Monument/ MemorialPalace of Knossós > Review
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The Palace of Knossos
micksheff (38)
Sheffield, United Kingdom
Think of the great Historical races that have shaped and influenced the world that we live in today and you will probably think about the Egyptians, the Aztecs and the Incas. Think a little harder and you may also think of others like the Phoenicians and the Minoans.
This review is about the latter, the Minoans, or more precisely it is about one of their finest achievements - The Palace of Knossos on the Island of Crete.
I visited this place a few years ago and found it to be a fascinating experience and one that I have decided to share with you.
THE BACKGROUND
This site was continually occupied between 7,000BC and 3,000BC, but its most famous claim to fame is that it was once the seat of the legendary King Minos, although the Palace is also connected to other ancient Greek legends including the Labyrinth with the Minotaur, and the story of Daidalos and Icaros.
Tales relating to the existence of this huge Palace had been passed down for generations but it was not until 1878 that the remains of this place were discovered by a local Archaeologist called Minos Kalokairinos. Between 1900 and 1931 a British Archaeologist called Arthur Evans set about excavating the area with a dream of restoring the Palace to its former glory.
Arthur Evans dedicated his life to the restoration of the Palace of Knossos and his findings amazed even the most sceptical Archaeologists of the day. By the time the excavation was complete four separate wings had been exposed arranged around a Central Courtyard which contained the Royal Quarters, Workshops, Shrines, Storerooms, Repositories, the Throne Room and Banquet Halls.
THINGS TO SEE
The site covers a huge area and it is quite possible to spend three or four hours walking around the site. Many of the areas that have been excavated have been roped off to protect them but there are clever recreation areas next to them where you can enter a room and see how that particular room would have actually looked.
Some areas are however very well preserved and some of these areas can be entered by the public. The most important areas include the following:
The Royal Villa - dating from the 14th Century BC this area features a polythyra (pier and door partitions), a pillar crypt and a double staircase, with two flights of stairs. This whole area has a very strong religious presence and may have once been the residence of an aristocrat or High Priest.
The Little Palace - Dating from between the 17th and 15th Centuries BC this is one of the best examples of Palatial architecture which include scraped wall masonry, reception rooms, and a lustral basin-shrine.
Caravanserai - This area is believed to have once been both a Reception Hall and Hospice, the walls are covered in rich wall paintings and their are sinks and baths.
The Unexplored Mansion - Dating from the 14th Century BC this building was probably used for private functions. The area is rectangular in shape with a central, four-pillared hall. There are corridors, storerooms and the remains of a staircase.
The House of Frescoes - Dating from the 15th to 12th Centuries BC this is a small urban mansion with rich decoration on the walls.
The Temple Tomb - One of the last Kings of Knossos was buried here in the between the 17th and 14th Centuries BC.
The House of the High Priest - This contains a stone altar with two columns, which are framed by the bases of double axes. This area is connected to the Temple Tomb by means of a paved street.
Villa of Dionysos - This is a much more modern building on the scale of things dating from the 2nd Century AD. This Villa is built in a Roman style. It is decorated with superb mosaics by Apollinarius, which depict Dionysos. Within this Villa there are special rooms that were employed for the Dionysiac cult.
The South Mansion - Dating from the 17th to 15th Centuries BC this is a three storey building. The main features are a lustral basin and a hypostyle crypt
ADMISSION CHARGES
Depending on when you visit Knossos the cost will vary but if you visit on a Sunday between 1st November and 31st March then admission is free. There are also several other free days throughout the year which include the first Sunday of every Month except July and all Greek Holiday Days.
Admission at other time is free for anyone under 18 years old and all EEC Students.
Charges for Adults are 6 Euros, or 3 Euros for Senior Citizens and Students from non EEC Countries.
It is also possible to take a guided tour around the site for an additional cost of around 3 Euros per party.
MY OPINIONS
I found my visit to the Palace of Knossos a very fascinating experience and I was amazed by some of the features in the buildings. Until my visit to Knossos I had no idea that buildings of this age were multi-storey and had staircases. Knossos also had running water which was pumped from the Mountains 8km away, and a plumbing system that included Baths and flushable toilets.
My visit to Knossos really opened my eyes and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is visiting Crete.
I was also impressed by its lack of commercialism as such an important archaeological site could have so easily been spoiled for the benefit of the tourists, but on the whole is done quite respectively.
Just one final note to say that this is a good value day out for a family but make sure that you take Sun Hats, plenty of Sun Cream and Bottled Water as there is very little shade.
This review is about the latter, the Minoans, or more precisely it is about one of their finest achievements - The Palace of Knossos on the Island of Crete.
I visited this place a few years ago and found it to be a fascinating experience and one that I have decided to share with you.
THE BACKGROUND
This site was continually occupied between 7,000BC and 3,000BC, but its most famous claim to fame is that it was once the seat of the legendary King Minos, although the Palace is also connected to other ancient Greek legends including the Labyrinth with the Minotaur, and the story of Daidalos and Icaros.
Tales relating to the existence of this huge Palace had been passed down for generations but it was not until 1878 that the remains of this place were discovered by a local Archaeologist called Minos Kalokairinos. Between 1900 and 1931 a British Archaeologist called Arthur Evans set about excavating the area with a dream of restoring the Palace to its former glory.
Arthur Evans dedicated his life to the restoration of the Palace of Knossos and his findings amazed even the most sceptical Archaeologists of the day. By the time the excavation was complete four separate wings had been exposed arranged around a Central Courtyard which contained the Royal Quarters, Workshops, Shrines, Storerooms, Repositories, the Throne Room and Banquet Halls.
THINGS TO SEE
The site covers a huge area and it is quite possible to spend three or four hours walking around the site. Many of the areas that have been excavated have been roped off to protect them but there are clever recreation areas next to them where you can enter a room and see how that particular room would have actually looked.
Some areas are however very well preserved and some of these areas can be entered by the public. The most important areas include the following:
The Royal Villa - dating from the 14th Century BC this area features a polythyra (pier and door partitions), a pillar crypt and a double staircase, with two flights of stairs. This whole area has a very strong religious presence and may have once been the residence of an aristocrat or High Priest.
The Little Palace - Dating from between the 17th and 15th Centuries BC this is one of the best examples of Palatial architecture which include scraped wall masonry, reception rooms, and a lustral basin-shrine.
Caravanserai - This area is believed to have once been both a Reception Hall and Hospice, the walls are covered in rich wall paintings and their are sinks and baths.
The Unexplored Mansion - Dating from the 14th Century BC this building was probably used for private functions. The area is rectangular in shape with a central, four-pillared hall. There are corridors, storerooms and the remains of a staircase.
The House of Frescoes - Dating from the 15th to 12th Centuries BC this is a small urban mansion with rich decoration on the walls.
The Temple Tomb - One of the last Kings of Knossos was buried here in the between the 17th and 14th Centuries BC.
The House of the High Priest - This contains a stone altar with two columns, which are framed by the bases of double axes. This area is connected to the Temple Tomb by means of a paved street.
Villa of Dionysos - This is a much more modern building on the scale of things dating from the 2nd Century AD. This Villa is built in a Roman style. It is decorated with superb mosaics by Apollinarius, which depict Dionysos. Within this Villa there are special rooms that were employed for the Dionysiac cult.
The South Mansion - Dating from the 17th to 15th Centuries BC this is a three storey building. The main features are a lustral basin and a hypostyle crypt
ADMISSION CHARGES
Depending on when you visit Knossos the cost will vary but if you visit on a Sunday between 1st November and 31st March then admission is free. There are also several other free days throughout the year which include the first Sunday of every Month except July and all Greek Holiday Days.
Admission at other time is free for anyone under 18 years old and all EEC Students.
Charges for Adults are 6 Euros, or 3 Euros for Senior Citizens and Students from non EEC Countries.
It is also possible to take a guided tour around the site for an additional cost of around 3 Euros per party.
MY OPINIONS
I found my visit to the Palace of Knossos a very fascinating experience and I was amazed by some of the features in the buildings. Until my visit to Knossos I had no idea that buildings of this age were multi-storey and had staircases. Knossos also had running water which was pumped from the Mountains 8km away, and a plumbing system that included Baths and flushable toilets.
My visit to Knossos really opened my eyes and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is visiting Crete.
I was also impressed by its lack of commercialism as such an important archaeological site could have so easily been spoiled for the benefit of the tourists, but on the whole is done quite respectively.
Just one final note to say that this is a good value day out for a family but make sure that you take Sun Hats, plenty of Sun Cream and Bottled Water as there is very little shade.
Poland
Italy
Greece