About Keftiu - About Our Family in Kemet - About the Minoan Market - Minoan Marketplace - Sources
Minoan culture is almost as old as that of Kemet (Egypt) itself. The first settlers arrived in Keftiu (Crete) from the east (Asia Minor). They brought with them a new innovation, bread wheat. They came well before the first kings ruled Kemet (c7000 BC). About the time of the first Egyptian kings (c3200 BC, ie Early Minoan I), a new group of people came from the east and we began to have influence throughout the Great Green Sea (the Mediterranean).
The first great palaces were built (c 1950 BC, Middle Minoan 1B) during Kemet's great Middle Kingdom period. The palaces at Knossos, Phaestos, Mallia, and Zakro expanded our trading networks. Our goods made their way to Kemet. Some of Kemet's kings, such as Amenemhat II, was fond of our wares. Our goods were also popular in Lahun and Swenet (Elephantine). Minoan pottery made in the so-called Kamares style was so popular in Kemet that many of its potters began to copy it. Some of our traders made it as far as Ugarit during this time. Our fine swords and textiles were popular in Mari, where Keftiu was called 'Kaptara'. Our silverwork was also popular. A terrible earthquake ended the time of the First Palaces (c 1700 BC) during Kemet's second period of turmoil (the Second Intermediate Period).
The period of the New (or Second) Palaces (Middle Minoan III, c1700 BC) was a prosperous time which saw the intensification of ties between Kemet and Keftiu. Our muralists painted many murals for Ahmose I in the city of Hutwaret (Avaris) in Kemet. Minoans bearing gifts for the kings of Kemet was a common sight during this period. The Minoan hieroglyphic script, which had been inspired by that of Kemet, died out during this period. A more linear script (Linear A) was the dominant Minoan script during the time of the New or Second Palaces. The Second Palace period came to an end and all of the palaces were destroyed, except for the one at Knossos. This happened around the time of the Egyptian kings Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III (c 1450 BC, Late Minoan 1B).
The final palatial period (1450 BC to 1375 BC, Late Minoan II) saw the rise of the Mycenaeans to the north and the spread of their language and writing system (Linear B) to our lands.
Our postpalatial period (Late Minoan IIIA2) began around the time of (dare I say his name?) Akhenaten. Mycenaean pottery was popular in Akhenaten's court. Our newest styles (Late Minoan IIIB) mirror the vigor of Kemet's new dynasty (the 19th dynasty).
Although I was born in Knossos, the family of my husband, Sijapuros, has lived in Kemet for a long time. His family first settled in Piramesse, then called Hutwaret (Avaris) in the 12th and 13th Dynasties. From Piramesse, his ancestors watched the hekau khasut, or "rulers of foreign countries" (Hyksos) move in and rule much of Kemet. His family was there when Ahmose I conquered Hutwaret and forced the hekau khasut into exile. Things had been a little dicey for awhile but Ahmose I soon employed his family and other Minoan families to decorate his palace walls with frescoes from Knossos. Times had been good under Ahmose I, although the fortunes of Hutwaret gradually dwindled under later kings.
But then, Paramessu became the prince-regent of King Horemheb. Paramessu's family had been born in Hutwaret and the town was favored under Horemheb. When Horemheb died without an heir, Paramessu became Rameses I and the fortunes of Hutwaret were restored.
In time, Rameses II came to the Egyptian throne. He rebuilt Hutwaret and renamed it Piramesse, the "house of Rameses". The fortunes of Hutwaret and their families now soared. Piramesse became a center for international trade and the home of high officials.
Our first import shop in Hutwaret has done so well that we are now expanding to other towns of Kemet. We only offer the very finest Minoan wares. Sijapuros brings a great understanding of the kinds of wares that will be of interest to the good people of Kemet. As a native of Knossos, I am familiar with the finest that Keftiu has to offer. We have pledged ourselves to offer nothing but the best while keeping our imports as affordable as possible.
We offer a variety of: pottery; stone vessels; jewelry and seals; metal goods and ornamental weapons; and faience, ivory, terra cotta objects, frescoes, and linen goods. While many of our imports are antiques, some of the pottery, terracotta, and linen goods are quite affordable as are some of the smaller items.
Note: This is written for role-play purposes for Panhistoria. This web page is set in the reign of Rameses II (1290 - 1224 BC).
See more of Khent Abt, the 14th Nome of Lower Kemet (Egypt) and home to Hutwaret/Piramesse.
Minoan and Mycenaean Art, Reynold Higgins, London: Thames and Hudson, 1997.
Minoans: Life in Bronze Age Crete, Rodney Castleden, New York: Routledge, 1993.
Minoans: Peoples of the Past, J. Lesley Fitton, London: British Museum Press, 2002.
Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Ian Shaw, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
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Last Updated November 30, 2009