The Palace of Knossos, located about three miles (five kilometers) south of Heraklion on Kephala hill, was the largest of all Minoan palaces on Crete in Greece.
It was also at the core of the highly sophisticated civilization that flourished on the island over 3,500 years ago.
The discovery and subsequent excavation of the palace dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Before that time, Knossos had only served as a place mentioned in Greek mythology.
The first modern scholar to take a serious interest in the area was the German Heinrich Schliemann, who, in 1870, had excavated the site believed to be Troy.
Schliemann was certain a major Minoan palace lay hidden near Heraklion, but Ottoman authorities who still ruled the island at the time would not permit him to dig there.
Years afterward, the British archaeologist Arthur Evans, inspired by Schliemann’s ideas, reached Crete to negotiate the purchase of a portion of land in Knossos.
He began excavations in 1900, and in a matter of days, he found enough evidence to indicate the presence of a huge palatial complex.
Controversial restoration efforts took place thanks to Evans’ personal ownership of the site and its wealth.
He referred to the civilization as the “Minoans” after legendary King Minos, and he also took liberties—which have been debated by numerous archaeologists since—rebuilding the site.
He roofed the Throne Room, reconstructed the Grand Staircase, and replaced columns. Evans also ordered the reconstruction of walls with frescoes and even added a conjectural Piano Nobile (upper story) using concrete.
Although his works are largely based on personal ideas, it is also true that without his restoration, it would have been impossible to deduce what the massive complex could have looked like in the past.
The West Court
This area, believed to be the marketplace, was certainly a place devoted to public meetings.
There, visitors can find three large, circular pits, probably silos or depositories, which were also used as rubbish tips by the end of the Minoan era.
The Central Court
The central area of the palace presents a courtyard where modern paving covers the oldest remains found in the site, dating back to the Neolithic era.
Some speculate that this used to be the scenery of the well-known bull-leaping ceremony while others say that the space would not have been enough for the acrobatic movements required for the performance.
The Piano Nobile
The Piano Nobile is a reconstruction completely made from scratch by Evans, and its main value lies in the sights it offers of the whole complex and the storerooms.
Many consider the disposition of the area rather confusing and out of place.
The Throne Room
Easy to spot due to the lines of tourists waiting to visit, the throne room hosts a worn seat made of stone while, next to the walls, there are lines with stone benches.
Archaeologists believe that the room was the seat of a priest or priestess rather than a ruler.
This idea is also backed up by the presence of a sunken bath, which was probably used for ritual purification since it has no connection to the palace’s drainage system.
The Royal Apartments
The Grand Staircase, a masterpiece which is an integral part of the architectural design of the spectacular Minoan Palace at Knossos, leads visitors to the royal apartments.
The most beautiful rooms in the palace are a clear example of the importance luxury and comfort had for the Minoans. The so-called Queen’s Suite has its main room decorated with the famous frescoes of the dolphins.
Some argue these rooms would have been too small to be deemed suitable for royalty, more likely located in the upper areas of the palace. Therefore, they are also identified as residencies for priests or important nobles.
The Queen’s Bathroom has a clay tub protected by a wall with a flushing lavatory with a drainage system.
The King’s Room, located above the Queen’s Suite, has a stunning reception known as the Hall of the Royal Guard as well as the ruler’s personal chamber, or the Hall of the Double Axes.
The Workshops
This zone is thought to have been the area where smiths, potters, and other craftsmen would manage their trade and skills.
In the workshops, it is also possible to see the characteristic huge terracotta vases.
This is also a good place to to admire the bull relief fresco located in the north entrance.
The Drainage System
Best seen from the back of the Queen’s Suite, the well-known, complex drainage system of the palace consists of interconnecting terracotta pipes running underneath the complex. Whole sections of it are perfectly visible.
