The Ships of Minos

Our Aeneid, our Odyssey

This tale took our part of the world by a storm. Minoan mariners traveling up the river systems of Eastern Europe in 1600 B.C., looking for the sources of amber: this was our Odyssey! This was our Aeneid! Written in a lofty, epic style by the only man in the world to have translated all of Shakespeare, it became an instant best-seller and has since become a cult-classic for us.

Millions of copies later, archeologists begin to discover how prophetic the author’s vision was: during the Bronze Age, Northern and Eastern Europe teemed with nations and kingdoms and religions. Absence of a writing system and the use of wood as the building material mean that these nations have left no written record. But here they are again, resurrected by the mighty pen of Joe Alex.

“O Mother of the Gods!” Vidvoyos called in a clear, resounding voice. “You, Guardian of my line and my kingdom, come to our aid!”
And very slowly, he raised high above his head the sacred stone double-axe, the gift of Ariadne, the very stone axe which his divine ancestors had borne when, arriving on bronze-clad ships, they laid waste to the Kingdom of Crete and took possession of it.
As if answering him, suddenly a wind arose and, sweeping over the ship, whistled in the panaches of the armed men.
“It is She!” cried out a seafarer sitting in front of Whitehair. “She has come!”