The Minotaur's Island

The ominously-named historical documentary Minotaur's Island travels inside of the titular locale of Crete - not merely the home of the mythical "half-man, half-bull" legend involving Icarus and Daedalus, but on a historical level, the site of the oldest known European civilization - that of the Minoans. Here, historian Bettany Hughes journeys to Crete, following the example set by Harriet Boyd, Arthur Evans and other archaeologists of prior generations. The primary thrust of her trip involves attempting to uncover key insights into Minoan civilization, such as clues about how the Cretans lived, worshipped, ate, worked, and entertained one another. Various subtopics covered here include the elaborate archaeology of the Minoan people, the role of "bull-leapers" in Cretan society, and indications of what finally brought that world toppling down.