The Palace of Knossos is the largest of the centers of Minoan power. It is a
building complex that develops in an area of 22,000 sq.m. Built on an artificial
hill, it was the most impressive of the Minoan palaces and the administrative
center of Minoan Knossos, which is located 5 km. southeast of Heraklion.
According to tradition, the Palace of Knossos was the seat of King Minos.
Around 2000 BC the old palace was built at the southern end of the city and
was destroyed by an earthquake around 1900 BC. It was immediately
repaired, but was destroyed a second time by an earthquake, around 1700
BC. Immediately afterwards, the new, more magnificent palace was built in
the mid-15th century BC. Achaean rulers now sat in the throne room of the
palace, who, as absolute sovereigns, controlled the entire island. The palace
was destroyed again in the mid-14th century BC (Late Minoan Period IIIA),
this time by fire, and from then on it ceased to function as a palatial center.
The Egyptian Aqueduct at Spilia (near Knossos)
In the area of Agia Eirini at Spilia there is the largest of the aqueduct bridges
built in Crete in order to solve the water shortage problem of –today’s-
Herakleion. Through this water bridge built during the Egyptian occupation
(1830-1840) the water was transferred from the Fountana spring in Kounavoi
and from the Miliaras spring in Skalani, to the center of Herakleion, after it had
been merged with the water coming through the Venetian aqueduct of
Morozini.
The Historical Museum of Crete was founded by the Society of Cretan
Historical Studies in 1953 and was originally housed in the former
home of Minos Kalokairinos (he discovered Knossos). The museum’s
permanent collections highlight the art and history of Crete from the 4 th
century AD through the Second World War. The collections are
ordered chronologically and by subject. They include ceramics,
sculptures, coins, jewelry, wall paintings, portable icons, ritual objects,
manuscripts, heirlooms, weavings, etc.
