Definition: Vathypetro is the name of a small Minoan settlement located about 10 kilometers south of the palace at Knossos on the island of Crete. Vathypetro is a Minoan country house, built during the Neopalatial period (1600-1450 BC), destroyed by fire sometime in the Late Minoan 1B period, and then rebuilt during the Late Minoan III period (ca 1435-1370 BC).
At least two and perhaps three architectural phases are noted at Vathypetro. The original phase structure was a combined administrative, ritual, residential, and banquet hall, but after the destruction, most of the rooms were used for domestic agriculture and industrial production.
One late addition is a tripartite shrine, thought to represent a Minoan period cult room located within the villa and aligned to sunrise on the 21st of October during the Late Minoan period. This astronomical alignment is similar to that seen at the west wing of the Mycenaean palace at Malia, and researchers Blomberg and Henriksson surmise this is evidence of the growing power of the Mycenaeans during this period.
Vathypetro was excavated by Spyridon Marinatos during the 1940s and 1950s. Investigations of the architectural alignments have been completed by the University of Uppsala.
At least two and perhaps three architectural phases are noted at Vathypetro. The original phase structure was a combined administrative, ritual, residential, and banquet hall, but after the destruction, most of the rooms were used for domestic agriculture and industrial production.
One late addition is a tripartite shrine, thought to represent a Minoan period cult room located within the villa and aligned to sunrise on the 21st of October during the Late Minoan period. This astronomical alignment is similar to that seen at the west wing of the Mycenaean palace at Malia, and researchers Blomberg and Henriksson surmise this is evidence of the growing power of the Mycenaeans during this period.
Vathypetro was excavated by Spyridon Marinatos during the 1940s and 1950s. Investigations of the architectural alignments have been completed by the University of Uppsala.
Sources
More information on Vathypetro may be found Ian Swindale's page on Vathypetro.
Blomberg, Mary and Göran Henriksson 2005 Orientations of the Late Bronze Age villa complex at Vathypetro in Crete. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry 5(1):51-61. Free to download
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
