3300BC-1200BC-Bronze Age Europe Greece Archaeological sites, ancient temples

Knossos – Treasure city of the mysterious Minoan civilization

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Image by MBoguslaw from Pixabay
Knossos is a grand and complex ancient palace in Crete. The Palace of Knossos was the center of the mighty Minoan civilization. The myth of the Minotaur and the myth of Daedalus and Icarus have their origin here.

Tourist Information

TypeAncient Site
Year1600 BC
Other NamesCnossus, Gnossus, and Knossus
Price TicketsFull ticket: 15 Euro
Reduced: 8 Euro
Heraklion Archaeological Museum + Knossos Site: 16 Euro
Visiting HoursSummer: 08.00-19.30
Winter: 08.30-15.00
LocationKnossos, Crete, Greece, Europe

Map

The Palace of Knossos

The ancient site Palace of Knossos is located 5 km south of Heraklion.

Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and has been called Europe’s oldest city.

The site of Knossos has had a long history of human habitation, beginning with the founding of the first Neolithic settlement (7000 BC).

The palace of Knossos was the political center of the Minoan civilization and culture.

The place was abandoned after its destruction in 1375 BC which marked the end of the Minoan civilization.

You can visit the mythical “Labyrinth of the Minotaur” in The Palace of Knossos.

Sir Arthur John Evans was the archaeologist that discovered the Palace of Knossos. We owe Sir Arthur John Evans the opportunity to admire the grandeur and complexity of this ancient palace.

The elegant wall frescoes that decorated the Palace walls depict people who enjoy life.

Knossos, Mallia, Phaestos, Zakro, Aghia Triada, Kommos, and Zominthos were the settlements established around the island by the Minoan civilization.

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Photo Source: egor-myznik-unsplash

Cult of the Bull

Bulls were sacred in Crete and symbolized power and fertility.

In Heraklion Archaeological Museum you can see different objects representing the bull.

The myth of the Minotaur

The myth of the Minotaur tells that Theseus, a prince from Athens, whose father is an ancient Greek king named Aegeus, the basis for the name of the Greek sea (the Aegean Sea), sailed to Crete, where he was forced to fight a terrible creature called the Minotaur.

The Minotaur was a half-man, half-bull, and was kept in a Labyrinth by King Minos, the ruler of Crete.

The king’s daughter, Ariadne, fell in love with Theseus.

Before he entered the Labyrinth to fight the Minotaur, Ariadne gave him a ball of thread allowing him to retrace his path.

Theseus killed the Minotaur, and then he and Ariadne fled from Crete, escaping her angry father.

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The myth of the Minotaur, Knossos Palace

The myth of Daedalus and Icarus

Daedalus is considered one of the greatest architects and inventors of ancient Greece.

Legend has it that the famous architect Daedalus designed the palace of Knossos and king Minos forbid him to leave the place.

Trapped on the island, Daedalus starts to plan his escape: he makes wings for himself and his son, Icarus, so that they can fly to freedom.

He tells his son to follow a specific path when he flies, but Icarus decides to fly higher and the wax that sticks to the wings starts to melt and he falls from the sky and dies.

What can you see in the ancient city of Knossos?

Throne room -The chamber has an alabaster throne

Throne room fresco – Griffin Fresco – the fresco depicts two Griffin couchant. Griffins were mythological creatures.

Snake Goddess Sanctuary

Minoan columns

Pithoi, or storage jars

Frescoes

Porticoes and air shafts

Water-management systems

Sources: Wikipedia, https://ancient-greece.org/

About the author

Catalina

I am Catalina, and my passion for travel, mysteries, legends and archaeology drives me to explore the world and uncover its hidden wonders.