Phaistos — Upper Court West Wing Annex (Messara)
Phaistos Annex
Minoan Palatial (2700–1450 BCE)·Minoan·🇬🇷 Crete, Heraklion, Phaistos, Greece
About
About Phaistos — Upper Court West Wing Annex (Messara)
Phaistos — Upper Court West Wing Annex (Messara) in Crete, Heraklion, Phaistos, Greece is a Minoan Palatial (2700–1450 BCE) ancient city attributed to Minoan. Systematic survey and photogrammetry document ceramic seriation. The site includes a principal enclosure and workshop area. Dimensions city wall circuit 1.2 km; area 18 ha; area 12.1 ha. Excavation unexcavated; condition ruins. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Minoan ancient-city with stratified sequence and landscape setting at 80 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
- 02Function and labor organization
Theories
- 01Ritual landscape model
- 02Elite residence hypothesis
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
- Period
- Minoan Palatial (2700–1450 BCE)
- Culture
- Minoan
- Purpose
- Urban centre with palace and temple precinct
- Rediscovered
- 1902
- Excavation
- Unexcavated
c. 1900 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 953 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1900
Antiquarian record, modern excavation from 1960s
On the ground
Structures & features
35.0500° N · 24.8100° E · 80 m · 4 mapped features
- Principal MonumentstructurePrincipal Monument at Phaistos — Upper Court West Wing Annex (Messara) — structure with stratified deposits35.0515° N · 24.8100° E
- Ancillary ComplexcomplexAncillary Complex at Phaistos — Upper Court West Wing Annex (Messara) — complex with stratified deposits35.0481° N · 24.8085° E
- Outlier FeatureoutlierOutlier Feature at Phaistos — Upper Court West Wing Annex (Messara) — outlier with stratified deposits35.0482° N · 24.8115° E
- Reservoir/CisternhydraulicReservoir/Cistern at Phaistos — Upper Court West Wing Annex (Messara) — hydraulic with stratified deposits35.0476° N · 24.8103° E
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