Knossos Palace: The Archaeological Construction of a Pacifist Utopia

This article explores the excavation of the Palace of Knossos on Crete by Arthur Evans and how it was imbued with a pacifist utopian narrative. To foster reconciliation between Greece and the Ottoman Empire, Evans suppressed evidence of Minoan military installations, portraying Minoan society as a peaceful and prosperous matriarchy under a benevolent mother goddess. This constructed pacifism resonated during the war-torn 20th century, embraced by artists and intellectuals as a response to violence. However, over time, Evans' interpretation of Knossos has been shown to be fraught with contradictions and inaccuracies, and the image of a peaceful utopia has been largely revised by historians.