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Palace of Knossos
Frescoes from the Minoan Civilisation
By Katia Luz
Palace of Knossos - the ruins of the palace were discovered in 1878 by the Cretan Minos Kalokairinos who began excavations.
Beautiful frescoes were discovered on the site, showing us the nature of the society of the earliest Cretans.
About Knossos in our video below.
Frescoes of Knossos
Palace of Knossos - the frescos of the Minoans intrigue our senses, below you will see the Bull Leaping Fresco which is one of the most famous of all. It brings into question the nature of the relationship of the earliest inhabitants with the bull. Of course it seems that the young boys or girls are jumping the bull...is this part of a display of skill or a bull-fighting sequence?
Also below you will see the fresco named Minoan Lady which shows beautiful blue colours and the distinguished profile of a beautiful woman.
In the throne room of Knossos you will see the striking Griffin Fresco, (above) with stunning red colours. There are two griffins facing the throne, these mythical creatures had the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
These frescoes are now on display at the Heraklion Archeological Museum, and as reproductions dotted about the site.
See more information about the history of Knossos on this page.
Also see tips for visitors to Knossos on this page.
Find a map for Knossos on this page.
Bull Leaping Fresco
Minoan Lady Fresco
Fresco of the Blue BirdsThis fresco is thought to represent the Blue Rock Thrush which is a stunning bird, still present in Crete.
Fresco of the Partridges
The Fresco of the Lilies was found at Amnisos, the port of Knossos. This fresco is dated from 1570-1470 BC. The fresco can be seen today in the Heraklion Archeological Museum.
This beautiful fresco shows flowers common on the beaches of Crete, in Greek it is Τοιχογραφία των κρίνων or Fresco of the Lily. The flower below is the Lily of the Beach or Sea Daffodil, the latin name is Pancretan maritimum.
Other Artifacts and Art
Palace of Knossos - statuettes and jewellery were found on this site giving us questions about the role of women in the Minoan civilisation, such as the Snake Goddess (see below).
Theories abound about the rituals and the type of society of the Minoans. The art shown here is enough to set historians on myriad paths of interpretation.
Were they a Goddess-based culture? Were they peaceful and nature-loving? Did the women hold power and lead the spiritual life of the island? Was this the home of the Queen instead of King Minos?
The British archaeologist that excavated the site was an interesting character named Arthur Evans, see more about him here; a full biography which shows his life's work in uncovering the Minoan history of the island. He controversially reconstructed many features of the site according to his own imagination.
A Snake Goddess FigurinePalace of Knossos Videos
Below is a video of the Palace of Knossos archaeological site as it stands today:
Below is a video which gives more context of the history of Minoan culture in the Aegean.
Accommodation
The Palace of Knossos is only 5 km from the town of Heraklion, so any hotel in Heraklion is handy to the site, and to the Archaeological Museum, which is in the centre of town.
Here we show you some more interesting rural and village locations which will suit your explorations of the central Minoan palaces including Phaistos and Malia, as well as Knossos, if you are exploring by car.
Villa Archanes is a small, friendly B&B in the village of Archanes, just 7 km south of Knossos on country roads.
This is a blend of the historic and modern, with a beautifully restored village home now offering a pool and terraces. Experience
true country hospitality, wonderful tasty Cretan breakfasts and a
spacious, stylish family mansion house originally dating from 1890.
Traditional
stonework, lovely chunky wooden beams, handcrafted Cretan furnishings
and attention to detail make these rooms a pleasure to stay in.
Choose from a one-bedroom villa which sleeps 2 guests or a two-bedroom villa, with space for 4 guests.
"Very warm and welcoming hosts, lovely room, good and varied breakfast, great location in a charming village."
Villa Kerasia is a small B&B surrounded by grapevines on a hillside south of Knossos, near Kerasia and Avgeniki villages, a perfectly central location for exploring Phaistos, Knossos and Malia Palaces by car. 18 km from Knossos.
"We had a great stay at this wonderful place. its a super nice renovated old house with an amazing view and a beautiful garden around it. the hosts were very nice and helpful also when we had some problems with our car. great breakfast.
would love to come back there."
Farm House in Orange Plantation - close to the Minoan sites of Phaistos and Agia Triada, this location is quiet and relaxed. From here you can take in the lushness of the Messara Valley and understand why the ancient civilisations chose this fertile place to build their villages. Sleeps 8. This is 7.3 km from Phaistos, 57 km south of Knossos.
"Perfect to let your mind wander. No unnecessary frills but everything we needed. With a great environmental thought behind it, almost self-sufficient. The bed was very comfortable.
We discovered oranges on the plantation of course, also orange peels, lemons, gojiberries, walnuts, cactus, mandarins, hibiscus, pears, bananas and grapes.
"
On the Map
Below is a map of Crete showing the location of the Minoan palaces:
Knossos Palace
5 km from Heraklion - central Crete
Phaistos Palace
62 km from Heraklion - central Crete
Malia Palace
40 km from Heraklion - central Crete
Zakros Palace
50 km from Sitia - eastern Crete
Getting Here
Get to Heraklion International Airport with a 1 hour flight from Athens with Olympic Air or Aegean Airlines.
Take a hire car, taxi or bus to the Palace of Knossos as it is only 7 km from the airport. Your ticket to Knossos also includes entry to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum which is located in the centre of town.
More details about flights and ferries to Crete below.
When you book with our car rental partners - Rental Centre Crete - you are supporting a local company with excellent service and an easy online booking procedure. We are sure you will be well looked after by Harry and his team.
We trust you have enjoyed these tips from the We Love Crete team. Evíva!
Yiásas!
Anastasi, Apostoli & Katia
are the We Love Crete team
We just love sharing our passion for Crete, Greece and travel
About us Contact Us Kaló taxídi!
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About the Team
Yiásas!
Anastasi, Apostoli & Katia
are the
We Love Crete team
We just love sharing our passion for Crete, Greece and travel
About us
