I have been to Crete, too, and the Minoans’ obsession with cephalopods is not limited to the pottery. There are some beautiful murals in the palace at Knossos. You really should visit. The barebreasted Cretan dancers are beautiful, too. I think they were in a procession, though, not dancing.
I remember seeing those vases in Jacque Cousteau’s book, “Octopus and Squid: A Soft Intelligence.”
John Mruziksays
Where are the pics?
David Harmonsays
Complex_field: PZ was referring to the fact that these “octopus jars” were in fact used for catching octopi. They don’t even need bait — just lower it into the water and wait for some gullible octopus to hide in the nice comfy “lair”….
Hank Robertssays
A lighter note:
The Berkeley Kite Wranglers set a world record by flying 10 octopi kites at the Berkeley Marina’s 20th annual kite festival Saturday. Chronicle photo by Kurt Rogers
Back then, you’d have been a Cretan. Today, you’re a cretin. Ironic.
Paul W.says
Back then, you’d have been a Cretan. Today, you’re a cretin. Ironic.
Yeah, coming from Jason.
Gavsays
Maybe rather more than 2500 years.
The Cretans still make them, for the tourists. They’re rather pretty. I bought one the first time I visited Crete. It came with a certificate to confirm that it’s a fake, so to speak.
[I wonder if Jason has ever considered the origin of the word cretin, by the way. Probably not.]
I wonder if Jason has ever considered the origin of the word cretin, by the way. Probably not.
Ah, the possible origin from the Latin for “Christian.” Yeah, nevermind those other possible etymologies. If there’s one that [supposedly] debases Christians, that’s the one that is true.
Don Culbersonsays
Jason sez…
“Back then, you’d have been a Cretan. Today, you’re a cretin.”
Goodness, Jason. Are you a nice person? WWJD?
Uncle Don
Paguroidea says
Absolutely beautiful!!!!!
Ahcuah says
PZ wrote:
Umm, I don’t think they are big enough. :-)
complex_field says
“…there’s something I could have gotten into.”
You mean the bare-breasted Cretan dancers?
davis says
I have been to Crete, too, and the Minoans’ obsession with cephalopods is not limited to the pottery. There are some beautiful murals in the palace at Knossos. You really should visit. The barebreasted Cretan dancers are beautiful, too. I think they were in a procession, though, not dancing.
Stanton says
I remember seeing those vases in Jacque Cousteau’s book, “Octopus and Squid: A Soft Intelligence.”
John Mruzik says
Where are the pics?
David Harmon says
Complex_field: PZ was referring to the fact that these “octopus jars” were in fact used for catching octopi. They don’t even need bait — just lower it into the water and wait for some gullible octopus to hide in the nice comfy “lair”….
Hank Roberts says
A lighter note:
The Berkeley Kite Wranglers set a world record by flying 10 octopi kites at the Berkeley Marina’s 20th annual kite festival Saturday. Chronicle photo by Kurt Rogers
http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2006/07/30/ba_kites30_0179_kr.jpg
Jason says
Back then, you’d have been a Cretan. Today, you’re a cretin. Ironic.
Paul W. says
Yeah, coming from Jason.
Gav says
Maybe rather more than 2500 years.
The Cretans still make them, for the tourists. They’re rather pretty. I bought one the first time I visited Crete. It came with a certificate to confirm that it’s a fake, so to speak.
[I wonder if Jason has ever considered the origin of the word cretin, by the way. Probably not.]
Jason says
Ah, the possible origin from the Latin for “Christian.” Yeah, nevermind those other possible etymologies. If there’s one that [supposedly] debases Christians, that’s the one that is true.
Don Culberson says
Jason sez…
“Back then, you’d have been a Cretan. Today, you’re a cretin.”
Goodness, Jason. Are you a nice person? WWJD?
Uncle Don