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In Search of the Greeks (Second Edition) > Galleries > Sites ordered by name > Crete

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Crete

There are a number of sites on the island of Crete which have Minoan-era ruins. Knossos is the foremost among them, and is one of the largest tourist attractions in Greece. Knossos is close to the island’s capital, Heraklion, and the vast majority of Minoan-era finds are housed in its wonderful archaeological museum.

Click on the links below for images of the site.

Resources
  1. A bust of Sir Arthur Evans at the site of Knossos
  2. The West Court at Knossos, which may have been the site of large processions
  3. The Central Court at Knossos from the north-west end
  4. The Central Court at Knossos from the south end
  5. The Throne Room
  6. Evans tried to reconstruct part of the site, based on interpreting the remains he found there. These reconstructions remain controversial; this one is of a fresco of a bulling running
  7. A view down to the area called the Royal Apartments
  8. The Queen's Megaron, with reconstructed fresco, lies within the Royal Apartments
  9. A view of the palace of Knossos from the north end of the site
  10. A model reconstruction of the palace in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum
  11. This 'rhyton' (ceremonial vessel used to hold liquid) in the shape of a bull's head was used to pour libations. Partially restored, it was found at Knossos and is a masterpiece of Minoan art (1600-1450 BCE)
  12. The famous bull-leaping fresco found at Knossos (partially restored)
  13. An ivory figurine of a bull-leaper found at Knossos (1600-1450 BCE)
  14. These bull rhyta were found at the site of Phaistos (1800-1700 BCE)
  15. A number of the fragments of frescos found at Knossos have been restored to give the sense of what the original image might have looked like. This is 'Cup-bearer' shows a young man carrying a large silver rhyton. This is the only life-size figure in a Minoan fresco whose head and torso are preserved
  16. This restored fresco is known as the 'Prince of the Lilies'
  17. A restored fresco of dolphins
  18. This fresco is called either the 'Minoan Lady' or 'La Parisienne', since when it was first discovered the woman's looks and style seemed to resemble the fashion of contemporary Paris
  19. The Snake Goddesses. These were found in the Knossos Temple Repositories, and represent two of the most important cult objects found at the site. The two women - identified as goddesses - wear luxurious garments and perhaps represent fertility
  20. A large storage jar found at Knossos
  21. The 'Harvester Vase'. On it are depicted 27 men carrying harvesting and winnowing implements. A group of men sing to the accompaniment of a sistrum, a musical instrument with a number of rattles. At the head of the procession is a man who may be a priest leading a ceremony of thanksgiving for a new harvest
  22. The Hagia Triada Sarcophagus. This limestone sarcophagus was found at the site of Hagia Triada. It depicts ritual ceremonies in honour of the dead, and scenes relating to beliefs about the afterlife and the journey of the dead man
  23. The discoveries of a tomb of gold found at Hagia Triada. It contains necklaces of gold, semiprecious stones and glass, gold beads, rings and an amulet (1400-1300 BCE)
  24. The 'Phaistos Disk'. This mysterious clay disk bears 45 pictorial signs which have yet to be decoded. The most likely theory is that the disk contains a hymn or text of magic character (1700-1650 BCE)
  25. A set of luxury vessels found at Phaistos and used for banqueting ceremonies. They are richly decorated with polychrome and relief patterns (1800-1700 BCE)
  26. The 'Malia Bees'. This gold pendant illustrates the high quality of Minoan craftsmanship. Discovered at Malia, it was worn attached to a necklace. It depicts two bees leaving a drop of honey in a honeycomb, while on their heads is a cage containing a gold bead (1800-1700 BCE)
  27. This clay model from Palaikastro depicts women dancing in a circle to the accompaniment of a lyre (c.1350 BCE)
  28. The Draughtboard'. This boardgame found at Knossos is inlaid with ivory, blue glass paste and rock crystal, plated with gold and silver. Four large, conical ivory gaming-pieces correspond to circular areas of the 'draughtboard'. Similar, simpler objects have been found in Egypt and the Near East (1700-1450 BCE)
  29. Linear A tablets. We have yet to decode Linear A, the script used by the Minoans