The island of Crete has been inhabited by humans and pre-humans on and off again for over 6 million years, but the story of the Minoans begins much later. Around 4000 BC, skilled farmers from the north and eastern Eurasia were drawn to the island by its comfortable climate and its sea barrier that could provide some protection from invasion. Their farming skills had been passed down from generation to generation for over 6000 years, yet on Crete, these people craved something more. The people who would become known as the Minoans wanted to create a new civilization. Little could they have imagined that their culture would be considered the first high culture in the Aegean and became world known for its society and religion. Yet, by 1100 BC, their civilization was wiped out. Perhaps it was ash from the volcanic eruption on Thera that destroyed their crops and starved them. Or maybe internal hardship made them vulnerable to the spreading civilization from mainland Greece. Or maybe they had simply exhausted the resources of the island that had once served them.

All that remains are their ruins and artifacts and genomes, sequenced for the first time in 2017. The first genomes from individuals from Lassithi, Heraklion, and Kephala Petras in Crete finally make it possible to study the Minoans’ origins, learn what they looked like and possibly, and, with the help of users like you, discovery their genetic legacy and descendants, shedding light on the mystery of what became of them.

The test includes 15 fifteen Crete Minoans who lived between 2600 and 1680 BC at the peak of their civilization and provides a detailed historical, archeological, and paleogenetic background about them. The test describes their relationships with other ancient Aegeans and their cultic practices. A detailed profile is available for every Minoan. Find out now how related you are to Cretan Minoans.