The Ring of Minos

At the Palace of Knossos

By: N. P. James

Narrated by: Denise Kahn

A visit to the Palace of Knossos in Crete in 2005 leads to the story of the fabled Ring of Minos, lost for 2,000 years but rediscovered in the 1930s, now in the local museum of Herakleon. The author joins the tour of the ancient Minoan palace and adds historical reference to this detailed study of a great and vanished culture.

©2005, 2011 Cv Publications (P)2016 Cv Publications

A great introduction to the Palace

The author visited the Palace of Knossos in 2005 and wrote up this little travelogue that includes his personal experience on the tour as well as his observations about the beauty and history of this place.

This book takes us on a tour of the Palace, starting with where the tour bus picks up the tourists. The history of the site is briefly covered and then we head into the royal apartments. I really like that the author includes the various materials used to create this Palace. A more detailed accounting of the founding of the Palace and the excavation is covered towards the end of the book.

There’s also a bit about the Minoan culture, especially the hierarchy of the society. I found it was a bit odd there was no real army. Perhaps this was because of the natural protection provided by it being an island. I was surprised by how wide-spread Minoan trading was. Minoan mythology is also briefly referred to. Of course, this mythology is reflected in the Palace’s architecture and art. Tales of the Minotaur!

There are a few references to either the tour guide or the other tourists throughout the book. I found these amusing and they were well-suited for this travelogue. Smaller Minoan bits can be seen at the tourist center & gift shop. I enjoyed the descriptions of the seals and how they were used in the Minoan culture. Then there’s the accounting table!

Definitely interesting for archaeologists and those with a keen interest in Minoan culture.

The Narration: Denise Kahn had multiple voices and accents for various people in this short book. While I don’t know about the accuracy of these accents since I’m not familiar with the Greek accent, Kahn was consistent throughout the book. Her recording does sound a little tinny. She does a great job of pacing, sounding interested in the topic, and clear enunciation.