The Palace at Knossos

We took a short flight to Crete and got settled into our hotel. The next morning we explored the Palace at Knossos. 

 

                                      The front view as we entered. 

Around 7000 BC, people came by ship with domesticated animals which were pulled through the water to Crete. It was mostly an agricultural and fishing economy. The surface of water was lower then, so there were not many waves. As the water level increased, Crete became more isolated.

The palaces were the center of the activity for the town. Knossos was built around 2000 BC. They were concerned about possible seismic activity, so they built frames of wood around doorways. This gave the structure more stability during seismic activity. The buildings were four stories with the lower two built into hills. Gravel was filled in between the frame and the walls. 

 

The Palace of Knossos was the largest of all the palaces in Crete. 

The main excavator, Arthur Evans, attempted to interpret the function of the places in the palace and to give them names that reflected their use according to his opinion. 

One of the doorways used to support the structure. 

Reproduction of a fresco. The peacock feather indicates a supreme priest. This was originally done in bas relief.

This was possibly part of their sewage system.

This was named the throne room by Arthur Evans. The cement throne is original as is the bowl which was most likely used for religious purposes. Notice the fresco on the wall which is a reproduction.

                   Anything painted red is a reproduction by Arthur Evans.

I found these "kouloures" very interesting (see above), especially since these have the same name as those bread rings that are covered with sesame seeds.

It is possible to see the remains above of homes from the Pre-Palatial period - 3200-1900 BC

                      

                        The project is ongoing, so lots of areas were roped off. 

The Cycladic civilization (3200 - 1050 BC) was first, then Minoan (3500-1100) named after King Minos, then Mycenaean civilization.  The Mycenaean civilization (1750-1050 BC) was very advanced. They had sewage systems and fresh running water in kitchens and bathrooms from cisterns.