In the Shadow of the Goddess: The Legacy of Sir Arthur Evans and the Interpretation of Minoan Religion

Abstract

The work of British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans (1851-1941) has left a lasting impact on modern conceptions of the Minoan civilization. Recent scholarship however has begun to scrutinize the conceptual frameworks and intellectual agendas that drove his work, arguing his interpretations were shaped by his goal of asserting Minoan Crete as ‘European.’ This paper reveals the legacy of Evans’s work through a survey of the scholarship as well as introductory and public works to provide insight into the ways his work continues to impact modern conceptions. Exploring Evans’s background and writings reveals the Eurocentric and imperial narratives that influence his work, and a survey of the historiography in the century that follows reveals the continued legacy of his narratives. Furthermore, an examination of introductory texts and sources, such as those utilized in education and spaces of public history, illuminates the ways sources perpetuate Evans’s narratives and frameworks.