SIGHTS
Palace of Knossos
The Minoan palace is the main site to visit in Knossos (or Knossos), an important city in antiquity, with continuous life from the Neolithic years to the 5th century. It is built on the hill of Kefala, with easy access to the sea but also to the interior of Crete.
SIGHTS
The first excavations were carried out in 1878 by Minoas Kalokairinos from Heraklion. This was followed by the excavations conducted by the Englishman Sir Arthur Evans (1900-1913 and 1922-1930) which revealed the entire palace.
The oldest traces of habitation in the palace area go back to the Neolithic era (7000-3000 BC). Inhabitation continues in the pre-palatial period (3000-1900 BC), at the end of which the area is leveled for the construction of a large palace. This first palace was destroyed, probably by an earthquake, in 1700 BC. about. A second, grander palace was built on the ruins of the old one. After a partial destruction around 1450 BC, the Mycenaeans settled in Knossos. The palace was finally destroyed around 1355 BC. from a large fire. The area it covers is inhabited again from the late Mycenaean period until Roman times.
The palace of Knossos has been extensively restored by the archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. It was multi-storey and covered an area of 20,000 sq.m. The variety of building materials, the colored mortars, the orthomarbling and the murals that adorn rooms and corridors make an impression. The high technical knowledge of the Minoans is confirmed by original architectural and construction inventions, such as skylights and multi-doors, the use of beams to strengthen the masonry, as well as the complex drainage and water supply network.
The palace develops around the large Central Court, a place of public gatherings. A second courtyard, the Western, was the official access to the palace and also a place for ceremonies.
The western wing includes the official areas of administrative and religious activities: the Triple Sanctuary, the Sacred Treasuries and the Hypostyle Crypts. The Throne Room stands out, with the purification tank and the alabaster throne flanked by desks. In the south wing, the most important spaces are the South Propyla, the Procession Corridor and the South Entrance with the fresco of the prince with the Lilies. The eastern wing includes living spaces and large reception rooms, the main ones being the Hall of the Double Pelekae and the Queen's Palace. The imposing Grand Staircase leads to them.
From the North Entrance was communicating with the port of Knossos. The North Entrance is flanked by elevated arcades, of which the western one is decorated with the fresco of the Bull Hunt.
A large stone-paved processional road, the Royal Road, led from the Little Palace and the city to the north-west corner of the palace, where an outdoor theater space is formed.