[5] An overview of the archaeological discoveries made in Knossos, Crete, from the beginning of the 20th century, especially by the British archaeologist Arthur Evans, a wealthy Englishman, who found the legendary palace of King Minos.
[6] From a plethora of bric-à-brac—frescoes, ceramics, clay tablets covered with unknown writings—Evans recreated an immense civilisation, totally original.
According to standards of the collection, the book is profusely illustrated with colour plates—Minoan frescoes, maps, drawings, paintings, photographs of artefacts and excavations, etc.—and printed on glossy paper.
The first chapter "Terra Incognita" presents Crete, the Greek island as an unknown land at the end of 19th century when Knossos was approached by Evans.
The last chapter "Minoan Art Nouveau" is about the exoticism and the surprising familiarity of the Cretan discoveries, which together presented a sort of ideal image of a modern-day antiquity: The royalty of the fleur-de-lys, the virgin mother, Our Lady of the Mountain or of the Waves, the plastic symbols, the number three or the cross, the 'Parisienne' of Knossos, the boxers, and toreadors bring very close to us a life separated from our own by thousands of years.