
Knossos stood as the preeminent city of Crete preceding the Roman Era and served as the hub of the earliest flourishing European civilization, the Minoan civilization. The palace remains the most frequented archaeological site in Crete, drawing over 1,000,000 visitors annually. Positioned a mere 5 kilometers south of Heraklion, atop Kefala hill near Knosano Gorge, the palace is accessible via Knossos Avenue, linking Heraklion to Skalani village. Beyond the palace’s confines, the vicinity abounds with numerous archaeological discoveries, a testament to Knossos’ stature as a city that housed over 100,000 residents.
Dwelling of the legendary King Minos, the palace intertwines with famed Greek myths like Daedalus and Icarus, the Labyrinth, and the Minotaur. Minos, more a title akin to Pharaoh in Egypt, was revered and believed to be the offspring of Europa and Zeus, as recounted in the story of the Rape of Europe.
The palace served as the beating heart of Knossos, leaving an indelible mark on Crete’s historical narrative from the Neolithic period to the early Byzantine era. Initial excavations in 1878 by Cretan archaeologist Minos Kalokerinos unearthed ancient storage pots and artifacts, later halted due to the Cretan-Turkish conflicts. The Englishman Arthur Evans resumed and completed the work between 1900 and 1930, implementing extensive restoration efforts within the palace using cement—a subject of considerable critique. However, these renovations preserved the palace’s essence, crucial to its present-day perception, which might have been lost had the structures remained in ruins as initially discovered by Evans.
The site’s earliest traces of habitation trace back to the Neolithic period (7th-4th millennium BC). Subsequently, the area was inhabited until 1900 BC when older structures were razed to make way for a larger palace. This newer palace spanned 22 acres and faced destruction from an earthquake around 1700 BC. In its place emerged the most magnificent Minoan palace yet. In 1600 BC, another earthquake inflicted severe damages, promptly repaired with new additions, forming the principal version of the palace visible today at the Knossos archaeological site. A catastrophic event around 1450 BC, possibly an earthquake or a tsunami stemming from the eruption of Santorini volcano, dealt a devastating blow. Upon the Achaeans’ arrival in Crete (1350 BC), the palace met its final demise, though the city of Knossos endured until 500 BC.
Even after the Minos Palace’s destruction, Knossos remained a dominant force on Crete, rivaling cities like Gortys (later capital of Crete during Roman times) and Lyttos. In 221-219 AD, Knossos clashed with Lyttos, eventually flattening it while its men were absent on another campaign. However, Gortys gradually ascended, ultimately becoming the new capital of Crete.
The coins from Knossos, housed at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, depict the Minotaur, the Labyrinth, ancient deities, and more. The emblem of Knossos was the labrys (double ax), while the double bull horns symbolized the Minoan religion.
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