Knossos Palace
Palace of Knossos · Knossos Minoan Palace
Minoan Neopalatial 1700–1450 BCE, origin 1900 BCE Old Palace·Minoan civilization·🇬🇷 Crete, Greece
About
About Knossos Palace
Largest Bronze Age Minoan palace complex (c.1900–1350 BCE) at Knossos near Heraklion: 1300+ rooms over 14,000 m², central court 50x25 m, advanced lustral basins, bull-leaping frescoes, Labyrinth myth origin, Linear A then Linear B tablets. Excavated by Arthur Evans with controversial concrete reconstructions.
Why it mattersArchetype of Minoan palace society; source of Minotaur-Labyrinth myth; Linear A unresolved script context
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Accuracy of Evans's concrete reconstructions and fresco reconstitutions
- 02Function as temple vs palace vs town debate
Theories
- 01Arthur Evans matriarchal goddess theory
- 02Palace as redistributive ceremonial center (Cherry, Schoep)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1900 BCE Old Palace, 1700 BCE New Palace post-earthquake
- Period
- Minoan Neopalatial 1700–1450 BCE, origin 1900 BCE Old Palace
- Culture
- Minoan civilization
- Purpose
- Palatial, ceremonial, administrative and storeroom center
- Abandoned
- c.1350 BCE fire/destruction
- Rediscovered
- 1878 Minos Kalokairinos, 1900 Evans
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1900 BCE
First palaces founded
1700 BCE
Earthquake destroys Old Palace; New Palace built
1450 BCE
Mycenaean takeover
1900
Evans large-scale excavation begins
On the ground
Structures & features
35.2981° N · 25.1600° E · 100 m · 3 mapped features
Throne Room & Lustral Basin
ceremonial hallGypsum throne flanked by griffin frescoes and lustral basin
35.2979° N · 25.1600° ECentral Court
court50 m court for bull-leaping ceremony and gathering
35.2981° N · 25.1599° EMagazine Storerooms (Pithoi)
storeroomLong magazines with giant pithoi jars for oil/grain
35.2983° N · 25.1603° E
Gallery