Knossos is considered to be the largest archeological site on Crete that dates back to the Bronze Age. The site became the center of life and activity for the Minoan culture. The first Cretan palaces are thought to have been constructed around 2000 BC. The earliest of these palaces was thought to have been destroyed by earthquakes which Crete is prone to. They were re-built to a larger and grander scale around 1650 BC. The palaces had central courtyards for ceremonies. The palace of Knossos was the largest of the palaces covering more than 5 acres of ground when combined with all of the outer buildings. The palace had indoor plumbing, working toilets and a drainage system. A theater was also discovered that seated around 400 people. Various images from our exploration of the site Huge Terra Cotta urns Dolphins in Greek Mythology. A huge fresco depicting a bull The Minoan's amassed their vast wealth as merchants and traders of Olive oil, Wine, and Wool. Archeological evidence exists that supports that the Minoan's traded extensively with mainland Greece, many of the Greek Islands, Egypt, Syria and Sicily where Minoan pottery has been discovered. In Greek Mythology King Minos ruled from Knossos. He ordered the construction of a Labyrinth which is a large maze to contain his son the Minotaur. The Minotaur is a mythical creature with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man. Figure of a Prince Sir Arthur Evans discovered Knossos The symbol of a Labrys The Throne room in the Knossos Palace The artifacts from Knossos were removed and can be seen in the Heraklion Archeological Museum. I recommend visiting the museum as the number of artifacts on display there is amazing. That is where we headed after leaving the site. I recommend buying the combination ticket for both the site and museum. Much like the combination ticket for both the Archeological site and museum I am combining the Archeological Museum in this posting. Recognized as one of the finest museums in all of Greece the Heraklion Archeological Museum is best known for it's vast collection of Minoan artifacts from the Knossos site. Room after room with beautiful artifacts from the Minoan civilization From room to room the artifacts are displayed in chronological order of their development Examples of Jewelery The Minoan Honeybee's. More Minoan pieces Many ancient cultures believed the bee to be a sacred insect. The Minoan's practiced bee keeping. They used the honey produced in many rituals. They believed that bee's were related to the Great Mother of Mother Goddess and that they represented mutual support and fertility. The craftsmanship in the piece also shows how advanced they were in metallurgy. Beautiful examples of the pottery created by the Minoan's The Phaistos disk was discovered in the Minoan palace of Phaistos which is located in Southern Crete. It is believed to date back to the Minoan Bronze Age around 2000 BC although several experts place it's origin between 1850 and 1600 BC. There are 242 symbols arranged in circular patterns that move towards the center and appear on both sides of the disc. They actually consist of 45 distinct signs. It appears to have been made by the pressing of hieroglyphic like seals into soft clay and then the disc was fired in a kiln. Although the disc has not been conclusively deciphered there are some similarities to the writing systems used in Ancient Greece, Linear A and Linear B. Linear A was used by the Minoan's in their palace and religious writings. Linear B was used in the writing's of Mycenaean Greek of which the oldest examples date back to around 1450 BC. The Labrys or double headed axe was a frequent find during the excavation of the Knossos Archeological site. It is considered to be one of the oldest symbols from Ancient Greece. It was not only used as a tool but also as jewelry. Many such examples were discovered during the excavation. The Labrys was also found to have religious significance in the Minoan civilization. There was a special relationship with goddesses and high priestesses and it was a symbol for women with high status in the Minoan society. More examples of how advanced their craftsmanship was Examples of sarcophagus's used by the wealthy and influential Beautiful examples of fresco's discovered and restored Going through the Archeological museum after visiting the Knossos site really added to the overall experience. The knowledge and capabilities the Minoan's possessed was absolutely amazing considering their civilization dates back to around 2000 BC.
Visiting both the Knossos Archeological site and the Heraklion Archeological museum is a wonderful experience that should not be missed.
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