Minoan Palaces
By the beginning of the second millennium BC, the island of Crete was the cradle of a civilisation known to us today as the ‘Minoans’ – the moniker being borrowed from king Minos, the mythical ruler of the island. The development of a highly sophisticated societal system on Crete would be based upon the successful growth of the island’s main urban “palace” centres, such as Knossos, Phaistos, Mallia and Zakros. The Palace of Knossos was by far the largest of these principal urban centres. The extent of its grandeur and ostentation are clearly evident from the surviving ruins and from the extensive reconstructions of its principal excavator, Sir Arthur Evans. Its spacious apartments, sumptuously appointed and decorated with beautiful and lively frescoes, were primarily the living quarters for the local rulers. However, this elite complex also served as a highly organized political and economic centre, which would have been at the heart of an advanced network of trade that stretched across the whole of Crete. Of the four main palace sites, the location of Phaistos is, without doubt, the most spectacular. Occupying a prominent hillside position, the site commands panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. To the north are the colossal twin peaks of Mount Ida, whilst to the south the landscape drops away into the plain of Mesara, before receding towards the island’s southern coastline.
- Palace of Knossos - 23:03
- Palace of Phaistos - 21:05
