Knossos is situated five kilometres southeast of Heraklion city and according to tradition, it was the seat of King Minos and the capital of his realm.
Connected to the palace complex of Knossos are the stirring myths of the Labyrinth of the Minotaur and Daedalus and Icarus. The palace was multi-storied and covered 20,000 square meters. It was built from a variety of construction materials covered with coloured plaster. Its rooms and corridors have frescos painted on marble slabs. It has an impressive sewage and water supply network.
The Palace of Knossos, the largest and most enduring Minoan palace on Crete, was founded around 1900 BC. Although it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1700 BC, the palace was rebuilt and transformed into a grand complex with numerous rooms, storerooms, sanctuaries, and ritual spaces. Knossos particularly flourished between 1700 and 1450 BC. In 1450 BC, despite the destruction of other Minoan palaces, Knossos survived and continued to develop under new leadership. However, around 1380/1350 BC, the palace suffered its final destruction, ceasing to be the focal point of Crete, though its legacy persisted through myth. Recent archaeological discoveries have prompted revisions to our understanding of the nature and relationships of the palaces in Crete.
