Crete: Palace of Knossos, Home of King Minos

Palace of Knossos
on the Island of Crete

(click on the small image below to see the full size image)

This page highlights the ruins of the Palace of Knossos on the Greek Island of Crete. Knossos was the main city of the Minoan civilization, and the home of the Minataur and King Minos of myth. The area was first inhabited around 6000 B.C.E and remained occupied by the Minoans until around 1000 B.C.E. It was the centre of the Minoan civilization and there is evidence that they had contact with Egypt, Africa and other areas of Greece. The reconstruction of the Palace was carried out by Sir Arthur Evans who may have taken some liberties with his interpretation of the civilization. The Palace itself is 20,000 square metres and contained a labyrinth that the Minataur was rumoured to inhabit. The archeological site is about 5 kilometers from Herakleion, and is serviced by local buses every 15 minutes starting at 7:30 am (call 081-22.60.65 for bus information) and many tourist companies.
The South Entrance which is viewed here was one of the lesser entrances to the Palace leading directly to the Central Courtyard. The Horns that are seen in the middle of the picture are believed to be one of the symbols of the Minoan Culture.
The North Entrance Porch depicted here features the "Bull Fresco", which is one of the highlights of a visit to Knossos. The bull is thought to be one of the religious symbols of the Minoan Culture. This porch overlooks the remains of the "Custom House" which was either an unloading area for the harbour; or, the royal banquet hall.
Just to the north of the "Custom House" is the "North Lustral" area,which is a series of shrines with many frescoes. One of the rooms, or 'cells' was found to contain many scripted tablets.
The East Wing of the palace , east of the Central Court, is made up of the Grand Staircase area, the Royal Apartments, the notable reception area known as the Hall of the Double Axe, as well as the East Hall and the Workshop Areas. The area is notable for many reasons including the many beautiful frescoes that have been reconstructed. As well as being relatively intact to a fair height due to it being built on the descending slope.
The King's Megaron commonly known as the Hall of the Double Axes is worth a look for the fresco's seen here. This series of halls is thought to be where the king greeted arriving dignitaries.
These many large jars (Pithoi) where used to store many food, drink and other materials. It can quickly be seen that the artisans of Knossos where very skilled, as even the storage jars were decorated. The Pithoi seen here where located in the Western Magazine a large part of the Western Wing of the Palace.
The fresco of the "Prince with the Lilies" or "Priest-King" is a reproduction that is seen at the South Entrance. The prince is surrounded by lilies and is thought to be leading a griffin or sphinx by the rope in his left hand.
The Corridor of the Procession holds the "fresco of the Procession". This fresco depicts a procession of individuals carrying several objects to a religious rite.
One of the popular sites in the King's Throne room. This picture shows the line of people waiting to see the Throne room. Behind the crowd is the West Stairway leading to the main temple in the palace.
The King's Throne room, found in the Western Wing, holds the throne surrounded by many fresco's. It is thought that this room was used for both religious, and judical purposes.
The Queen's Throne room is found in the lower level of the Eastern wing near the Hall of the Double Axe's. Like the King's Throne room there are many fresco's, these depict dolphins, which are good luck symbols for sailors of the Aegean area. Other highlights of the room's joining the Queen's Throne room hold a bathroom with a clay tub, a toilet, and a dressing room for the Queen.


The final place that the visitor to Knossos will visit is the Royal Road, which is paved with stone slabs. This is the main entrance to the Palace Area leading to the Theatre, and the Processional Way.