Knossos (3500 B.C. - 900B.C.)
The centre of Minoan civilisation and capital of Minoan Crete lay 5km south of Heraklion.
Knossos flourished for approximately two thousand years. It had large palace buildings, extensive workshop installations and luxurious rock-cut cave and tholos tombs. As a major centre of trade and the economy, Knossos maintained ties with the majority of cities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Wealth accumulation and the advancement of an urban lifestyle were the hallmarks of this zenith, which began circa 2000 BC and was typified by magnificent monumental buildings and a complex social structure.
Artist's impression of the palace at Knossos, 3500 B.C. - 1100 B.C.
Artist's impression of a section of the palace at Knossos, 1700 B.C. - 1650 B.C.
Map of Crete showing Minoan towns, 3500 B.C. - 1100 B.C.
View of the palace at Knossos in the early 20th century, 3500 B.C. - 1100 B.C. (R. Behaeddin, No 17, Vikelaia Municipal Library, Heraklion)
View of the palace at Knossos, 2003 (photograph: Vassilis Kozonakis)
Storerooms at the palace during excavations. The man in a topee is Arthur Evans (N. Alikiotis Press, No 413, Theophanis Kokkinakis Collection)
7000B.C.
3500B.C.
2000B.C.
1700B.C.
1450B.C.
1350B.C.
1150B.C.
1100B.C.
900B.C.