Crossroads Roundup: a Minoan Mystery, the Lost City of Tu’am, and the Sumerian Temple of Ningirsu

Our favorite stories on art, archaeology, folklore, and more from this past week.

Welcome to the Crossroads Roundup! This is our weekly roundup of news related to history, art, archaeology, and anything else that our readers might enjoy. While many of our essays are free, the Crossroads Roundup is for paid subscribers only. If you haven’t already, you can sign up below to gain access to the full archive, the Patron Podcast, and the Crossroads Roundup:

4,000-year-old Minoan structure discovered outside Kissamos, Greece. Via the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Once upon a time, someone tried to build an airport…

On the Greek island of Crete (one of my favorite places in the world), construction of a radar station for a new airport near Kissamos ground to a halt after the discovery of a mysterious, 4,000-year-old structure. 

From overhead, the ruins of the stone structure (see above) resemble a wheel—a very large wheel, at 19,000 square feet (or 1,800 square meters). The structure dates to the Minoan civilization, which occupied Crete from about 3000 to 1100 B.C. The Minoans are known for their large palace complexes at Knossos and Phaistos, as well as their vibrant, colorful art. The cause for the fall of Minoan society is still heavily debated, with theories ranging from a catastrophic volcanic eruption to an invasion of Mycenaeans from mainland Greece.

The Toreador Fresco (Bull-Leaping Fresco), ca. 1400 B.C. Via Wikimedia Commons.