Inside the Magnificent Minoan Palace of Knossos in Crete

Minoan Knossos Palace — The Minoan palace at Knossos. Credit: Gary Bembridge /Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-2.0

The Palace of Knossos, located about five kilometers (three miles) south of Heraklion on Kephala hill, was the largest of all the Minoan palaces in Crete.

It was also at the core of the highly sophisticated civilization that flourished on the island over 3,500 years ago.

The discovery of the Minoan Palace of Knossos

The discovery and subsequent excavation of the palace dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Before then, Knossos had only served as a place mentioned in Greek mythology.

The first modern scholar to take a serious interest in the area was the German Heinrich Schliemann, who in 1870 had excavated the site believed to be Troy.

Schliemann was certain that a major Minoan palace lay hidden near Heraklion, but the Ottoman authorities who still ruled the island at the time denied any permission to dig there.

Years afterward, the British archaeologist Arthur Evans, inspired by Schliemann’s ideas, reached Crete to negotiate the purchase of a portion of land in Knossos.

He began excavations in 1900 and in a matter of days, he found enough clear evidence to indicate the presence of a huge palatial complex.

Restoration of the site

Controversial restoration works took place thanks to Evans’ personal ownership of the site and its wealth.

He named the civilization “Minoan” after the legendary king Minos and he also took liberties rebuilding the site that have been debated by different archaeologists ever since.

He roofed the Throne Room, reconstructed the Grand Staircase, and replaced columns.

Evans also ordered the reconstruction of walls with frescoes and even added a conjectural Piano Nobile (upper story) using concrete.

Even though his works are largely based on personal ideas, it is also true that without his restoration it would have been impossible to deduce what the massive complex could have looked like in the past.

Therefore, if visitors want to see one of the most magnificent remnants of the Minoan civilization, they should put up with some controversy and visit the archaeological site of Knossos.

What to see at the Minoan Palace of Knossos

The West Court

This area believed to be the marketplace was certainly a place devoted to public meetings.

There, visitors can find three big circular pits, probably silos or depositories, which were also used as rubbish tips by the end of the Minoan era.

The Central Court

The central area of the palace presents a courtyard where modern paving covers the oldest remains found in the site, dating back to the Neolithic era.

Some speculate that this used to be the scenery of the well-known bull-leaping ceremony, while others say that the space would not have been enough for the acrobatic movements required for the performance.

The Piano Nobile

The Piano Nobile is a reconstruction completely made from scratch by Evans, and its main value lies in the sights it offers of the whole complex and the storerooms.

Many consider the disposition of the area rather confusing and out of place.

The Throne Room

The Throne Room at Knossos. Credit: Rolf Dietrich Brecher/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA-2.0

Easy to spot due to the lines of tourists waiting to visit, the throne room hosts a worn seat made of stone while next to the walls there are lines with stone benches.

Archaeologists believe that the room was the seat of a priest or priestess rather than a ruler.

This idea is also backed up by the presence of a sunken bath which was probably used for ritual purification since it has no connection to the palace’s drain system.

The Royal Apartments

Dolphins — The Dolphin Mural in the Queen’s Suite at Knossos. Credit: Chris 73/Wikimedia Commons/ CC-BY-SA-3.0

The Grand Staircase, a masterpiece which is an integral part of the architectural design of the spectacular Minoan Palace at Knossos, leads visitors to the royal apartments.

The most beautiful rooms in the palace are a clear example of the importance luxury and comfort had for the Minoans. The so-called Queen’s Suite has its main room decorated with the famous frescoes of the dolphins.

Some argue that these rooms would have been too small to fit the royalty, more likely located in the upper areas of the palace.

Therefore they are also identified as residencies for priests or important nobles.

The Queen’s Bathroom has a clay tub protected by a wall with a flushing lavatory with a drain system.

The King’s Room, located above the Queen’s Suite, has a stunning reception known as the Hall of the Royal Guard as well as the ruler’s personal chamber, or the Hall of the Double Axes.

The Workshops

This zone is thought to have been the area where smiths, potters and other craftsmen would manage their trade and skills.

In the workshops, it is also possible to see the characteristic huge terracotta vases.

This is also a good place to to admire the bull relief fresco located in the north entrance.

The Drainage System

Best seen from the back of the Queen’s Suite, the well-known complex drainage system of the palace consists of interconnecting terracotta pipes running underneath the complex. Whole sections of it are perfectly visible.

Tips for visiting

You can reach the site by local bus if you are staying in Heraklion (€1.5 / $1.85 per person per route, buses N° 2 and 4). The bus stop is very close to the entrance.
The Palace of Knossos is the largest Minoan site on Crete making it very popular. During summer it gets very busy and might be necessary to wait in long lines to buy a ticket.
Combining a visit to the palace with a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion helps in making the most of the trip. This will allow entry to both places, without waiting in line once again and saving a few euros.
Leave plenty of time to see the site and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion if you are seriously interested in its history.
Much of the site is not covered by trees, so it is difficult to find a shady spot. A hat, sunscreen, and water are essential.
You can take pictures at Knossos but you are not allowed to use a camera with a tripod or a large professional camera.

Comments

The World’s Oldest Living Olive Tree is on Crete

The most ancient olive tree in the world, in Crete. Credit: Dimitra Damian/Greek Reporter The oldest olive tree in the world is located in the village of Ano Vouves of Kissamos in Chania, Crete. The ancient tree is 3000 years old, as determined by the international scientific community. The ancient olive tree in Vouves has a trunk with a circumference of 12.5 meters (41 feet), and a diameter of 4.6 meters (15 feet). It belongs to the local tree variety of tsounati, and was grafted at a height of 3 meters onto a wild olive tree. Because of the grafting, its trunk has been so beautifully shaped by nature that it resembles a sculpture. In 1990, after a unanimous decision in the prefecture of Chania, the Vouves Olive Tree was declared a Natural Monument of great importance due to its status as the world’s oldest tree of its kind. The oldest olive tree still produces high-quality olives The fruits of the ancient olive tree make the best olive oil in the world, making the area...

Ten Unforgettable Things to Do Around Syntagma Square in Athens

Syntagma Square, Athens. Credit: Public Domain Syntagma Square has literally been the very heart of Athens ever since the city became the capital of the modern Greek state. With the Greek Parliament building and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier looming over it, it is rich with history and is the place where most major events of the last two centuries have taken place. Its name in Greek means “Constitution Square,” a name granted by Greece’s first modern royal, King Otto, on September 3, 1843, after an uprising of the people. This was a smart political move, since the royal palace overlooked the square. In 1934, the royal palace was turned over to the Greek Parliament, and ever since that time, Syntagma Square has been the place where all public protests and demonstrations have taken place. Syntagma Square home to historic demonstrations and protests In December of 1944, just after the departure of the occupying Nazi troops, a people’s rally at the square was marred b...

The Greek Who Taught the Japanese to Eat Feta Cheese and Olive Oil

Credit: Facebook/ Thanasis Fragkis Pioneering businessman Thanasis Fragkis was the very first person to introduce olive oil and other traditional Greek products to Japan more than a decade ago. Olive oil, wine, feta cheese and Greek yogurt, relatively unknown food items to this Far Eastern country, are now being enjoyed as the great gourmet delicacies they are. Speaking to Greek Reporter from his home in the town of Mito, around 120 km (76 miles) north of Tokyo, Fragkis was justifiably proud of his achievement. “We have taught the Japanese to eat olive oil, cheeses, including feta, yogurt that were not part of their diet. They hardly knew of olive oil,” he says in wonderment. Originally from the town of Kymi on the island of Evia, Fragkis emigrated to England, where he met his future wife, who is Japanese. “When we got married we thought ‘you are Japanese, I am Greek, what is the point of living in England?’. Greece was a difficult place to start a business in at the ti...

Water Shortages On Islands Plaguing Greece This Summer

Tap water is a precious commodity on the Greek islands and one that is in short supply. Credit: Ishwah Murth Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Island water shortages and stoppages are plaguing Greece this summer. Promoted for its beautiful seawater surrounding all the Greek isles and its entire coastline, many islands are suffering from a lack of quantity — and quality of tap water. Turning on the tap and finding an abundant flow of water has become a basic expectation in civilized society of the 21st century, particularly when you are on a vacation that is meant to offer a bit of away-from-home luxury. However, on some Greek islands, access to whiskey is easier to come by than water. Greek island water shortages and water stoppages are common nowadays. Carol Berkley, from London, who is vacationing at an AirBnB property in the area of Marathi on Mykonos told Greek Reporter, “We had just come back from the beach. There are four of us here on the property....

Άρης: «Είναι ωραία στη 2η θέση, είναι και δίκαιο»

Έχοντας σε μεγάλη μέρα τον Κρίστιαν Γκάνεα, ο οποίος πέτυχε ένα γκολ και μοίρασε άλλο ένα, ο Άρης επικράτησε 3-0 του Ατρομήτου και βρέθηκε ξανά στην δεύτερη θέση της βαθμολογίας και πλέον ρίχνει το βάρος στο παιχνίδι Κυπέλλου που ακολουθεί με τον Ολυμπιακό στο Βικελίδης. Ο Άρης έδιωξε με εντυπωσιακό τρόπο μια κατάρα δέκα χρόνων απέναντι στους Περιστεριώτες, καθώς επικράτησε του Ατρομήτου 3-0 στο «Κλεάνθης Βικελίδης» χάρη στα τέρματα των Γκάνεα, Σάσα και Σίλβα. Με τη λήξη της αναμέτρησης οι «κιτρινόμαυροι» χτύπησαν στα social media για τη νίκη επί των Περιστεριωτών και τη συνέχεια σε Πρωτάθλημα και Κύπελλο: «Είναι ωραία στη 2η θέση. Είναι και δίκαιο. Δεν σταματάμε...».

Έκανε το εμβόλιο της Johnson και δεν μπορεί να περπατήσει

Την περιπέτειά του μετά από τον εμβολιασμό του με το σκεύασμα της Johnson & Johnson περιγράφει μέσω του Instagram o Γιώργος Βαγιαννίδης. Όπως αναφέρει στην ανάρτησή του, έκανε το εμβόλιο την 1η Σεπτεμβρίου και σήμερα νοσηλεύεται σε νοσοκομείο αφού δεν μπορεί να σταθεί όρθιος, ούτε να περπατήσει. Μάλιστα δημοσιεύει και φωτογραφίες από το νοσοκομείο. Δείτε αναλυτικά όλα όσα αναφέρει στην ανάρτησή του: Καλησπέρα σας, ονομάζομαι Γεώργιος Βαγιαννίδης. Επειδή τον τελευταίο καιρό έχουν ακουστεί πολλά, οφείλω να ξεκαθαρίσω τη θέση μου, για να μην υπάρχουν περαιτέρω αερολογίες σχετικά με την κατάσταση της υγείας μου. Τετάρτη, 1 Σεπτεμβρίου, έκλεισα το ραντεβού για τον εμβολιασμό μου (Johnson’s and Johnson’s). Να τονίσω πως ήταν καθαρά δική μου επιλογή και ΚΑΝΕΝΑΣ δε μου προέτρεψε να το κάνω. Πήγα λοιπόν στο ΓΝ Κατερίνης και το έκανα. Όλα αυτά γύρω στις 16.00. Πολύ τυπικά τα πράγματα. Το μόνο που μου είπαν είναι «Περίμενε...

Κορονοϊός Ινδία: Για πρώτη φορά πάνω από 50.000 κρούσματα σε ένα 24ωρο

Η Ινδία ανακοίνωσε σήμερα, Πέμπτη 30 Ιουλίου, πάνω από 50.000 νέα ημερήσια κρούσματα για πρώτη φορά, λόγω της αύξησης των μολύνσεων στις μη αστικές περιοχές σε μια περίοδο κατά την οποία η κυβέρνηση χαλαρώνει περαιτέρω τους περιορισμούς στις μετακινήσεις και το εμπόριο. Το τελευταίο 24ωρο καταγράφηκαν 52.123 νέα κρούσματα, σύμφωνα με τα στοιχεία των ομοσπονδιακών αρχών υγείας, με τον συνολικό αριθμό των κρουσμάτων να φθάνει σχεδόν το 1,6 εκατομμύριο. Το ίδιο διάστημα, 775 άνθρωποι έχασαν τη ζωή τους λόγω του κορονοϊού, με τον συνολικό αριθμό των θανάτων να πλησιάζει τους 35.000 –που αν και είναι χαμηλός συγκριτικά με τον συνολικό αριθμό των κρουσμάτων, δεν εμφανίζει ιδιαίτερες τάσεις επιβράδυνσης. Ενώ οι μεγάλες πόλεις, όπως το Νέο Δελχί και το Μουμπάι, καταγράφουν επιβράδυνση στον αριθμό των κρουσμάτων, τα περιστατικά στις αγροτικές περιοχές συνεχίζουν να αυξάνονται με αλματώδεις ρυθμούς, προκαλώντας ιδιαίτερη ανησυχία στους ειδικούς που φοβο...

The Mystery of the Oldest Throne in Europe at the Palace of Knossos

Photo: Olaf Tausch /Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY 3.0 In the palace of Knossos in Crete, at the centre of Minoan civilization, a magnificent throne room built during the 15th century BC is considered the oldest such room in Europe. Knossos flourished for approximately two thousand years. It had large palace buildings, extensive workshop installations and luxurious rock-cut cave and tholos tombs. As a major center of trade and the economy, Knossos maintained ties with the majority of cities in the Eastern Mediterranean. The palace was a great labyrinthine complex of 20,000 meters in length, a ceremonial, religious and political center that reflected great wealth, power, and highly advanced architecture. It was based around a central courtyard with more than one thousand interlinked, maze-like halls and chambers. An artist’s recreation of the Palace of Knossos. Photo: Mmoyaq/Wikimedia commons/ CC BY-SA 3.0 The throne room was unearthed in 1900 by British archaeologist Arthur Ev...

A Carefree Sustainable Vacation Awaits You at the Byzantine Mansion Turned Hotel in Monemvasia

A Byzantine-era mansion turned hotel a few kilometers away from the magnificent castle of Monemvasia has opened its doors for the Summer of 2020, as Greece is gradually relaxing its Covid-19 restrictions. Kinsterna Hotel is a model of autonomy and sustainability, functioning harmoniously within a rich and lively natural environment. But more importantly, it adheres to all health and safety regulations and it’s size enables social distancing, which is of paramount importance in the coronavirus times. Tables in the spacious gardens have been placed at a distance from each other as well as the deck chairs next to the pool. Privacy, cleanness, and social distancing are the major preoccupation of the owners of this gem of a hotel. It is the ideal launching pad for discovering the amazing rock of Monemvasia. A small island connected to the mainland town by a 400-meter causeway. The surviving buildings and defensive structures of the fortress include impressive rampar...

Qoutes

Search This Blog