When excavations began at Knossos in 1900, few could have predicted the size of the palace that would be revealed; the maze of walls, buildings and walkways, so confusing and extensive that the excavator Sir Arthur Evans was convinced he had found the lair of the mythical minotaur, the beast of King Minos. Over a century later, the great palace at Knossos has slowly revealed its secrets to archaeologists as the centerpiece of one of the world’s most illustrious cultures, the Minoans.
There is so much to be celebrated at Knossos; brilliant frescoes of bejeweled priestesses, enigmatic statuettes of athletic bull leapers, and bright red columns supporting multi-story complexes that equate to ancient skyscrapers. However, whilst these are amongst the most enduring images of this fascinating civilization, much of what we see standing is the result of reconstructions and interpretations carried out by the excavator Arthur Evans and his team. Our tour will point out the palace’s most significant sights and tell the story of Knossos, including its controversial albeit colorful reconstructions.
