Knossos
Ancient Cretan center
Knossos is an ancient palace complex on the island of Crete, the center of Minoan civilization and Europe's oldest city.
In Greek mythology, it housed the labyrinth of King Minos where the Minotaur was kept.
The site was excavated and partially reconstructed in the early twentieth century: The frescoes at Knossos depict bull-leaping rituals.
Largest Greek island
- Bronze AgeEarly metalworking civilization period
- frescoesPaintings on fresh plaster
- faienceTin-glazed earthenware tradition
- MaliaFeminine given name
Aegean · double axe · snake goddess · griffins · dolphins
Intricate passage network
- MinotaurBull-man of Greek myth
- TheseusAthenian hero, beast-slayer
- AriadneMythical thread-giver
- DaedalusLegendary craftsman and inventor
Icarus · King Minos · thread · maze · bull · tribute · Athens · monster
Act of unearthing
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
- potteryFired clay objects
sherds · trenches · fieldwork · ruins · dating · palace complex · magazines · central court
Sovereign's formal audience hall
- central courtPrimary venue for matches
- grand staircaseImposing architectural stairway centerpiece
- magazinesPeriodic illustrated publications
- storageSpace for keeping goods
light wells · frescoes · columns · drainage · ceremonial · administrative
Crete
Largest Greek island
- Bronze AgeEarly metalworking civilization period
- frescoesPaintings on fresh plaster
- faienceTin-glazed earthenware tradition
Malia · Aegean · double axe · snake goddess · griffins · dolphins
labyrinth
Intricate passage network
Daedalus · Icarus · King Minos · thread · maze · bull · tribute · Athens · monster · hero
excavation
Act of unearthing
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
pottery · sherds · trenches · fieldwork · ruins · dating · palace complex · magazines · central court · throne room
throne room
Sovereign's formal audience hall
- central courtPrimary venue for matches
- grand staircaseImposing architectural stairway centerpiece
- magazinesPeriodic illustrated publications
storage · light wells · frescoes · columns · drainage · ceremonial · administrative
- ancient civilizationsAncient Egypt, Sumer, Ancient Greece, Aztecs, Egypt
- ancient ruinsStonehenge, Pompeii, Colosseum, coliseum, Machu Picchu
- ancient sitesPompeii, Stonehenge, pyramids, Colosseum, Giza
- European LandmarksEiffel Tower, Colosseum, Big Ben, Acropolis, Parthenon
- Greek placesAthens, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Crete, Rhodes
- Lost CivilizationsAtlantis, Pompeii, Troy, Babylon, Mycenae