 Knossos
is the site of the most important and better known palace of Minoan civilization.
According to tradition, it was the seat of the legendary king Minos. The
Palace is also connected with thrilling legends, such as the myth of the
Labyrinth with the Minotaur, and the story of Daidalos and Icaros. The
site was continuously inhabited from the Neolithic period (7000-3000 B.C.)
until Roman times. The Linear B tablets (Mycenaean script) of the 14th
century B.C. mention the city as ko-no-so.
Intensive
habitation occured mostly in the Minoan period, when the so-called first
(19th-17th centuries B.C.) and second palaces (16th-14th centuries B.C.)
were built along with luxurious houses, a hospice and various other structures.
After its partial destruction in 1450 B.C., Knossos was settled by Mycenaeans
from the Greek Mainland. The city flourished again during the Hellenistic
period (sanctuaries of Glaukos, Demeter, other sanctuaries, chamber tombs,
north cemetery, defensive towers) and in 67 B.C. it was captured by the
Roman Quintus Caecilius Metelus Creticus. The "Villa of Dionysos", a private
house with splendid mosaics was built in the same period.
Knossos
was discovered in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos. Arthur Evans 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.Η
The
restoration of the palace to its present form was carried out by Arthur
Evans. The interventions were mostly imposed by the need to preserve the
monuments uncovered. The Archaeological Service of the Ministry of Culture
carries out only consolidation work, whenever necessary.
The
most important monuments of the Knossos are:
The
Palace of Knossos. It is the largest of the preserved Minoan palatial
centres. Four wings are arranged around a central courtyard, containing
the royal quarters, workshops, shrines, storerooms, repositories, the throne
room and banquet halls. Dated to 2000-1350 B.C.
The
Little Palace. It lies to the west of the main palace and has all the
features of palatial architecture:scraped wall masonry, reception rooms,
a pristyle hall, a double megaron with polythyra (pier-and-door partitions)
and a lustral basin-shrine. Dated to the 17th-15th centuries B.C.
The
Royal Villa. It lies to the NE of the palace and its architectural
form is distinguished by the polythyra, the pillar crypt and the double
staircase, with two flights of stairs. It is strongly religious in character
and might have been the residence of an aristocrat or a high priest. Dated
to the 14th century B.C.
House
of the Frescoes. It is located to the NW of the palace and is a small
urban mansion with rich decoration on the walls. Dated to the 15th, 14th-12th
centuries B.C.
Caravanserai.
It 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
"Unexplored Mansion". Private building, probably of private-industrial
function, to the NW of the palace. It is rectangular, with a central, four-pillared
hall, corridors, storerooms and remains of a staircase. Dated to the 14th-12th
centuries B.C.
Temple
Tomb. It is located almost 600 m. to the south of the palace and was
connected with the "House of the High Priest" by means of a paved street.
It seems that one of the last kings of Knossos (17th-14th centuries B.C.)
was buried here. Typical features of its architecture are the hypostyle,
two-pillar crypt, the entrance with the courtyard, the portico and a small
anteroom.
House
of the High Priest. It lies 300 m. to the south of Caravanserai and
contains a stone altar with two columns, framed by the bases of double
axes.
The
South Mansion. Private civic house, located to the south of the palace.
It is a three-storeyed building with a lustral basin and a hypostyle crypt,
dating from the 17th-15th centuries B.C.
Villa
of Dionysos. Private, peristyle house of the Roman period. It is decorated
with splendid mosaics by Apollinarius, depicting Dionysos. The house contains
special rooms employed for the Dionysiac cult. Dated to the 2nd century
A.D.
Days-hours:
Winter
period : Monday: 08:00 - 17:00, Tuesday - Friday: 08:00 - 17:00 Weekends
and Holidays 08:00 - 17:00
From
July 1st to October 31 : Monday: 08.00 -19.00
Tuesday
- Sunday and Holidays 08:00 - 19:00
Telephone:
+30-2810-231940 |
