Envision a place of myth and wonder. Knossos stands before you. This is no mere pile of stones. Knossos is a testament to a civilization lost to time.
Knossos, the heart of Minoan culture. It once thrived on this very spot. This palace complex was the ceremonial and political center of its time.
Imagine life around 1900 BC. Construction began on the first palace. This area had already been used for ritual feasting. The palace saw continuous renovations. It was expanded over the next five centuries. Around 1350 BC, its final destruction came.
Knossos had humble beginnings. Around 7000 BC, the area was settled. This makes it the oldest known settlement on Crete. A hamlet of 25 to 50 people called this place home. They lived in simple huts of wattle and daub. They kept animals and grew crops. They even buried their children under the floors.
Around 1878, Minos Kalokairinos unearthed some ruins at Knossos. He was a Cretan merchant. Arthur Evans later led extensive excavations from 1900. Evans unearthed much of the palace. He discovered famous artifacts. These included the Bull-Leaping Fresco and Linear B tablets.
The Palace of Minos dominates Knossos. It wasn’t just a royal residence. It was a combination religious and administrative center. The palace was the largest on Crete. It covered three acres with its main building. Including out-buildings, it covered five acres.
The palace had many rooms. There were living quarters and storage rooms. Also, there were administrative centers and workshops. Skilled craftsmen worked here. There were sixteen storage rooms. Large storage jars called pithoi stood up to five feet tall. They held oil, wool, wine and grain. Smaller valuables were stored in lead-lined cists.
The Palace of Knossos had advanced features. It had bathrooms, toilets and a drainage system. A theater held 400 spectators.
Building techniques were typical for the time. Foundations were stonework. The structure was built on a timber framework. The main structure used large unbaked bricks. The roof was flat. It had a thick layer of clay over brushwood. Light-wells brightened internal rooms. Columns of wood lent support. Chambers were decorated with frescoes. These showed scenes from everyday life.
The prosperity of Knossos was based on Cretan resources. These included oil, wine and wool. Trade expanded to Egypt and mainland Greece.
Around 1450 BC, other palaces were destroyed. Knossos became the sole survivor. The mainland influenced Knossos. Greek became the administrative language. Around 1350 BC, the palace was destroyed. Fire ravaged the building.
After the Bronze Age, Knossos continued. By 1000 BC, it was an important center. In Greek mythology, King Minos lived in a palace at Knossos. Daedalus built a labyrinth for the Minotaur.
Evans believed he found the labyrinth. He saw the double axe sign. The double axe was scratched on many stones. It appears in pottery and shrines.
In 1926, Evans donated Knossos to the British School at Athens. He struggled to pay for upkeep.
Today, Knossos is a major tourist attraction. It stands as a reminder. A reminder of the great Minoan civilization. Its myths and legends still echo. They echo through these stones. They remind us of a glorious past.