The Veneti the Heirs to the Minoans

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of the origin of various groups of the Veneti, known in historiography, based on data from archaeology, linguistics, and anthropology. Toponymic markers-ethnonyms use as the most important evidence of possible residence and subsequent spatial movements of tribes. It is justified that these geographical names appear, as a rule, when ethnic groups move to a new territory with an alien autochthonous population. The toponyms, ethnonyms provide an opportunity to identify areas of distribution and possible migration routes of the tribes. The article explores issues related to the migration of the Veneti during the Bronze Age disaster from the Northwestern part of the Asia Minor peninsula to Europe. It is justified that the Western Anatolian cultures created under the significant influence of the Minoan culture and the Veneti are among its successors. There is evidence that the self-name of the Minoans could be the ethnonym associated with the custom of painting the bodies of men in red. Evidence provided the trade of Ancient Egypt with the land of Rutenu (Ruzenu) could conducted with the Minoans and they could establish ports on the coast of the Levant, which became famous at afterwards.