What is the significance of Knossos?
Knossos, also spelled Cnossus, city in ancient Crete, capital of the legendary king Minos, and the principal centre of the Minoan, the earliest of the Aegean civilizations (see Minoan civilization). The site of Knossos stands on a knoll between the confluence of two streams and is located about 5 miles (8 km) inland from Crete’s northern coast.
Where is Knossos Palace in Greece?
The palace is the largest, most complex, and most fancy of all in Greece. It is located about 20 minutes south of Heraklion. Knossos Palace was inhabited for several thousand years, starting somewhere in the 7th millennium BC. It was abandoned after its destruction in 1375 BC, which also marked the end of the Minoan civilization.
What is the archaeological site at Knossos?
The limestone was quarried from the ridge on the east. [citation needed] The archaeological site, Knossos, refers either to the palace complex or, to that complex and several houses of similar antiquity nearby, which were inadvertently excavated along with the palace. To the south across the Vlychia is the Caravanserai.
What was the population of Knossos at its peak?
Knossos. In the first palace period around 2,000 BC the urban area reached a size of as many as 18,000 people. In its peak the palace and surrounding city boasted a population of 100,000 people shortly after 1700 BC.
Where is ancient Knossos located?
Knossos, also spelled Cnossus, city in ancient Crete, capital of the legendary king Minos, and the principal centre of the Minoan, the earliest of the Aegean civilizations (see Minoan civilization).
Where is the Minoan Palace of Knossos located?
The Palace of Knossos is located just south of modern-day Heraklion near the north coast of Crete.
Where is Knossos now?
As seen today, Knossos sits outside the modern town of Heraklion, and serves as a major tourist attraction. Parts of Knossos were reconstructed by Evans, including a large raised “bastion” above the north ramp leading to the central court, and the outer west façade of the palace.
What kind of place was Knossos?
Knossos Palace was the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan Civilization during the Bronze Age. Considered Europe's oldest city, Knossos was once the city-state of Crete, with the town surrounding the hill the Minoan palace is on.
Is Knossos the oldest city in Europe?
Knossos is considered to be Europe's oldest city—a Bronze Age metropolis that sprang up thanks to the Minoans, Europe's first advanced civilization.
Was Knossos in Atlantis?
Knossos has been identified with Plato's mythical Atlantis from his dialogues of the Timaeus and Critias and is also known in myth most famously through the story of Theseus and the Minotaur.
Who killed King Minos?
Having pursued Daedalus to Sicily, Minos was killed by the daughters of King Cocalus, who poured boiling water over him as he was taking a bath. After his death he became a judge in Hades.
Is the labyrinth still in Crete?
Since the late nineteenth century, archaeologists, documentary-makers and novelists have asserted that the Cretan Labyrinth – the lair of the terrifying Minotaur – was a real place. But now a major paper suggests that the legendary maze was just that – legend, a figment of collective imagination.
What destroyed Knossos?
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, most probably Mycenaean.
How is Knossos important in history?
The Neolithic prologue and the Early Bronze Age It is thought that Knossos was the first and oldest Neolithic site in Crete and the first indication of human activity on the island is located in the exact area where the Palace and its Central Court were to be located.
What is the meaning of Knossos?
/ ˈnɒs əs / PHONETIC RESPELLING. noun. a ruined city on N central Crete; capital of the ancient Minoan civilization.
Why was the Palace of Knossos so impressive?
The Palace of Knossos is the monumental symbol of Minoan civilization, due to its construction, use of luxury materials, architectural plan, advanced building techniques and impressive size.
What took place in the Palace of Knossos?
Settled as early as the Neolithic period, the name Knossos survives from ancient Greek references to the major city of Crete. The palace of Knossos eventually became the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture....Knossos.HistoryExcavation dates1900–1931 1957–1960 1969–197024 more rows
Why is the Palace of Knossos important?
The palace of Knossos was the center of administration of the entire island during Minoan times, and its position as such allowed for unprecedented growth and prosperity as witnessed by the plethora of storage magazines, workshops, and wall paintings.
How do you get to Knossos?
You can reach Knossos Palace by car or taxi in around 15mins from Heraklion (6km). Alternatively, catch the No. 2 bus ('Knossos') from near the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.
Who lived in Knossos Palace?
Ιn Greek mythology, the Palace of Knossos was the residence of the mythical King Minos, the son of Zeus and Europa. King Minos had the legendary artificer Daedalus construct a labyrinth in which to keep his son, the Minotaur, a mythical creature who was half bull and half man.
Where is Knossos located?
The site of Knossos stands on a knoll between the confluence of two streams and is located about 5 miles (8 km) inland from Crete’s northern coast.
What is the ancient city of Knossos?
ancient city, Crete. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Knossos, also spelled Cnossus, city in ancient Crete, capital of the legendary king Minos, ...
What is the Minoan civilization?
Minoan civilization, Bronze Age civilization of Crete that flourished from about 3000 bce to about 1100 bce. Its name derives from Minos, either a dynastic title or the name of a particular ruler of Crete who has a place in Greek legend.…
What destroyed Knossos?
Some time after about 1400 bc, what Evans called the “Last Palace” of Knossos was destroyed by a fire of uncertain origin, and fires destroyed many other Cretan settlements at this time. Knossos was reduced henceforth to the status of a mere town, and the political focus of the Aegean world shifted to Mycenae on the Greek mainland. Knossos continued to be inhabited through the subsequent centuries, though on a much-reduced scale.
What was Knossos's pottery?
Knossos produced fine polychrome pottery on a black glazed ground during this period. About 1720 bc a destructive earthquake leveled most of Knossos. The palace was rebuilt, this time with extensive colonnades and flights of stairs connecting the different buildings on the hilly site.
Where did the first people live in Knossos?
Knossos. Portion of the reconstructed Minoan palace, Knossos, Crete, Greece. Peterak. The first human inhabitants of Knossos probably came there from Anatolia in the 7th millennium bc and established an agricultural society based on wheat and livestock raising.
Where are the remains of coloured frescoes, painted vases, and sculpture in marble, terra?
dress: The Aegean: Minoan and Mycenaean dress. …palaces, notably the complex at Knossos, from where the remains of coloured frescoes, painted vases, and sculpture in marble, terra-cotta, and coloured ceramics have been excavated. Even finer and more complete frescoes have been preserved from the excavations of the Minoan city on the island ...
What is the story behind Knossos?
The possibility that there existed a Minotaur became more acceptable once it was understood that, in the Minoan sport of bull-jumping, the male athlete became one with the bull as he vaulted over the bull's horns. This sport, then, it is now supposed, gave rise in ancient consciousness to the 'myth' of the Minotaur through the impression that these athletes were half men and half bulls. The story of the labyrinth also was given more credence once the intricate interior of the palace was uncovered. It was Evans who first called the ancient inhabitants of Crete 'Minoan' after King Minos of Knossos, and his efforts in excavation and re-construction, however controversial, paved the way for all future work in both physical and cultural anthropology concerning the Minoan civilization.
When was Knossos abandoned?
In fact, it appears that Knossos became an important base of operations and capital of the Mycenaeans until it was destroyed by fire and finally abandoned c. 1375 BCE. The date which traditionally marks the final end of the Minoan civilization is 1200 BCE after which there is no evidence for the culture.
How did Knossos prosper?
Under Minos' rule, Knossos flourished through maritime trade as well as overland commerce with the other great cities of Crete, Kato Sakro (Phaestos) and Mallia. Knossos was destroyed and re-built at least twice. The first palace identified in modern times was built c. 1900 BCE on the ruins of a much older settlement. Based upon excavations done at the site, the first palace seems to have been massive in size with very thick walls. Ancient pottery found throughout Crete, at various sites, indicate that the island was not unified under a central culture at this time and so the walls of the palace were most likely constructed to their size and thickness for defensive purposes. As the writing of this period, so-called `Cretan Hieroglyphs', has not been deciphered, nothing is known about this time save what can be discerned through archaeological evidence.
What happened to Knossos?
The city of Knossos, and almost every other community centre on Crete, was destroyed by a combination of earthquake and the invading Mycenaeans c. 1450 BCE with only the palace spared. The eruption of the volcano on the nearby island of Thera (Santorini) in c.1600 or 1500 BCE has long been held a major factor in the destruction ...
Where is the Sagayago?
sagaYago (Copyright) Knossos (pronounced Kuh-nuh-SOS) is the ancient Minoan palace and surrounding city on the island of Crete, sung of by Homer in his Odyssey: “Among their cities is the great city of Cnosus, where Minos reigned when nine years old, he that held converse with great Zeus .”. King Minos, famous for his wisdom and, later, one ...
When did the Minoans leave the island?
Some scholars cite the final date as 1450 BCE with the Mycenaean invasion and others claim c.1375 or c.1300 BCE on account of the fire which destroyed both palace and city. However long the Minoans may have continued on the island, following the fire the ruins of the great metropolis were abandoned and left to decay.
Who killed the Minotaur?
Theseus of Athens , with the help of Minos' daughter Ariadne, killed the Minotaur, freed the young people, and returned triumphant to his home city. Both stories cast King Minos in a very unflattering light while emphasing Athenian heroes which is unsurprising as they are considered Athenian in origin. Remove Ads.
Where are Knossos' artifacts?
9. Knossos’ artifacts at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion
When was Knossos first excavated?
The 1st Excavation at Knossos by Minos Summer. The first major excavation was carried out in 1878 by the wealthy art lover from Heraklion Minos Kalokairinos, while Crete was still under Turkish occupation. Minos Kalokairinos excavated part of the western warehouses and brought to light many large 'pithos'.
What is the Palace of Knossos famous for?
Ancient ruins of Knossos Palace - credits: Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock.com
Who built the Palace of Knossos?
Knossos Palace north entrance - credits: Constantinos Iliopoulos/Shutterstock.com
How to get to Knossos from Heraklion?
It is very easy to get to Knossos from Heraklion. It’s a 15-minute car drive, or you can take a bus from the main bus station at the Heraklion port. Simply take bus number 2 and stay on it until it reaches its final stop: Knossos.
What to do in Knossos?
Furthermore, you’ll hear about untold stories of ancient Crete and you will marvel at the exhibits of the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. Opt for From Heraklion: Knossos Palace and Archaeological Museum Tour Including Transportation for a comprehensive Knossos experience. Alternatively, you can combine Crete’s history and gastronomy with Knossos Delights: Knossos Palace & Heraklion Food Tour with transportation. No matter which one you choose to go for, you won’t be disappointed!
What is the Knossos Palace associated with?
As we have already mentioned, the Knossos Palace has been associated with two of the most well-known tales of Greek Mythology. One of them is the tale of the Labirynth and the Minotaur. According to mythology, Minos was the child of the Phoenician princess of Europe, who was kidnapped by Zeus in the form of a bull.
Where is Knossos located?
Knossos was an ancient Minoan palace on the island of Crete (an island in the Mediterranean Sea). King Minos, famous in mythology for his wisdom and as a judge of the underworld, named the Minoan Kingdom after himself. Although sources vary, most historians agree the kingdom was founded around 3000 BCE and lasted until it was destroyed around 1450 BCE.
When was Knossos built?
Excavations of this site reveal that Knossos was destroyed and later rebuilt at least two times. The initial palace, built around 1900 BCE, lacked the labyrinthine features that make Knossos famous. Instead, it is known for extremely thick exterior walls, an indication that Knossos was often at war during this time. These walls also indicate that Crete was not unified at this time. This palace was destroyed around 1700 BCE and rebuilt soon after.
What is Knossos famous for?
Although there is still much to be discovered about Knossos, it is undoubtedly a famous example of Greek architecture and the role of mythology in blending history with legend. Until its discovery by Sir Arthur Evans in 1900, it was considered only a legend. Now we know that the famous capital of Crete grew prosperous under the reign of King Minos. Mythology holds that Daedalus created the labyrinth design of the palace to keep the people of Crete safe from the Minotaur. It will be exciting to see what historians continue to discover about Knossos!
What did Knossos teach about the bull?
These discoveries made at Knossos added credibility to the myths associated with the ancient city. Paintings on the wall taught historians about the sport of bull jumping and illustrated for the first time athletes becoming ''one with the bull.'' Therefore, it makes sense that the minotaur was described as half-man and half-bull. Additionally, after discovering the extravagant design of the palace--with its many rooms and hallways--historians can see why it was described as a labyrinth.
What was the main cause of the destruction of Knossos?
Under King Minos, Knossos prospered from maritime and overland trade. Between 1500 and 1600 BCE, a volcanic eruption from a nearby island played a role in destroying the famed Knossos. Around 1450 BCE, much of Crete was destroyed by both earthquake and invasion by the Mycenaeans. Some scholars believe that the Mycenaeans may have used the palace as their headquarters, but there is still much to be learned before a consensus can be reached on this.
Who discovered Knossos?
The legends were so great that historians did not believe such a city actually existed. Then, in 1900, Sir Arthur Evans, a British archaeologist, discovered and excavated the site. Realizing what he had discovered, he restored the ancient palace in a way such that a visitor can see and understand its connection to the mythological labyrinth at Knossos.
Was Knossos a real city?
For a long time, historians did not think Knossos was a real city. It was considered to be only a myth. The myths surrounding King Minos and Knossos vary slightly, but there are certain elements with which most historians agree. King Minos wanted a palace built not only for his kingdom but also to keep the dangerous Minotaur (half-man/half-bull who was also the child of Minos's wife) from killing the population. Minos hired Daedalus, a famed Athenian architect and inventor, to build the palace with an elaborate labyrinth (maze) inside. Daedalus built such an intricate labyrinth that no man could find his way out of the palace without a guide.
Where is Knossos located?
It is grander, more complex, and more flamboyant than any of the other palaces known to us, and it is located about twenty minutes south of the modern port town of Iraklio. Knossos was inhabited for several thousand years, beginning with a neolithic settlement sometime in ...
When was Knossos inhabited?
Knossos was inhabited for several thousand years, beginning with a neolithic settlement sometime in the seventh millennium BC, and was abandoned after its destruction in 1375 BC which marked the end of Minoan civilization. The first palace on the low hill beside the Krairatos river was built around 1900 BC on the ruins of previous settlements.
Why did Minos keep the architect prisoner?
King Minos who commissioned the palace then kept the architect prisoner to ensure that he would not reveal the palace plan to anyone. Dedalos, who was a great inventor, built two sets of wings so he and his son Ikaros could fly off the island, and so they did.
Who excavated the palace of Knossos?
Arthur Evans , the British Archaeologist who excavated the site in 1900 AD restored large parts of the palace in a way that it is possible today to appreciate the grandeur and complexity of a structure that evolved over several millennia and grew to occupy about 20,000 square meters. Walking through its complex multi-storied buildings one can comprehend why the palace of Knossos was associated with the mythological labyrinth.
Was the restoration of the Minoan palace inaccurate?
The restorations performed by Evans have been criticized as inaccurate, and there is a feeling that many of the details were reconstituted (to use Evans' term) utilizing at best "educated guesses". For the visitor however, the restorations render the incomprehensible strata of ruins along with their past grandeur a bit more obvious, and bring the majesty of Minoan life at the palace a little closer.
Where is Knossos located?
Knossos or ‘ko-no-so’ was an important ancient site found on the outskirts of the modern city of Heraklion in Crete. It is believed that Knossos was first established a place of settlement in Neolithic times in around 7000 BC and then continuously inhabited until the Ancient Roman period.
Who discovered Knossos?
Excavated and vastly reconstructed in the 19th century by archaeologist Arthur Evans, Knossos has revealed a wealth of ancient treasures, not least of which are its many fascinating ruins available to see today.
What is the significance of Knossos Palace?
Believed to date back to 2000 to 1350 BC, Knossos Palace is thought to have been the home of King Minos, an iconic monarch of the island of Crete who legend says was the son of the deities Europa and Zeus. The Palace of Knossos contains a myriad of rooms, including banqueting halls, religious shrines and even a throne room, all centred on a courtyard.
What is the best thing about Knossos?
However, it’s best to take a guidebook, a map or even a guide if you want a better idea of the site as a whole, particularly as it is indeed a labyrinth.
When was Knossos occupied by the Romans?
Later populated by the Mycenaeans, Knossos experienced a resurgence in the Hellenistic period and was occupied by the Romans in 67 BC. In addition to being a prosperous city, Knossos was also been the setting for many mythical stories, including those of the Minotaur, Ikaros and Daidalos.
Where to take bus 2 to Heraklion?
Take bus 2 which will be marked ‘Knossos’ from Plateia Eleftherias Square bus stop at the Astoria Hotel in downtown Heraklion. The buses come every 20 minutes or so and the trip takes about 20 minutes.
Where is Knossos located?
Knossos is a large Bronze Age archaeological site on the Greek Island of Crete, which has been identified as Europe’s oldest city. Thought to have originally been settled during the Neolithic period, around the year 7,000 BC, Knossos initially consisted of a small group of wattle and daub huts, inhabited by a group of fewer than 50 people.
Who lived in Knossos?
It is possible that the palace may have been an administrative center or a religious center, or even both, functioning as the center of a theocratic government.
Why was the Palace of Knossos rebuilt?
Reconstructions of parts of the palace were also built by Evans, primarily in order to protect the newly excavated sections of Knossos – these reconstructions have the added benefit of allowing visitors to imagine the immense grandeur of the Palace of Knossos in its heyday.
What was the cause of the collapse of the Minoan culture?
Knossos itself was only destroyed in 1,370 BC – although volcanic eruption has been suggested as a reason for the collapse, it seems more likely that invasions by My cenaean Gre eks was the cause.
What was the architecture of Knossos?
The architectural complexity of Knossos is not limited to the structure of the palace – the site also featured advanced water management. Aqueducts supplied Knossos with water brought from the springs at Archanes some 10 kilometers away, which was then diverted to the palace and the town through terracotta piping.
How many acres were there in the Palace of Knossos?
The Palace of Knossos was built on a grand scale. The main building covered an enormous three acres, and there were numerous outbuildings on the site as well, so that the whole site occupied six acres.
When did Knossos increase in population?
By the year 2,000 and the advent of the Minoan Period, the population of Knossos had increased dramatically, and palaces had begun to spring up across Crete.
Where is Knossos Palace?
Here's my complete guide to understanding and visiting the Knossos Palace archaeological complex, a must see site on the north shore of Crete in Greece. This guide covers the history and excavation of the palace and tells you everything to see at the site.
When was Knossos built?
The partially reconstructed Knossos "palace" you see today was built circa 1700 B.C, after the first palace was either destroyed or renovated. The complex includes 1300 rooms -- living quarters, baths, workshops, treasuries, and store rooms. The rooms are all connected by corridors of varying sizes and directions.
Who discovered Knossos in Crete?
The first serious scholar interested in Knossos was Heinrich Schliemann, the discoverer of Troy and Mycenae, the two cities from the Trojan war. The German archaeologist and lover of Greek legends was convinced that there was an important Minoan site in the area of Heraklion.
Who Were the Minoans Exactly?
The Minoans are the people who lived on Crete during the Bronze Age between 2600 and 1100 B.C. The Minoans preceded the Mycenaean civilization, which later gave rise to classical Greece. The Minoans might have been Europe’s first advanced civilization. But we know very little about them.
What is the symbol of the Minoan civilization?
Knossos is the symbol of the ancient Minoan civilization. It's the largest archaeological site from the pre-classical Bronze Age and Europe's "oldest city.". After the Parthenon, it's the most visited site in Greece. Knossos is largely the creation and brainchild of British archaeologist Arthur Evans.
What is the largest archaeological site in Crete?
Knossos is the largest archaeological site in Crete, dating from the Bronze Age. It was likely the center of Minoan civilization, although there are other smaller Minoan complexes on Crete at Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, and Kydonia. The Knossos complex is dubbed a "palace.". But that term was coined by Evans.
What were the signs that Knossos was an important archaeological site?
But Knossos beckoned. There were telltale signs that it was an important archaeological site in Greece. Coins, pottery, jars, murals, seal stones, and rings had been found on the hill of Knossos.
When was Knossos built?
Knossos Palace Construction and History. The palace complex at Knossos was begun in the PrePalatial period, perhaps as long ago as 2000 BC, and by 1900 BC , it was fairly close to its final form.
Where was the source of water at Knossos?
The main source of water at Knossos initially was at the spring of Mavrokolymbos, about 10 kilometers away from the palace and conveyed by way of a system of terracotta pipes. Six wells in the near vicinity of the palace served potable water beginning ca. 1900-1700 BC.
What was the largest palace in the Minoan culture?
The palace at Knossos, according to legend the palace of King Minos , was the largest of the Minoan palaces, and the longest-lived building of its type, remaining throughout the Middle and Late Bronze Ages as the focal point of the settlement.
Where is the Palace of Minos?
The Palace of Minos at Knossos is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Located on Kephala Hill on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Greece, Knossos palace was the political, social and cultural center of the Minoan culture during the Early and Middle Bronze Age.
What was the palace at Knossos known for?
The palace at Knossos was renowned for its unique light emanating from its surfaces, the results of the liberal use of gypsum (selenite) from a local quarry as a building material and ornamental element. Evans' reconstruction used a grey cement, which made a huge difference to the way its seen. Restoration efforts are underway to remove the cement and restore the gypsum surface, but they have moved slowly, because removing the greyish cement mechanically is detrimental to the underlying gypsum. Laser removal has been attempted and may prove a reasonable answer.
What is the significance of Knossos Palace?
What's perhaps more important, perhaps, is that the ruins of Knossos Palace are the cultural heart of the Greek myths Theseus fighting the Minotaur, A riadne and her ball of string, Daedalus the architect and doomed Icarus of the waxwings; all reported by Greek and Roman sources but almost certainly much older.
How many square meters were there in the Palace of Minos?
During the Neo-Palatial period [1700-1450 BC], the Palace of Minos covered nearly 22,000 square meters (~5.4 acres) and contained storage rooms, living quarters, religious areas, and banquet rooms. What appears today to be a jumble of rooms connected by narrow passageways may well have given rise to the myth of the Labyrinth; the structure itself was built of a complex of dressed masonry and clay-packed rubble, and then half-timbered. Columns were many and varied in the Minoan tradition, and the walls were vividly decorated with frescoes.