary:

The conclusion that the Minoans came from the area of present day Iran is without any solid historical or linguistic foundation. The mere fact that linear A symbols may have some resemblance to ancient Persian symbols or hieroglyphics forms no basis for any serious conclusions. The Greek alphabet itself sprang out of the Phoenician alphabet but the Greeks were not Phoenicians. The Minoans probably came from Asia Minor (not Turkey) which is how that geographic area should be called in historical times.

It was an unsupported by fact leap for your piece to have stated that “Linear A has been decoded.” Only the Linear B syllabary was decoded by Michael Ventris in 1951-1953, and, as we know, it is an early form of Greek.

Plato was a philosopher, not a “historian” as it was stated in your piece.

One finds oneself ill-at-ease with the overemphasis on the clearly exaggerated aspect of human sacrifice by such a sophisticated, highly civilized and artistic people.

It is poor science in the extreme to interpret a few scrapings on human bones, no matter how suspect, as evidence of cannibalism. Since when in science we substitute suspicion for proof? In ancient times, as well as in contemporary Greece, it is not uncommon, in the process of cleaning the bones of interned people — after the flesh and the organs have decayed away — to scrape them with sharp objects and wash them before putting them away for “eternity.” The early Minoans may have used sharp flint stones for this activity. As for the legend of Athenian tribute of youths and maidens, it is probably an allegory of some form of taxation than so-called “cannibalism.” It is common for enemies to demonize their opponents with horror stories, even in our times. Thus, the words “hacked up in order to take the flesh off…in order to eat them” are an unfortunate and unjustifiable leap of guesswork and sensationalism.

The great archaeological contributions at Akrotiri and the insightful theories of the late S. Marinatos were not even mentioned. A bewildering omission!

Had I viewed the subject program in another channel, I would have been disappointed. To view it on PBS, is a double disappointment since PBS has an obligation for better scholarship in programs of this type and it is expected to hold itself to a higher standard!

I basically agree with Vikas, Patricia Dunham and Bill Alexander. They all make good points. However, I respectfully disagree with Paul Smith since this was not a Hollywood movie — where producers are given all kinds of liberties and fantasy licenses — but a scientific documentary narrated by presumed scientific experts in the field.. As such there is no room for errors and mistakes and poorly or casually underpinned conclusions, especially on venerable PBS productions. The topic was excellent and the graphics captivating. That is why I look forward to PBS airing this program again after first correcting the subject errors. That would really underscore PBS’s commitment to the high standards most of us attribute to it. .

I am in agreement with Kollitides, P.E. in the substance of his comment. There is no link to the Iranians and the Minoans; we have LITTLE or NO idea of what their language sounded like or was spelled. There are only the slightest suggestions based on Linear B and how it was evolved from Linear A.
In the wake of a tsunami, it is possible that cannibalism but unsupported by voluminous evidence (reference the airline crash in Andes of the last century). To mention it in this context is to introduce gratuitous ghoulishness; PBS viewers generally tune in to avoid this kind of content – to easily available on the other broadcast networks. Whether bones were “cleaned” prior to burial, as is suspected with the Moche in western South America, is to be established by evidence.
Kollitides, P.E. has it right. Listen up PBS. Stay above the muck of the other networks.

As a professor of Classics who presents this material in my classes, I was extremely disappointed in many of the things already mentioned others, especially the unsubstantiated references to the decipherment of Linear A and cannibalism. Overall, almost no academic credentials were provided or scholarly corroboration offered. University affiliations were not given. Moreover, the chronology of the so called palace periods was not reconciled with the now scientifically established date of 1600 for the eruption of the volcano on Thera. Are we talking about the first or second palace period? The whole date range of 1600 – 1450 is merged together with the arrival of the Mycenaeans, as if the two were closely connected in date. It is quite possible that the chronology of the Aegean needs major revision, but the fact that the dating problems was not even mentioned is troubling. A very disappointing production, considering the excellent material they were working with.

Ernest A. Kollitides, P.E. First posted 6/2/08
To keep my original note (first emailed 5/16/08) down to size, I left out comments which were relevant. However, in the interest of all those who emailed their thoughtful comments and PBS’s undoubted concern for future accuracy, I add them now.
a. The tsunami hypothesis is certainly a plausible one and it was not the first time it was proposed. The “proof” of this hypothesis was quite credible but not fully scientific.
b. The documentary’s statement that “the tsunami destroyed all the Minoan cities,” could not possibly be accurate since a tsunami coming from the north could not have destroyed Minoan cities, such as Festos, on the south of Crete. In view of this, the documentary should have provided an explanation or conjecture as to what caused the demise of the southern and inland Minoan cities.
c. Another statement made was that the Mycenaeans kept their navy in the Corinthian Gulf thus sparing it from the impact of the tsunami. However, the bulk of the Mycenaean navy was kept in the Aegean waters of Peloponnesus, in the Gulf of Argos, not far from their fortress at Tiryns. Thus, it would have felt the destructive force of the tsunami. And, incidentally, there is less (and lower elevation) land separating the Corinthian Gulf from the Aegean than separating the north and south coast of Crete.

Those ants… they never stood a chance…

The Minoan culture, more appropriately name Atlanteans, were a culture destroyed by a massive tsunami for reasons significantly more profound than the result of a volcanic eruption alone. The real “Secrets of the Dead” lay hidden in the name of king Minos himself. For the ancient mythology reveals the very reason for the destruction of Atlantis. Will

Vitamin G, my friend, Vitamin G…

Mr. Ernest A. Kollitides, do you have your origins in Greece? I sense some sort of shovonism.

Sir Arthur, you sound to be a very prejudiced person; thinking that Europeans are superior. Are you English?

It is quite possible that these day that government wants to coerce Iran to abandon its peaceful nuclear program, to –within a “documentary” demonise Iran so that when Israel/us — USA — bombards Iran, people say: Oh well, a bunch of canibalistic people wer bombarded.

But nontheless, because it is Iranians who established Aratta civilization, supports the notion that Iranians have lived in Crete as well. Irefer those without prejudice to:
En Iran, un autre berceau de la civilisation €
LE MONDE.FR | 4 janvier 2008 | Stéphane Foucart | 2980 mots
Il n’y avait pas que le Nil et la Mésopotamie. Dans une vallée reculée de l’Iran, les archéologues ont récemment mis au jour les vestiges d’un autre berceau de la civilisation. Une cité vieille de 5 000 ans, puissante et développée, peut-être la légendaire Aratta qui impressionnait tant les…
http://www.enghelabe-eslami.com/maghalat/691_magh1.htm

Aratta, à l’aube des civilisations €
SUPPLEMENT SPECIAL | 20 mai 2007 | Francis Cornu | 302 mots
DOCUMENTAIRE Olivier Julien (Fr., 2005). Au sud de l’Iran, de hautes montagnes enneigées enchâssent une large plaine semi-désertique. C’est là, dans ce paysage d’une beauté sauvage, dans cette région très isolée de Jiroft, au bord de la rivière Halil, à quelque 400 km de la frontière pakistanaise,…

JIROFT & ARATTA KINGDOM – (The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies …

It’s a quest that he began as a doctoral candidate at the University of Chicago, when in 1976 he published an article proposing that Aratta, which reputedly …
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Archaeology/Pre-History/jiroft.htm – 82k – Cached – Similar pages – Note this [PDF]
Jiroft and “Jiroft-Aratta” A Review Article of Yousef Madjidzadeh …
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat – View as HTML
area) is to be recognized as the “Land of Aratta,”. that “mysterious civilization . ….. “Jiroft/Aratta.” The first two plaques are quite …
http://www.bulletinasiainstitute.org/Muscarella_BAI15.pdf

http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Archaeology/Pre-History/jiroft.htm
Aratta-Jiroft-Halilrood

In the program Sinking Atlantis the narrator states that Linear A has been deciphered and that it appears to be related to a language spoken in Iran. Does anyone know if the narrator is referring to the script and language of Elam (3000 B.C. – 2000 B.C.)?

Note: Elamites were Dravidians

By the way, the Minoans where Ethic people…With more in common to the early Lebanon/Turkish peoples (Arabs really) and Egyptians (Africans) then they did with main land Greece = Hence the reason “why” they developed first…they were in touch with civilizations that existed at the time…the Civilizations that all predated Greece. As mentioned before Egypt / Nubia and Mesopotamia to be specific.
And if this doesn’t convince you, just look at the paintings the Minoans left behind, those are Brown skinned peoples, that’s more then a tan going on there.

MB NYC

The credits scroll up so fast I didn’t catch who the music was by. Jim…?
and another name. If you could supply this I would be most interested.

I enjoy history and the analysis of discoveries and archeological work. I saw this program yesterday night and it was very exciting to me. In some cases you have to understand scientific methodologies to absorb the extent and depth of what these documentaries REALLY say to us. Since I live in the “new world” but prefer to travel to the Old World to learn about ancient things, I have no doubt of the so many places our roots are from – to me diversity is richness, abundance – but I realize how important it is to learn. Any documentary like this one will make my day happy. My pity: that it was not me working in this discovery – it’ s fantastic information. Thanks!!

Those ants… they never stood a chance…

I still rule.

If the shoe fits…

What do people make of Professor SHilov and co’s discovery that Aratta was actually centered in modern day Ukraine not Iran?
Do a youtube search on Arrata and yo uwill see what I mean.

“Scholars have recently begun linking the legends of Atlantis to the Minoan Civilization on Crete.” -Yeah sure. If you consider the late 1970s to be “recently.”