Minoan Gold

Minoan, about 1850-1550 BC. 'Master (or Mistress) of the Animals'

The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age society that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from about the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. 'Minoan' was coined after the mythic King Minos.

Minos is associated in myth with the labyrinth, which identifies with the site at Knossos.

The Minoan civilization developed from local Neolithic culture around 3100 BC, with complex urban settlements starting around 2000 BC. According to Greek mythology, King Minos of Crete had the craftsman Daedalus construct the Labyrinth in order to conceal the Minotaur.Salzburg Multiple lane labyrinth with Theseus and the Minotauros in the center.

The Minotaur was a half bull and half man creature that yearly ate the Athernian tribute of fourteen young men and women.

The Bronze Age began in Crete as the island developed centers of commerce. This enabled the upper classes to expand their influence. The ground would be laid for a monarchist power structure - a precondition for great empires. Around 1450 BCE, Minoan culture experienced a turning point due to a natural catastrophe, possibly the eruption of Thera. (Santorin) The palace in Knossos seems to have remained largely intact. The Minoan palace sites were occupied by the Myceneans around 1420 BC. By 1200 BC the Minoans had faded into history.

Signet ring dates to around 1500 BCE

UK gardeners land gold hoard

A family weeding their garden in New Forest in 2020 discovered a hoard of gold coins that may have been hidden during the dissolution of the monasteries there. The find of 63 gold coins and one silver coin, mostly date from the reigns of kings from Edward IV to Henry VIII. The coins were likely hidden around 1540 and sold for over $20k USD.

Four gold coins depicting Henry VIII have the initials of three of his wives on them. The initials stand for his first three wives Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour. Henry VIII put the initials of whoever his wife was at the time on his coins but stopped the practice after Jane. Henry divorced Catherine, beheaded Anne and lost Jane when she died after giving birth.

The Salvation of Rome: Gordian III

Rome in the third century was a time of turmoil and encroaching chaos. Gordian III assumed the throne in 238 CE at the age of 13, making him the youngest sole Roman emperor. In 235, following the murder of Severus, Maximinus Thrax was acclaimed emperor by his troops. Born of Thracian origin and given the nickname Thrax "the Thracian", a growing opposition against him followed. The Roman Senate and the population of Rome opposed his rule. In 238, a rebellion broke out in the Africa Province, where Gordian's grandfather and uncle, Gordian I and II, were proclaimed joint emperors. This revolt was suppressed by Cappellianus, a loyal supporter of Maximinus.

Later in 238, a senatorial revolt broke out, leading to the successive proclamations of Gordian I, Gordian II, Pupienus, Balbinus, and Gordian III.

Maximinus advanced on Rome, but was halted at Aquileia, where he was assassinated by elements of the Legio II Parthica.

Gordian III served for almost six years before dying under mysterious circumstances while fighting against the Sassanian Persians. He was succeeded by his praetorian prefect, Philip the Arab. The Latin word “aureus” means “golden”, and derives from the Roman word for gold: aurum. The aureus was first produced in the first century BCE and was still being struck in the fourth century CE. It was initially valued at 25 silver denarii.

Scythian Gold

Scythians were Iranian equestrian tribes who inhabited large areas of the central Eurasian steppes from the 7th century BC through the 4th century AD. Ancient Greeks gave the name Scythia to all the lands north-east of Europe and the northern coast of the Black Sea, unknown to them in that era.

Scythian golden pectoral from the royal grave at Tolstaja Mogila kurgan, 4th century BC. It shows the three tiers of Scythian mythology: the Inner Earth, the Astral-Cosmic sphere and innermost the inhabited world.

Gold comb decorated with scenes of battle with Scythian warriors. From the tumulus of Solokha, Ukraine. 5th-4th century BC.

Royal burial site in Tuva, Late 7th century BC

Scythian golden sword and scabbard.

Gold Scythian belt title, Azerbaijan, 7th century BC.

Scythian goddess Apa from the Kul Oba kurgan.

Scythian Gold Stag, 4th-3rd Century BC

The gold fish of Vettersfelde, Scythian, ca 500 BC

Hellhounds

A hellhound is a supernatural dog in folklore. A wide variety of hellish dogs occur in mythologies around the world. Some European legends state that if someone stares into a hellhound's eyes twice or more, that person will surely die. Hellhounds often have fire-based abilities and appearance. They are often assigned to guard the entrances to the world of the dead, such as graveyards and burial grounds, or undertake other duties such as hunting lost souls. In European legends, seeing a hellhound or hearing it howl is an omen or even a cause of death. They are said to be the protectors of the supernatural. Hellhounds of myth is common across Great Britain and Western Europe.

In southern Mexico and Central America folklore, the Cadejo haunts travelers who walk late at night.

The Bearer of Death is a term often used in describing the Hellhound. Hellhounds are said to be as black as coal with a smell of burning brimstone. They leave behind a burned area wherever they go. In Greek mythology the hellhound belonged to Hades, the Greek god of death and the underworld. It's name in Greek mythology is Cerberus. It has three heads and guards the gates of hell. The three heads were meant to symbolize the past, present and future.

Hades with Cerberus - Pluto Carricci painting

Cerberus is a well known creature in ancient mythology. Hades’ loyal guard dog, Cerberus only had an appetite for living flesh and so would only allow dead spirits to pass, while consuming any living mortal who was foolish enough to come near. Cerberus was the offspring of the monsters Echidna and Typhon, and was usually described as having a serpent for a tail, and snakes protruding from his body.

Cerberus is best known as the twelfth and final labor of Heracles. Heracles must enter the underworld, wrestle the beast using no weapons, and then bring Cerberus to the surface world, alive, to present to the Mycenaean king Eurystheus. Although Eurystheus commanded him to bring back Cerberus, it was not from any desire to see Cerberus, but only because Eurystheus thought that the task was impossible. Heracles made his descent into the underworld through an entrance at Tainaron, the most famous of the various Greek entrances to the underworld. It took its name from the mythical son of Zeus, Taenarus, who built a town named Taenarum after himself. A cave network was believed to be an entrance to Hades. This gate was guarded by Cerberus, a beast that prevented the dead from escaping and the living from entering.

Heracles tackled the beast, throws it over his shoulder and drags him to the mortal world. Upon seeing Cerberus, Eurystheus was so terrified that he hid in a large vase and begged Heracles to return the hell hound back to Hades.

The domain of Hades in Greek mythology was not only hell, but was the whole of the afterlife. The realm was Tartarus (hell), the Asphodel Meadows (nothingness), and the Elysian Fields (paradise).