What Is The Minoan Palace Of Knossos?
Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete. It is the site of the palace of Minoan civilization. The site was constantly inhabited from the Neolithic period (7000-3000 BC) until Roman times.
The palace of Knossos became the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace was abandoned at some unknown time at the end of the Late Bronze Age, probably due to disasters that befell the palace.
During the time of the First Palace Period, around 2000 BC, the urban area had as many as 18 000 people living there, rising to about 100 000 around 1700 BC. The most inhabitants were recorded in the Minoan period when the second palace was allegedly built together with lavish houses and various other structures. It flourished again in the Hellenistic period when more structures were added to the city.
History
The first Neolithic settlement was founded around 7 000 BC and since then Knossos has had a long history of habitation.
In Early Neolithic (6000–5000 BC), a village of 200–600 persons occupied most of the area of the palace and the slopes to the north and west. They lived in one- or two-room square houses of mud-brick walls set on socles of stone. One house under the West Court contained eight rooms and covered 50 m2 (540 square ft).
During the Middle Neolithic period, between 5000-4000 BC, around 500-1000 people settled in the area and in the Late Neolithic period, the population increased even more.
The first Cretan palaces were built around 2000 BC in the Minoan period. These were destroyed during Middle Minoan II, sometime before 1700, probably by earthquakes to which Crete is prone.
By 1650 BC they had been rebuilt on a grander scale. The palace of Knossos was by far the largest, covering three acres with its main building alone and five acres when the out-buildings are included. A theatre was found at Knossos for around 400 spectators.
The prosperity of Knossos was primarily based upon the development of resources such as oil, wine, and wool. Another factor was the expansion of trade by sea. Archaeological evidence supports this because Minoan pottery was found in Egypt, Syria, Anatolia, Rhodes, the Cyclades, Sicily, and mainland Greece.
Around 145 BC, the height of Cretan power, various palaces and smaller settlements were destroyed. Only Knossos remained until about 1370 BC. At the time of its destruction, it was occupied by Greeks. Despite speculation that Knossos was destroyed by the volcanic eruption on Santorini, it is generally accepted that the cause was human violence following an invasion of Crete by Greeks from the Argolid.
After the fall of the Minoans, Knossus was repopulated and remained one of the most important centres of Crete during 1000 BC. It had two ports, Amnisos and Heraklion.
During the Cretan War, 205–200 BC, the Knossians, through Roman help, managed to liberate Crete from the Macedonian influence and it again became the first city of Crete. But in 67 BC, the Roman Senate chose Gortys as the capital of the newly created province Creta et Cyrene. In 36 BC, Knossus became a Roman colony named Colonia Iulia Nobilis.
In Christian times, during the ninth century AD the population shifted to the new town of Chandax. By the thirteenth century, it was called Makruteikhos and only the bishops of Gortyn continued to call themselves bishops of Knossos. Today, the name is only used for the archaeological site situated in the expanding suburbs of Heraklion.
Archaeological Remains
Knossos was first discovered in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos. Arthur Evans, an English archaeologist, conducted systematic excavations at the site between 1900 and 1931, bringing to light the palace, a large section of the Minoan city, and the cemeteries. Since then, the site and the surrounding area have been excavated by the British School of Archaeology at Athens and the 23rd E.P.C.A.
The Palace of Knossos is the largest of the preserved Minoan regal centres and dated to 2000-1350 BC. Four wings are arranged around a central courtyard, containing the royal quarters, workshops, shrines, storerooms, repositories, the throne room, and banquet halls.
The Little Palace lies to the west of the main palace and dates to 17th-15th century BC. It has all the features of palatial architecture, like scraped wall masonry, reception rooms, a peristyle hall, a double megaron with polythyra and a lustral basin-shrine.
The Royal Villa lies to the North-east of the palace and is dated to the 14th century BC. Its architectural form is recognized by the polythyra, the pillar crypt and the double staircase, with two flights of stairs. It has a religious character and might have been the residence of an aristocrat or a high priest.
House of the Frescoes is located to the North-west of the palace. It is a small urban mansion with rich decoration on the walls.
Caravanserai lies to the south of the palace and was interpreted as a reception hall and hospice. Some of the rooms are equipped with baths and decorated with wall paintings.
The Temple Tomb is located about 600 metres to the south of the palace and it seems that one of the last kings of Knossos was buried here.
House of the High Priest lies 300 metres to the south of Caravanserai and contains a stone altar with two columns, framed by the bases of double axes.
The South Mansion is a private civic house, south of the palace. It is a three-storeyed building with a lustral basin and a hypostyle crypt, dated to the 17th-15th centuries BC.
Villa of Dionysos is a house of the Roman period dated to the 2nd century AD. It is decorated with splendid mosaics by Apollinaris, portraying Dionysos. It contains special rooms used for the Dionysiac cult.
Interest For Today
Even though the palace was excavated a century ago there are still many questions that researchers have about the palace and the people who lived in it.
Construction of the palace appears to have begun around 1950 BC, although there may have been structures predating it. Other researchers raised the possibility that there might have been several phases of rebuilding and changes over centuries.
We do know that the palace suffered from several disasters throughout its history. It likely suffered damage around 1600 BC, when the eruption of a volcano on Thera caused a tsunami that hit parts of Crete. The palace was hit with another catastrophe around 1450 BC, when sites across Crete were destroyed and the Mycenaeans occupied Knossos. The final destruction of the palace probably took place sometime before 1300 BC.
Location
The Minoan Palace of Knossos is in Heraklion, Crete, Greece, at the coordinates 35°17′53″N 25°9′47″E
Address: The Τ.Κ. 71409, Knossos (Prefecture of Iraklio)
Tourist Information
The Minoan Palace of Knossos is open in the winter months from November 1, 2019 from
08:30 – 17:00. The site is closed on holidays.
Tickets in 2020 are €15 for adults, reduced to €8 for children. Certain days are free.
For further information:
- Telephone: +30 2810 231940
- Fax: +30 2810 322570
- Email: efahra@culture.gr
