Palace of Knossos

Knossos is the largest archaeological site in Crete, dating from the Bronze Age. It was political and religious center of the Minoan culture. Palace of Knossos was discovered by Sir Arthur Evans in 1894 Accompanied by Dr. Duncan Mackenzie, who was distinguished by excavations on the island of Melos, and Mr. Fyfe, Evans used a large team that was responsible for the excavation, in June 1900, has brought to light a large part of the ancient palace. Remarkable Palace of Knossos as presented today is a reconstruction using the original materials excavated by Arthur Evans. Even though Knossos is not a biblical place, of great interest for tourists due to its proximity to Iraklion and especially because the Minoan culture that flourished here. Knossos is located about 5 km south of Iraklion is easy to get here by car or bus.

 The famous story of Knossos spread worldwide, and the adventures of King Minos and the Minotaur (mythological animal locked in the labyrinth in which the victims had to be slaughtered), and the flight of Daedalus and his son Icarus, Icarus wings of death were melted because he flew too close to the sun.
Around the year 1300 BC a devastating fire destroyed the palace. For nearly a thousand years before, the city-state Knossos continued in the area north and west of the palace. The city remained as the largest and most powerful of Cretan cities by Romanian period, when opposition to the Romans made ​​it to be replaced by Gortyna since 67 BC.

 The whole area is open to visitors and most major attractions are easily identified. Besides cladirilie colored frescoes (the originals of which are in the Archaeological Museum of Iraklion), remember the guards Throne Room griffins; Queen Room with private bathroom with bathtub terracotta and what is said to be the first toilet with water tank; sophisticated windows and curtains for ventilation and light and large clay pots used to store grain, wine and olive oil.

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