Dante Carrillo
The Minoan civilization, often regarded as the first in Europe, was a Bronze Age culture centred on the island of Crete. Known for its architecture and art, the Minoan diet is thought to have consisted of cereals, legumes, wine, olive oil, and animal protein. Evidence of their diet has been found in storage containers and vessels, as well as through the study of animal bones and seeds. The Minoans also consumed fish and molluscs, as depicted in murals found in the palace of Knossos. Their diet is associated with the Mediterranean diet, which includes fresh fish and vegetables, and is considered healthy for the heart.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Crete |
| Time Period | Bronze Age |
| Food Sources | Products they made themselves |
| Trade | |
| Main Food Groups | Cereals |
| Legumes | |
| Wine | |
| Olive oil | |
| Meat | |
| Fish | |
| Mollusks | |
| Vegetables | |
| Fruits |
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What You'll Learn
Fish and molluscs
The Minoans were skilled in preparing and preserving their seafood. They created a paste called "garos" from fish and salt, which was a common and affordable dish for ancient Greeks. This practice of preserving fish through salting demonstrates their knowledge of food preparation and storage.
Additionally, the Minoans utilised woven close-mesh nets for fishing, showcasing their ingenuity and adaptability in acquiring seafood. Their diet also included meat, although it was consumed in limited quantities, as suggested by the Mediterranean diet.
The discovery of clay tablets written in Linear B script provides further insight into the importance of seafood in the Minoan diet. These tablets served as temporary records of commodities, including transactions related to seafood trade or distribution.
Overall, the consumption of fish and molluscs played a vital role in the dietary habits of the Minoans, contributing to their diverse and nutritious Mediterranean-influenced cuisine.
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Meat
The Minoans' meat consumption was limited and small, as suggested by the Mediterranean diet. They kept sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, and horses for meat. They also hunted wild animals like deer, which were likely kept in enclosures near Knossos. The cut marks on the bones found at Knossos suggest that the meat was cut against the grain. These were older animals that were consumed after being used for other agricultural activities.
Excavations at Knossos in the 1950s and 1960s revealed bones and seeds, which provided valuable insights into the ancient Minoans' diet. Dr Valasia Isaakidou, who restudied these bones, found evidence of deer being brought to Crete and hunted. Additionally, the Minoans consumed beef and venison, as indicated by the cut marks on the bones.
The Minoans' diet included locally produced crops such as acorns, almonds, elderberries, figs, grapes, Mediterranean hackberries, olives, pears, pomegranates, and terebinth. They also imported spices from Asia, including cumin, and used "tiger nuts" (Cyperus esculentus) in making nut bread.
The Minoans' diet was diverse and rich, reflecting their advanced civilization. Their food was based on the Mediterranean diet, which is known for its health benefits due to the use of fresh ingredients and local products.
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Wine
Minoan wine was exported worldwide, and the Minoans had a flawless organisation of wine production and distribution. Wine was a catalogued and recorded commodity, as depicted in Linear A and B etchings found in storerooms around the island. Frescos and pottery also depict wine as an important part of daily Minoan life. The grape remnants from the oldest known wine press at the Minoan villa of Vathypetro, outside of Knossos, are the same species of grape used for winemaking today.
In the Mycenaean period, wine took on greater cultural, religious, and economic importance. Wine was used for sacred libations, and the sacred bull of Crete was linked with offerings in the form of horn-shaped libation cups called 'rhyta'. The most common style of wine in ancient Greece was sweet and aromatic, though drier wines were also produced. Wine was almost always diluted, usually with water or snow, and the Greeks believed that only barbarians drank undiluted wine. Greek poets would extol the virtues of certain wines and review those that were not up to their standards.
The Minoans' wine-making knowledge and techniques had a lasting impact, and vines and wine spread across the rest of Europe, evolving into the wine industry we know today.
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Olive oil
The Minoans' diet was based on the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fresh fish and vegetables. The Mediterranean diet is an example of a prudent lifestyle choice and is scientifically accepted to help preserve human health by protecting against major chronic and inflammatory diseases. The Mediterranean diet is characteristically high in the consumption of fruits, vegetables, salad, bread, whole grain cereals, potatoes, legumes/beans, nuts, and seeds. Their common central feature is the usage of olive oil as the main source of fat. The health benefits attributed to olive oil are specifically related to extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) intake with its high nutritional quality and multiple positive effects on health.
There are four main types of olive oil: extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, pure olive oil, and light olive oil. They can be initially categorized based on the means of production and also quality standards revealed by testing. For example, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil is considered the best olive oil. Further processing of the olive paste mixture, including adding chemical solvents or warming the mixture, might also be used to extract even more olive oil out of it. These processing steps yield refined olive oils and not those labelled “extra virgin.’’
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Cereals
The Minoans cultivated and consumed many types of cereal grains, including barley and wheat, which were of particular importance throughout the Bronze Age. Cereals were so important to the Minoan diet that palaces in Crete featured storage rooms where large quantities were kept in jars.
Locals made different types of bread, sweets, and flours from these cereal grains. They also frequently used barley, malt, and millet, an ingredient for making bread and pasta.
The Minoan diet was diverse and based on the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fresh fish and vegetables. They also incorporated various Eastern influences into their diet.
The Minoans also drank wine, which was an integral part of ancient Greek meals, and is still considered Greece's most popular traditional drink.
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Frequently asked questions
The Minoans, a Bronze Age culture centred on the island of Crete, had a diet consisting mainly of pulses, cereals, olives, fruits, vegetables, and some animal protein. They also consumed seafood, including fish and molluscs, and drank wine.
Olive oil was an important part of the Minoan diet and was used for cooking, cosmetics, lighting, rituals, and as a base for painting.
The Minoans used clay pots, pans, and cups made from metal or clay for cooking and storing food and drinks.
