Palace of Knossos, Crete Island

Palace of Knossos - details and images

Knossos is the largest archaeological site in Crete, dating from the Bronze Age. It was political and religious center of the Minoan culture. Palace of Knossos was discovered by Sir Arthur Evans in 1894. Accompanied by Dr. Duncan Mackenzie, who was distinguished by excavations on the island of Melos, and Mr. Fyfe, Evans used a large team that was responsible for the excavation in June 1900, has exposed much of the ancient palace of.

Palace of Knossos remarkable as presented today is a reconstruction using the original materials excavated by Arthur Evans. Even if a settlement is not biblical Knossos, shows a great interest for tourists because of its proximity to Iraklion and especially because of the Minoan culture that flourished here. Knossos is located approximately 5 km south of Iraklion is easy to get here by car or bus.

Knossos famous legends spread around the world, the adventures of King Minos and the Minotaur (the labyrinth of dark mythical animal that had killed victims), and the flight of Daedalus and his son, Icarus, Icarus wings of death were melted because he flew too close to the sun.
Around 1300 BC a devastating fire destroyed the palace. For almost a thousand years before the city-state of Knossos continued in the north and west of the palace area. The city remained as the largest and most powerful of Cretan cities up in Romanian, when opposition to the Romans took it to be replaced starting with 67 BC Gortina.

The entire area is open visiting and most major attractions are easily identified. Besides the colorful frescoes cladirilie (originals which are in the Iraklion Archaeological Museum), remember griffin guards the Throne Room, Queen Room with own bathroom, with tub of tile and what is said to be the first toilet water reserve; sophisticated and windows for ventilation and light curtains and large clay pots used for storing grain, wine and olive oil.

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