- Tourist Information
- Map
- Malia Minoan Palace
- Legends of Minoan Palace of Malia
- What to visit inside the archeological site
- Round table with little holes around the edge
- Malia Bronze Dagger
Tourist Information
| Type | Ancient Site |
| Year | 1900 BC |
| Other Names | Minoan Palace of Malia |
| Price Tickets | Full ticket: 6 Euro Reduced: 3 Euro |
| Visiting Hours | Summer: 08:00 – 20:00 Good Friday: 12:00 – 17:00 Holy Saturday: 08:30 – 16:00 Closed: Every Tuesday, January 1, March 25, May 1, Easter Sunday, Christmas, December 25, and December 26 |
| Location | Malia Minoan Palace, Crete, Greece, Europe |
Map
Malia Minoan Palace
The ancient name of this site is not known. The present name is taken from the name of Malia town.
Malia is better preserved than the Phaistos site.
Most of the ruins visible today belong to The Second Palace.
There is evidence of a coastal Roman settlement and a Byzantine basilica.
The archaeological site of Malia is the third-largest Minoan palace, after Knossos and Phaistos.
The famous Bee Malia Pendant was found here. Malia Pendant is a gold pendant that you can see in Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Legends of Minoan Palace of Malia
The Palace of Malia was ruled by the legendary King Sarpedon. King Sarpedon was the son of Zeus and Europa and brother of King Minos (King of Knossos)
As Homer said in Iliad, Book XVI, Sarpedon fought on the side of the Trojans but was killed by the Greek warrior Patroclus. A fight took place for the possession of his body until Apollo rescued it from the Greeks, washed it, anointed it with ambrosia, and handed it over to Hypnos and Thanatos (Sleep and Death). They transported the body for burial to Lycia.
What to visit inside the archeological site
- the central courtyard
- east storage rooms (with many pots and jars)
- theater
- crypts
- west corridors
- The “Grand Staircase”
- weapons room (where the famous Bronze Dagger was found)
- royal rooms
- altars
Round table with little holes around the edge
Most probably the table was used to put seeds in the holes like offerings to the goods, so the gods will bring fruitful crops. In some parts of Greece, this tradition still exists.
Malia Bronze Dagger
Malia Bronze Dagger with Gold Hilt was dated between 1800 BC and 1700 BC and is exposed in Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Source Featured Image: By Olaf Tausch – Own work, CC BY 3.0, commons.wikimedia
