Nowadays, the ruins are lying in the immediate vicinity of Heraklion. Needless to say, this is a very touristic site. The best time to come is early morning when the gate opens or possibly in the evening before they close the site down. As there is no shadow, these times also sound a better deal.
Obviously, it is a famous place because it is thought to be the palace of King Minos and where the maze designed by Daedalus kept the Minotaur.
True, in Crete, myth, and history tend to intertwine. But in reality, archaeology sees it a bit differently. What is presented as a palace may have been a royal sanctuary, where eventually the King lived. Archaeologists also think the Labyrinth is not under the “sanctuary-palace” but was rather set in a cave that actually exists in the mountains.
The British archaeologist Arthur Evans (1851-1941) searched the site but both his interpretation and its restoration remain highly contested up to now.
There were no less than three “palaces” here. The first was built around 2,000 BC. But it was destructed around 1,700BC. Then, another “palace” was built but then in 1,450 BC, it was swept away by a tidal wave caused by the gigantic eruption of the Thera Volcano (Santorini). The Mycenaeans took over but a major fire happened between 1,275 and 1250 BC).
Whatsoever, some major art items were found in the ruins and the originals are now kept inside the Archaeology Museum of Heraklion.
The idea of having a reproduction set in place of the original was brilliant. It brings some varnish to the site.
Christian Sorand
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| Paved access to the palace |
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| South Propylaeum |
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| Wall painting reproduction |
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| The pithois |
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| The Throne Room |
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| Prince of the Lilies wall |
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| Bull's Horns |
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| Stairs to lower level |
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| North Lustral Basin |
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| The Bastion |
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| Another view of the Bastion |
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| Access road to the Palace |
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| A flowery corner at the coffeeshop |
