Nikos kazantzakis’ Inside Knossos’ Palaces and Kouros: the Persons of Minoan Myth during the Change of Times

Abstract

Nikos Kazantzakis introduced his dialog with the ancient Greek writers very early. In his Apology about the linguistic question argues that the ancient Greek heritage is a challenge for the current writers to develop their own thoughts. Minoan mythology and the Evan’s excavations in Knossos take place in his works very often. While he helps Galateia to write school books, translates Plato’s work Minos. Later in his opus magnum Odyssey Knossos is a turning point, describes the old world and Ulysses destroys it. In his novel for children and youth, Inside Knossos’ Palaces Thesseas killes Minotaur and burns down Knossos, because this city represents the corrupt system. Kazantzakis makes the athenean hero his self image, because Thesseas’ ideas about the education and the school-stadion are founded in writer’s letters to his wife Galateia. The tragedy Kouros deals with the myth of Thesseas and Minotaur but in inverse manner. Thesseas, again as a writer’s mask, comes to Knossos with the Athenian sacrificial boys and girls. The hero has to kill the monster, but his discussion with Ariadne and Minos about the values of peace and love changes his mind.