History of the Knossos Palace
Even in ancient times, the Knossos Palace amazed with its size - one and a half thousand rooms, more than 22 thousand square meters. m, numerous passages, corridors, terraces and basements. It is logical that people could not immediately find their way in this huge architectural complex; add here the legends about the Minotaur and we get the meaning of the modern word “Labyrinth”, i.e. a building from which it is difficult to find a way out.
Each fragment of this archaeological complex had a strictly defined purpose. The northern part of the Knossos Palace, for example, served a trading function; the road connecting Knossos with the port began there. To the east were the personal chambers of the king and queen, as well as an area with workshops. The western part of the palace is administrative; it is known primarily for the throne room, numerous storerooms and sanctuaries. But first things first.
Video of Knossos Palace
Western courtyard of Knossos Palace
The Western Court is a place of religious worship. At the very wall of the Knossos Palace there are quadrangular bases of two altars, on which goats and sheep were sacrificed to the gods. And during the most important holidays – and bulls.
After passing the turnstiles you just find yourself in the Western Courtyard.
Here in the western courtyard is located, he dedicated his life to the excavations of Knossos. Evans proved to scientists that the Palace of Knossos is not a myth invented by the ancient Greeks. It was Evans who named the ancient civilization Minoan.
Arthur Evans proved that the Minoans were not Greeks, but the so-called Mediterranean race. The Minoans had dark skin, almond-shaped eyes, dark curly hair, and in general, their appearance resembled the ancient Egyptians. The religion also differed from the Greek one; the Minoans worshiped a whole pantheon of their deities, the main one of which was the Mother goddess. The symbol of this goddess was a double ax, which was designated by the word “labrys”. The term "labyrinth" appears as a derivative of the word "labrys". Those. The labyrinth is nothing more than a double ax temple or a double ax shrine.
Wooden copy of the royal throne
Central courtyard
The central courtyard is the heart of the Knossos Palace, the place of ritual games with the bull, and the myth of the Minotaur and the labyrinth was born here. The central courtyard had incredibly important technical and religious significance. From a technical point of view, it was necessary to provide sufficient lighting and ventilation to the adjacent rooms. Also underneath there was a huge tank with a volume of 12 thousand liters, where rainwater was collected.
Ancient theater
This is not a simple staircase, as it might seem at first. This is the oldest theater in Europe. Various religious events dedicated to the Minoan gods took place here. The spectators were seated on the steps, standing rather than sitting. The elevations were intended for the most senior officials of the Knossos Palace. The unevenness of the scene shows the effects of the earthquake.
These are not steps at all, but the ancient theater of the Minoans
Frescoes of the Knossos Palace
The frescoes found during excavations in the Palace of Knossos are of paramount importance because... It was from them that scientists were able to determine the appearance of the Minoan race, their religion, and way of life. Yes, tablets with writing were also found here, but they have not yet been deciphered.
The first fresco you will see in the palace is called "Processional Corridor". It depicts men and women carrying offerings to the mother goddess. The people depicted in the fresco have the features of the Mediterranean race, which we wrote about above.
Fresco "Processional Corridor"
A small number of frescoes of the Palace of Knossos can be found in a room called Copy room.
Minoan frescoes indicate the presence of matriarchy (the primacy of women in society and family).
The next fresco depicts female priestesses, and all the red mass around is men. This is a clear manifestation of a matriarchal worldview.
Fresco depicting female priestesses
The next fresco also depicts priestesses. Here, much attention is paid to details, drawing of clothes, jewelry, and women’s faces.
This fresco shows a more detailed depiction of the priestesses
In Minoan culture there was no image of violence, murder, bloodshed, or eroticism.
The main fresco in the room is Bull game. The fresco depicts a bull and three human figures. This is a symbol of the three exercises that were part of the game with the bull. First it was necessary to grab his horns. Then somersault over the animal's back and land on the opposite side. What's the point? And the point is that this game with the bull is a symbolic image of the union between the Mother Goddess and the divine bull. This is a ritual of the reunion of the Minoan deities, the beginning of a new natural cycle, the rebirth of nature. This was the main holiday for the Minoans.
Fresco "Playing with a bull"
What does the minotaur have to do with it?
The myth of the Minotaur was invented by the Greeks. When the ritually sacred game of the Minoans with the bull took place, foreigners - the Greeks - were not allowed into the palace. They could only hear the howling of the bulls, the heartbreaking cries of the wounded athletes, the cheers of the crowd. Thanks to the Greeks, a legend was born that here in the heart of the labyrinth, a certain monster with the head of a bull accepts human sacrifices, eating unfortunate people alive.
Another important and most mysterious fresco of the Knossos Palace is Prince with lilies. The fresco is three-dimensional and stands out for its large size. Unfortunately, it is still unknown what it actually depicts.
"Prince with lilies"
Maps of the Palace of Knossos
Our review of the Palace of Knossos
Succumbing to the advertising and promotion of this archaeological complex, we came to see what kind of palace it was. The Palace of Knossos is a partially restored ruin with partially preserved walls, arches and frescoes. The area is much smaller than the archaeological park in Paphos in Cyprus, but there are more preserved and restored ruins.
Just walking around the ruins of the Knossos Palace for 15 euros per person is quite a waste (you will pay money, but you will not understand anything about what is where), so it is best to use at least an audio guide (you can download it to your phone before the trip) or book an excursion. Guided tours are also offered on site. The cost can range from 10 to 20 euros (in addition to the ticket price). Keep in mind that this is not an individual excursion; you will have to wait for a group to gather (and groups gather large ones).
At the same time, you will have to wait in many queues to see the key attractions of the palace. The longest queues gather at the throne room and the queen's chambers. You will have to stand in line in the sun, and if you take a group excursion, you will have to stand 100% of the time, because... paid.
You can pre-book an individual excursion in Russian with a historian guide; it will naturally cost more, but you won’t have to wait in the heat for the group to gather, and you will be able to take a more interesting individual route around the palace.
Examples of interesting individual tours of the Knossos Palace:
Tip 1: Be sure to bring water, hats and an audio guide on your phone. Well, or a printout of an article about Knossos from our website.
Tip 2: If you have the opportunity and desire, it is better to take it in advance, because a lot is unclear, but the most important thing here is history!
Tip 3: come in the off season or when the weather is cloudy and early. There are always long queues at the palace ticket office, but they move quickly. You will have to stand for 10-15 minutes.
And now important information on prices, opening hours of the Knossos Palace and routes on how to get to this attraction of Crete.
Entrance fees to the Palace of Knossos and opening hours
A regular entrance ticket costs 15 euros.
The cost of a discounted ticket is 8 euros.
The official website contains a fairly long list of persons who are entitled to a discount. In 95% of cases this applies to Greek and EU citizens. If you are not an EU citizen, the discounted ticket only applies to higher education students upon presentation of a student ID.
Guides have the right to enter for free upon presentation of their official ID.
How to get to the Palace of Knossos?
We will not talk now about how to get there by excursion bus - this is the concern of the travel agency.
By car
By car, everything is also simple - you mark a point on the map in the navigator (without which it is better not to go to a foreign country), and it will take you where you need to go. We use MAPS.ME. But you can try it with Google Navigator. The road to the palace is good. The only point is that it is better to arrive either early in the morning before opening, or already around lunchtime. Parking is free There is one near the palace, but it is small and full of buses.
By city bus
From Heraklion bus station there is a blue city bus number 2. He has Knossos written on his forehead, and the Palace of Knossos is the final stop on his route. Travel time is 20 minutes. The cost of a one-way ticket is 1.5 euros.
To summarize, let us highlight the subjective pros and cons of visiting the Knossos Palace.
Pros: centuries-old history, interesting frescoes, exhibits, the smell of pine trees all around.
Minuses: ticket price, crowds and queues. There are no maps or brochures with information about the territory of the Knossos Palace at the ticket office.
Is it worth going to the Palace of Knossos? - Rather yes than no. But, don't be under any great illusions, to be honest, we were not very impressed, perhaps this was due to the overpriced tickets and large crowds of tourists. We must be prepared for this.
How do we save on hotels?
It’s very simple - look not only on booking. We like the RoomGuru search engine. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and on 70 other booking sites.
The Palace of Knossos on Crete is known in all corners of the planet, although under a slightly different name - the Labyrinth of the Minotaur.
The ancient story of a child monster who frightened his father the king so much that he ordered the monster to be locked forever in a huge labyrinth specially built for this purpose has survived even the civilization that created it.
And, despite the fact that in the dark Middle Ages many fragments of Greek culture were destroyed, at the very dawn of the Renaissance, Dante Alighieri brought the Minotaur back to life, organically incorporating him into the “Divine Comedy” as a judge and executioner in one of the circles of Hell.
Since then, the creepy creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man has become a popular hero in various books and plays, and, over the centuries, also in films and computer games.
However, now we will not talk about the Minotaur himself, but about his habitat, which, despite all its mythical attributes, is quite real.
The Palace of Knossos has an even richer history than its legendary inhabitant, and would probably have been included in the list of Wonders of the World if he had lived to this point. In this article we will tell you about the rise and fall of both the Palace of Knossos and the Minoan civilization, of which it was a symbol. Get ready - this journey will be long.
Where is the palace and how much does it cost to visit?
To answer this question we need a superhero who clearly has a hand in most of the titles associated with ancient Greece. That's right - Captain Obvious.
Judge for yourself: the Minoan civilization was named so because it was founded by King Minos, the Minotaur - since in translation it means “Bull of Minos”, the Palace of Knossos - because it is located in Knossos, and Knossos is the capital of Minoan Crete, which was destroyed along with the palace as a result of a volcanic eruption in 1450 BC.
The Cretans subsequently restored Knossos itself, but left the palace in ruins.
By the way, this was the second Knossos Palace - the first was demolished by an earthquake 300 years earlier.
Geographically, ancient Knossos was located in the northeast of the central region of the Cretan island, on the seashore, several tens of kilometers from the current capital of the island - Heraklion, the palace is located 5 km from the city center.
Getting there is not difficult, buses run regularly. They are easy to recognize by the inscription at the top - KNOSSOS, these are blue buses of the MINOAN LINES company, departing from the station near the port, as well as from the fountain located on Lion’s Square.
The ride takes about 25 minutes, the fare is 1.50 euros. Tickets must be purchased in advance - round trip, there is no kiosk at the final station.
The bus interval is no more than half an hour.
Getting there with a rented car is also not difficult - there are signs all along the way to the main attraction of the island, so you won’t be able to get lost even if you really want to.
There are three free parking lots located directly at the entrance to the complex.
The queue for tickets moves quickly, admission is 6 euros, children under 18 years old are free.
The palace welcomes tourists all year round, but there are winter and summer schedules.
From May to October the complex is open to visitors from 8.00 to 19.00, and in winter (from November to March) from 9.00 to 15.00.
Entrance to the palace grounds stops 30 minutes before closing. Its opening hours are set by the Ministry of Tourism, publishing a schedule annually.
You can visit the palace for free on the first Sunday of the winter season and on International Tourism Day - September 27, as well as on national holidays in Greece.
The palace itself usually sees heavy traffic of tourists arriving at different times and looking for original souvenirs or each other.
At the entrance there are restrooms, a gift shop and a cafe where you can grab a quick hot dog before or after exploring the palace.
The prices are not low, fresh orange juice, for example, is 4 euros, but they make it well and the portions are large.
Along with tickets or separately (in the souvenir shop), you can purchase a map of the palace, which will help you navigate the complex interweaving of rooms, courtyards, stairs and corridors.
Guidebooks in Russian are sold at kiosks in the city for 12-15 euros.
If you arrived at the Palace of Knossos on your own, you can always join an organized excursion on the spot, which will cost you 10 euros.
Groups of 6-10 people are recruited every 15-20 minutes.
Interestingly, cicadas make loud noise on the palace grounds, and this makes it difficult to hear the guide.
It is necessary to take into account that in the summer at noon the sun is very hot here, so it is better to take an excursion before 12 or after 16 hours, or have a hat with you.
There is practically no shade - bring water and comfortable shoes!
It will take at least two hours to explore the entire complex, which, of course, is worth spending to get acquainted with the legendary architectural monument of Minoan culture, many of whose mysteries have still not been solved.
About the gods of Ancient Greece and the sights of Crete associated with them.
Ancient Knossos
Very little is known about the city of Knossos itself - it was founded approximately two millennia before the birth of Christ and was one of the main centers of ancient Greek culture, and at some point it was ruled by the semi-legendary king Minos. Alas, this is almost all reliable data - then we will have to go into the realm of guesswork and conjecture. However, we will touch on some points from the history of Crete a little lower when we talk about the legends of Knossos.
It is known that Crete, during the existence of the Minoan civilization (almost a thousand years, from the founding of Knossos until its destruction), was twice subjected to large-scale disasters - an earthquake in approximately 1700 BC. e. and the volcanic eruption two hundred years later.
Also, around 1450, a great fire occurred at Knossos, destroying the remains of the second Knossos palace and almost all archaeological evidence of the Minoan civilization.
Around the same time, Knossos was captured by Mycenae, one of the mainland Greek city states. The Mycenaean Greeks handled the legacy of Minos quite carefully, but little is known reliably about their reign.
Knossos fell into disrepair around the beginning of the first millennium BC. Subsequently, the Romans came to its place and founded a colony there, to which the name of the legendary capital of ancient Crete was transferred. Alas, even less is known about her and the main reason for this is the main character of the next part of this article.
Sir Arthur Evans
Sir Arthur Evans is a legendary but very controversial figure in archaeology. At the end of the 19th century, shortly after Schliemann found Troy, Evans traveled to Crete, Greece, where he received confirmation that a merchant named Minos Kalokairinos had found strange artifacts near Heraklion and was trying to carry out further excavations.
Quickly identifying the find as objects from the Minoan era, Evans called a team from England and seized the initiative.
By the end of his life, he had not only completely excavated the Palace of Knossos, but also restored parts of it (and also nearly bankrupted his extremely wealthy family). By the way, his documentation, compiled during the excavations of the palace, is still considered the gold standard. In England, Evans is revered on a par with Schliemann, and on the territory of Knossos there is a monument to the great archaeologist.
However, there is another side of the coin. During the excavations, Arthur Evans, instead of carefully removing layers of soil, ordered to simply tear down all the layers that were not interesting to him - which is why we know almost nothing about Knossos after the destruction of the palace.
In addition, his restorations of the palace cause bewilderment among most modern archaeologists - Evans often could not find reliable images of some parts of the building and simply made them up. However, the archaeologist’s dedication cannot be denied, and the restored palace has become much better at attracting tourists, so in the territory of present-day Greece he is not blamed for anything and, on the contrary, is extremely respected for the restoration of the Minoan era frescoes, which Evans restored with incredible precision and skill.
Architecture
Let's start with the fact that the term "palace" is incorrect. The Knossos palace of Minos was not only the residence of the reigning family, but also a small city-within-a-city, like the Vatican or the Forbidden City in Beijing.
A distinctive feature is the fact that this entire city was one huge building, located on an area of 6 acres (approximately 24 thousand square meters).
The palace had more than a thousand rooms connected by corridors, as well as many specialized buildings, such as a theater, a temple, and even a pottery workshop.
The huge storehouses of the palace contained supplies in case of a siege; in addition, the palace had its own mills, as well as vineyards and wineries, which made it possible to maintain a certain autonomy if necessary.
Among other things, it is worth noting that the palace had a fully functional sewer system, as well as several water sources.
As for decorative architecture, an interesting point here are the columns - Minoan columns are fundamentally different from Greek ones.
Unlike mainland versions, which were usually white and tapered towards the top, Minoan columns were painted red and flared towards the top.
The Small Throne Hall of the Knossos Palace became a real mystery (the Large Throne Hall has not survived to this day).
This small throne room, most likely built during the Mycenaean occupation of Crete, is decorated with beautiful frescoes and has a different style from the other rooms, in which the influence of mainland Greece is felt.
However, what most struck the archaeologists was the white throne against the northern wall of the room. It is still unknown who exactly it belonged to, because the royal throne was located in another part of the palace.
Perhaps the queen ruled from here, or the throne was left empty as the seat of the reign of some god.
Heroes, Monsters and Tragedies: Ancient Legends and Secrets of the Palace of Knossos
Little is known about how the city of Knossos was founded.
The first legends about the ancient Greek period of its history talk about Minos as the founder of Knossos, but the problem is that Minos is called the founder of almost all Cretan cities, which is somewhat unlikely.
Minos is the legendary king of Crete, a man who could argue with the gods.
Minos had two brothers - Radamanthos and Sarpedon, but due to a conflict between them, both brothers left the island.
Rhadamanthos later married the widowed mother of Hercules and became famous as the fairest judge of Greece, and Sarpedon survived three generations of people and died only at the beginning of the Trojan War at the hands of Patroclus.
As for Minos himself, he received his power for a reason - according to legend, his power was granted to him by the Olympian gods.
Zeus personally handed him the royal scepter and subsequently helped him more than once with the drafting of laws, and Poseidon gave him a beautiful bull from his herds, with instructions to sacrifice the bull.
Minos disobeyed the god of the seas and sacrificed another, less beautiful bull.
Then Poseidon decided to punish the daring mortal and inspired Minos’ wife, Pasiphae, with an incredible passion for the bull, which he sent into rage.
From this union, the Minotaur was born.
The bull boy went berserk even before birth and almost immediately tried to kill his nurse. The bull himself was later put to rest by Hercules as part of his twelve labors.
Here begins the history of the Knossos Palace of King Minos.
Seeing the “heir,” Minos turned in horror to his old friend, the architect Daedalus.
He proposed not to kill his own blood, but to create a huge labyrinth from which the stupid monster simply could not get out.
This is how the first Knossos labyrinth palace was built.
Over the years, relations between friends deteriorated and Daedalus was forced to flee Crete along with his son Icarus.
Having grown up by this time, the Minotaur began to demand fresh human meat.
The aged Minos decided to impose a living tax on the Greek cities conquered by the Cretans.
Every year, the Minotaur killed 7 boys and 7 girls, until one day the prince of Athens, Theseus, who, with the help of Ariadne (the daughter of Minos), who was in love with him, killed the monster and managed to get out of the Labyrinth, was among the victims.
Subsequently, Theseus, along with Ariadne, sailed away from the island (although a little later he left her on one of the islands on the way to Athens), Minos died in the war with Sicily, in which he got involved in order to return Daedalus to Crete, and the throne of Knossos was inherited by one of his sons.
Three hundred years later, an earthquake passed through Crete and destroyed the old labyrinth, on the site of which the Knossos Palace was built, which stood for another two and a half centuries and was abandoned by the inhabitants after the volcanic eruption.
Knossos frescoes
Dolphins - fresco of the Palace of Knossos
The frescoes of the Palace of Knossos are the pride of all Cretans. In fact, they are proof of the cultural superiority of Crete over most of the Greek city-states, as their beauty and level of execution are head and shoulders above all the creations of mainland Greece of that era.
The frescoes were mostly restored by the team of Arthur Evans and in this case he did a really impressive job.
Regardless of the location and content of the fresco, the reenactors accurately conveyed both the colors and the contours of the ancient drawings.
Fresco "Parisian"
But some frescoes have become victims of archaeological humor, for example, a fresco called "Parisian".
The "Parisian" is a fresco depicting a young woman with the frilly hairstyle of a priestess.
However, it was in the hairstyle that the restorers saw a similarity with the then Parisian fashion and dubbed the mural "Parisian".
In official writings, she is called the "Minoan Lady".
Fresco "Playing with a bull"
Today, the "Minoan Lady", like other frescoes of Knossos, is in the Heraklion Museum, located near the palace.
The palace of Knossos and the Museum of Heraklion are best visited together, having set aside a day ahead of time.
In addition to solving the transport issue, this will also allow you to purchase a combined ticket.
And the museum’s Minoan collections look completely different after you have personally seen the traces of the civilization that created them.
The Palace of Knossos is the last evidence of the existence of the Minoan civilization, proof that all its inhabitants did not live and die in vain.
Despite the fact that the ashes of those who inhabited it have long been mixed with the earth, and their gods have left this world, Knossos still continues to exist.
The world remembers the courage and betrayal of Theseus, the greatness and pride of Minos, the madness and eternal imprisonment of the Minotaur.
And if the story of Knossos has come to an end, this does not mean that it is not worth hearing.
The history of the earth is extremely long. But not so many ancient fortresses have survived to our time. One of the monuments that partially survived is Knossos. which amazes with the legends hovering around it.
Unusual foundation
One of the oldest points in the world is located on the island of Crete, south of the modern administrative center of Heraklion. Its proximity to the sea (4 kilometers) subsequently allowed it to be the owner of two harbors.
The first settlements were created 7000 BC. e. The island's very advantageous location contributed to prosperity. It stood on the sea routes from Egypt, Asia and Europe. Among a dozen large settlements, the leading function was performed by the city of Knossos, which became the center of the Minoan civilization.
In the period until 2000 BC. e. Magnificent palaces were built on the island, which served as residences for local kings. Some were destroyed by earthquakes. On the site where the ruins of the old building lay, a new one was soon erected. It is this architectural structure that today is considered the city and delights guests of the island.
Archaeologists' mistake
The palace at Knossos had a special purpose. Political, economic and social life was concentrated in it. This is evidenced by many finds.
The first research began back in 1878. They were conducted by the Greek Minos Kalokerino. He was interested in the strange hilly terrain. The man began work and even found several significant objects to confirm the theory that there was a palace underground. But the excavations had to be stopped due to a ban by the then Turkish authorities.
Arthur Evans continued the work in 1900. The Englishman bought up the lands on which, as he believed, the chambers were located. The goal was to learn as much as possible about the period from 1400 BC. e. Therefore, all subsequent layers that would tell about the further history of this part were destroyed. But this was not the only mistake of the archaeologist who discovered Knossos. This is a city that not only lost several centuries, but also did not retain its original appearance. During the excavations, Evans restored the found palace, guided by his ideas.
A mixture of myths
The Englishman Sir Arthur is not the first to try to find the legendary castle. For many centuries before him, researchers had been excavating places where the ruins of the complex could lie. Archaeologists were attracted not only by the historical side and value of the structure, but also by the stories with which it is shrouded.
The Palace of Knossos is a whole cycle of myths connected with each other. Events begin with the fact that Daedalus lived in Athens - a man of divine origin who had no equal in engineering. But one day, guided by pride, he decided to get rid of his rival student. Because the man tried to commit murder, he was kicked out of the city in disgrace. Accepted a genius As payment, Daedalus worked hard. One of the first orders was a wooden cow for the king's wife. Pasiphae is the name of a woman who thus secretly satisfied her passion for Subsequently, she became pregnant and gave birth to the Minotaur - a man with the head of an animal. It was for this dangerous creature that Daedalus built the labyrinth.
Hero's feat
The city of Knossos was only 350 km from Athens. These two points were combined in one story. According to legend, the Athenians killed one of the sons of King Minus. For this the ruler punished them. The Greeks paid a terrible tribute: every eight years they sent 14 of the most beautiful young people to the island. This continued until the hero Theseus appeared.
The young man was the son of the god Poseidon and the heir of the Athenian king Aegeus. When the young man learned about the trouble of his people, he agreed to help. Together with the captives, the guy went to the terrible monster.
The difficulty of the feat was not only that it was necessary to resist the strong bull. The labyrinth itself became a problem. Everyone who went there never came back. The daughter of Minos came to the rescue and gave Theseus a thread. The guy tied the beginning to the front door and later, when he defeated the monster, he easily found a way out.
Architectural genius
In fact, the palace of Knossos is a lot of rooms in which it is very easy to get lost. The huge multi-story building with more than a thousand rooms for various purposes was stunning. Such a system, according to scientists, arose because every year something was added to the wards. The halls were connected by stairs and tricky corridors. The architects did not think about aesthetics.
Besides its amazing planning, the palace had high-tech features. For example, the complex had water supply and sewerage. Some pipes brought water into the building, others filled the baths, and others carried out slops. The building contained not only toilet rooms, but also toilets.
The total area is 24,000 square meters. This territory contained a theater, warehouses, workshops, rooms for worship and, of course, luxurious chambers of the royal family.
Museum of the Past
You can enter the territory through the Western Courtyard. The excursion begins from here. There you can go to the main staircase, which connects the four floors. The perimeter path runs in a circle. The first stop is a courtyard, which is divided by three roads. He once served as a prayer leader. The altars testify to this.
One of the most ancient rooms is the kouloures. These are large pits that could serve as both a warehouse for grain and a place for remains after a sacrifice. The throne room, where the ruler’s stone throne stands, is popular among guests. Many of the walls of the corridors and rooms were decorated with frescoes, pictures and expensive metals.
A very complex and intricate palace at Knossos. The labyrinth is the true purpose of the building.
The fiction of myth lovers
Today the complex is one of the most visited places in Greece. Entrance to the ruins is open to everyone for a nominal fee. Open daily.
The landmark's signature feature is red columns. Their difference from others is a strange design, because they lack clear geometry and narrow or expand, creating the effect of irrationality. Their reconstruction, like many other things, was done by Arthur Evans.
Despite the fact that only ruins remain from the thousand-year miracle, the palace is still impressive.
Many skeptics claim that in fact the inhabitants of the city of Knossos did not recognize symmetry and harmony. Associated with this is a strange building layout system.
Interestingly, for ceremonies on the island of Crete they used a double-sided labrys hatchet. It was this word that the ancient Greeks subsequently associated with intricate corridors and secret rooms, which they called “labyrinth”. They also own the legend about the mythical king Minos, the cannibal Minotaur and the hero Theseus.
Wonder of the world
The first palace was destroyed by an earthquake around 1700 BC. e. The ensemble that guests of the island see today was laid out over the next several centuries. But the building was not destined to survive. First, it was partially broken by a tsunami caused by a volcano on a neighboring island.
In 1450 BC. e. another misfortune came to the city. A major fire not only destroyed the building, but also marked the beginning of the end of the Minoan civilization. It is worth noting that no human remains were found during the excavations. There is a version that after the eruption the inhabitants left the island and settled in other regions.
Many scientists call Crete Atlantis, as an amazing, rich and successful city-state that went under water.
Decades have passed since the discovery of the ancient fortress, but the island still hides many secrets. Knossos, a city that was once the center of Crete, still surprises humanity today.
The Palace of Knossos on the island of Crete is the largest architectural structure of the Minoan period - 2700 to 1420 BC. In terms of its architectural structure, the Knossos Palace of King Minos is a real Labyrinth, reminding us of many ancient legends that tell us that in the numerous labyrinths of the palace there lived a man who was able to get out of the labyrinth with the help of Ariadne’s thread.
The Palace of Knossos was not just the residence of King Minos and the highest dignitaries of the state, but also the administrative and economic center around which the ancient city of Knossos spread. 
According to legend, the palace in Knossos was built by Daedalus, the father of the legendary Icarus in 2000 BC, Knossos in Greek - Κνωσσός, in Latin - Cnossus, the original name of the city in the Minoan language - KA-NU-TI. Several centuries - 2000-1700 BC. e. — The Palace of Knossos remained the economic and administrative center of the island, but was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 1700 BC.
According to research, the Palace of Knossos on Crete has been restored 1700-1450 BC uh. - during the highest flowering of the Minoan civilization. The newly rebuilt palace became the greatest building of its time, the clearest evidence of the architectural skill and advanced engineering technologies of the Minoans, whom Homer called “ Eteocretans" ("true Cretans")
, descendants of King Minos. 
The restored Palace of Knossos experienced its second heyday; it existed for another 250 years, but was again destroyed by an earthquake caused by a volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini. Strong tidal waves caused irreparable damage not only to the Knossos Palace, but also to the entire Minoan civilization, which ceased to exist. Many residents of Crete moved to Mycenae, the Palace of Knossos was not restored, but the city of Knossos itself was rebuilt.
Many scientists, studying the intricate plan of the palace complex, are sure that the palace itself is a complex legendary labyrinth. The palace complex is more correctly called an ancient city, and not just a palace, on an area of 16,000 square meters. meters there are more than 1,300 different rooms.
The Palace of Knossos owes its current appearance largely to the English archaeologist Arthur Evans, who began excavations of mounds in Crete and large-scale excavations of the Palace of Knossos and its environs in 1900. Fascinated by his discovery, Evans not only supervised all archaeological work, but also took it upon himself to “recreate” some parts of the palace complex, for which he was later criticized by many. 
Apparently, because the Palace of Knossos was destroyed, and then hundreds of years later it was restored by completely different builders, there is a feeling of incredible chaos of the entire complex.
The layout of the entire structure sometimes seems completely illogical and incredibly confusing - rooms located on different levels are connected by winding corridors, staircases located in the most unexpected places, there are many secret rooms, halls, and dead-end passages. 
There are very few symmetrical details in the construction of the palace, some rooms were cut into the rock, others were decorated with mud bricks, many frescoes and decorative elements were placed contrary to the laws of harmony, but the construction technology was at the highest level.
Some architectural elements are very impressive and attract the attention of modern architects, historians and ordinary tourists. One of them is the “irrational” columns, which have an unusual shape and a narrowing at the bottom; the columns are painted red ocher and have black edging at the top and bottom. 
No less interesting are the large stone stairs made from solid sawn blocks. 
In the Palace of Knossos, archaeologists discovered such hydraulic structures from the 20th - 21st centuries BC, such as water pipes in the thickness of the walls of the palace, sewerage systems running under the floor of the palace, and also on the stairs there are special drainage channels for water, thus the introduction of the oldest sewer system for bathhouses, toilets, extending far beyond the palace complex.
It is assumed that life in the Knossos Palace was quite stormy and varied - archaeologists discovered halls for ceremonial receptions, private chambers of the royal family and courtiers, craft workshops, a theater room that could accommodate about 500 spectators, and a bullfighting arena.
It is surprising that all the buildings are devoid of the windows we are accustomed to. For the penetration of light and ventilation, the builders provided multi-level openings in the ceilings. Ventilation was installed in the walls of the palace.
The Palace of Knossos is a complex system of temples, halls, a theater, various rooms, corridors, passages and warehouses, located on different levels and connected by countless stairs and passages in which you can get lost, like in a labyrinth. 
Arthur Evans was amazed at the beauty, and noted the amazing similarity between the frescoes of the palace of Minoan Crete and Egyptian fine art. Further research proves the originality, independently formed in Crete. The Minoans used a highly accurate calendar that was superior to the Egyptian one; the Minoans were the best sailors of their time.
The Minoan civilization was the first pre-Greek written civilization of Crete and mainland Greece and the first developed civilization in Europe.
: 35°17′52″ n. sh. 25°09′49″ E. d. / 35.297778° s. sh. 25.163611° E. d.(G) 35.297778 , 25.163611
Ruins of the Knossos Palace
Fresco "Parisian", priestess of the deity, 15th century BC. e.
Story
The first palace of Knossos was built c. 1700-1400 BC e. on the remains of what was previously here since 2000 BC. e. Neolithic settlement. This palace was destroyed ca. 1700 BC e., and another was built in its place. Period 1700-1450 BC e. - the time of the highest flowering of the Minoan civilization and especially Knossos. Around 1600 BC e. there was severe damage as a result of the earthquake. However, the necessary restoration work was soon carried out, and at the same time other magnificent structures were built on the same territory. A new disaster, most likely the result of a volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini, occurred ca. 1450 BC e. This was followed by an invasion by the Achaeans, and some time later the Palace was completely destroyed during a military conflict, when the Dorians took possession of Crete. The palace area was no longer inhabited, but Knossos continued to be a significant city-state until the first Byzantine period. During the era of Roman rule, Knossos receded into the background, and during the Venetian rule it fell into complete desolation.
Almost all of the ruins that have survived to this day date from the period after 1600 BC. e., the so-called New Palace period. Systematic excavations of the area began in 1900 by the English archaeologist Arthur Evans.
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See what "Palace of Knossos" is in other dictionaries:
- (from “prince’s court”, the prince’s home) a monumental ceremonial building. Initially, the residence of only the ruler, later of representatives of the upper classes (see also Castle, Palazzo); in the 13th - 15th centuries. D. also began to be called the most important buildings... ...
Ten of the most significant archaeological finds in the world- Rosetta stone, a monument of epigraphic culture (196 BC). It is a stone (granodiorite) with a decree of the Egyptian king Ptolemy V, written in Egyptian hieroglyphs, demotic writing (one of the forms of Egyptian ... Encyclopedia of Newsmakers
It existed in the 2nd millennium BC, with its center on the island of Crete. The first great civilization on European soil, the predecessor of the culture of ancient Greece. Crete is located in the Mediterranean Sea 100 km south of mainland Greece. It's narrow... Collier's Encyclopedia
Ancient Crete- Early Minoan period (XXX-XXII centuries BC) Crete is a narrow island located almost equidistant from Europe, Asia and Africa. The island, 2.50 km long and 12 to 57 km wide, is divided by isthmuses into three parts: eastern, ... ... The World History. Encyclopedia
- (Greek labýr inthos), an architectural structure with a complex and intricate plan. The term was used by ancient historians Herodotus (5th century BC) and Strabo (1st century AD). The etymology of the word “labyrinth” itself (probably of pre-Greek origin) ... Art encyclopedia
ANCIENT GREECE- territory in the south of the Balkan Peninsula (see also the articles Antiquity, Greece). The history of D.G. covers the period from the beginning. II millennium BC to the beginning I millennium AD Geography and ethnography Phaistos disc. XVII century BC (Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, ... ... Orthodox Encyclopedia
This term has other meanings, see Crete (meanings). Crete Κρήτη ... Wikipedia
This term has other meanings, see Knossos (meanings). Fragments of the Palace of Knossos, recreated by Evans from the ruins Knossos (Greek ... Wikipedia
The city of Heraklion Ηράκλειο ... Wikipedia
Paintings and ornaments painted directly on plastered walls, ceilings or on canvas, paper and other materials mounted on various surfaces of architectural structures. S.r., which are carried out... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
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