Knossos
Κνωσσός | |
Reconstructed North Entrance | |
Map of Crete | |
| Location | Heraklion, Crete, Greece |
|---|---|
| Region | North central coast, 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Heraklion |
| Coordinates | 35°17′53″N 25°9′47″E / 35.29806°N 25.16306°E |
| Type | Minoan palace |
| Area | Total inhabited area: 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi). Palace: 14,000 m2 (150,000 sq ft) |
| History | |
| Founded | Settlement around 7000 BC; first palace around 1900 BC |
| Abandoned | Palace abandoned Late Minoan IIIC, 1380–1100 BC |
| Periods | Neolithic to Late Bronze Age |
| Cultures | Minoan, Mycenaean |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1900–present |
| Archaeologists | Minos Kalokairinos, Sir Arthur Evans, David George Hogarth, Duncan Mackenzie, Theodore Fyfe, Christian Doll, Piet de Jong, John Davies Evans |
| Condition | Restored and maintained for visitation. |
| Management | 23rd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism |
| Part of | Minoan Palatial Centres |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iii, iv, vi |
| Reference | 1733-001 |
| Inscription | 2025 (47th Session) |
Knossos (/(kə)ˈnɒsoʊs, -səs/; Ancient Greek: Κνωσσός, romanized: Knōssós, pronounced [knɔː.sós]; Linear B: 𐀒𐀜𐀰 Ko-no-so) is an archaeological site in Crete that was occupied from the Neolithic through the ninth century AD. The site was a major centre of the Minoan civilization and is known for its association with the Greek myth of Theseus and the minotaur. During the early Iron Age it was one of the most prosperous Aegean civilizations, and it eventually became a Roman colony during the Classical period. It is located on the outskirts of Heraklion, and remains a popular tourist destination. Knossos is considered by many to be the oldest city in Europe and one of the earliest Neolithic settlements in Crete.
Knossos is dominated by the monumental Palace of Minos. Like other Minoan palaces, this complex of buildings served as a combination religious and administrative centre rather than a royal residence. The earliest parts of the palace were built around 1900 BC in an area that had been used for ritual feasting since the Neolithic. The palace was continually renovated and expanded over the next five centuries until its final destruction around 1350 BC.
The site was first excavated by Minos Kalokairinos in 1877. In 1900, Sir Arthur Evans undertook more extensive excavations which unearthed most of the palace as well as many now-famous artifacts including the Bull-Leaping Fresco, the snake goddess figurines, and numerous Linear B tablets.