Who was the owner of the land in Knossos. Palaces of Crete

Famous Greek island Crete, a traveler's dream, lies south of the Balkan Peninsula. Tourist routes cover its entire territory. Excursions in Crete begin in the province of Chania, then pass through the districts of Rethymnon and Heraklion, and end in administrative territory Lasithi. Each tour includes a whole program, sightseeing and acquaintance with the customs and traditions of the Hellenes, the indigenous Greek inhabitants.

History of appearance

Crete has always been surrounded by myths and legends. At present, it is also a repository of ancient Greek history. The main attraction of Crete is the Palace of Knossos - a unique ancient building. Some lovers of antiquities identify the residence of King Minos with the legendary labyrinth of Daedalus, but it should be understood that this is not the same thing. Both historical structures are at a considerable distance from each other.

In general, excursions in Crete are of a folklore nature, they are very interesting and informative. But the most attractive tourist attraction on the island is the ancient Knossos, which is located four kilometers south of the capital of Crete, the city of Heraklion. The historical relationship of these territories goes back to the reign of King Minos, after which the noble Achaean Greeks began to own the island, which laid the foundation for the Mycenaean civilization.

Modernity

Today, one of the grandest sights of Greece is the Palace of Knossos in Crete, famous for its labyrinths, in which the Minotaur lived - a man with a bull's head, a monster secretly born by the wife of King Minos, Pasiphaia. According to legend, the Greek engineer-artist Daedalus built for him a huge underground labyrinth from which it was impossible to get out. A terrible monster in the form of a man with a bull's head constantly demanded sacrifices, and from time to time seven girls and seven young men were delivered to the Minotaur in the dungeon, whom he devoured.

Deliverance

But one day, Theseus, the son of the Athenian ruler Aegeus, came to the labyrinths of the palace of Knossos. He decided to kill the Minotaur and save Hellas from a terrible scourge. However, to enter the labyrinth meant to die there. Theseus met with the daughter of King Minos Ariadne, who gave him a ball of thread. Theseus fixed the end of the thread at the entrance and went deep into the domain of the Minotaur. He tracked down the monster and killed it. And the thread of Ariadne brought the hero to the surface.

The enchanted labyrinth, the palace of the Minotaur at Knossos, ceased to exist. From now on, the Hellenes could live in peace.

Element

In 2000 BC, the Palace of Knossos on Crete suffered from a strong earthquake, and 300 years later, in 1740, it was almost completely destroyed by fires that followed one after another.

Finally, the Palace of Knossos on Crete collapsed during a volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini, which occurred in 1450 BC and again caused widespread fires. The population then fled from all the nearby islands to the mainland. The Palace of Knossos on Crete was not the only one affected architectural structure, together with him the palaces of Zakros and Festus perished.

Update

According to scientists, historically there were two periods of the existence of the palace. The first - "early palace" - refers to 2000 BC. The palace stood for three hundred years, and then was destroyed by the elements.

On its ruins, the Hellenes built a new one, which exists to this day. It is considered a masterpiece of the "late palace" period on the island of Crete. At that time, the Minoan civilization flourished, the level of architectural excellence rose high, engineering technologies developed - all this was best reflected in the construction of the renovated Knossos Palace.

Location

The masterpiece of Minoan architecture is spread over a vast area of ​​two and a half hectares. The palace has more than a thousand rooms and several huge halls. In fact, the Palace of Knossos, whose history goes back several millennia, became the residence of the king and included all the vital administrative and economic services. Such centralization proved to be very useful for the city, which surrounded the palace and became like an extension of it.

Archaeological excavations

The first studies of the upper cultural layers on the territory of the Palace of Knossos were made by the Greek philanthropist Minos Kalokerino in 1878, when the island of Crete was under Turkish rule. The results of the excavations were depressing: no graves or traces of human activity could be found anywhere. Scientists have hypothesized that during natural Disasters, earthquakes, fires and volcanic eruptions, the Hellenes inhabiting Crete and other nearby islands left their inhabited lands and moved to the mainland.

These conclusions are indirectly confirmed by the excavations of the western part of the Apennine Peninsula, the place of residence of the ancient Etruscans. In Italy, both burials and evidence of human life were found in abundance. The same can be said about Palestine, where artifacts were also found. Some researchers compared fate ancient Crete with similar events in Atlantis, with the only difference that the Greek island was destroyed by the fire element, and the oceanic island-state went under water.

Knossos Palace: how to get there

There are several ways to get to ancient Knossos. However, all paths to the palace begin in the capital of the island of Crete - the city of Heraklion. Thus, first you need to come to HERAKLION, it is better to go directly to the central bus station, from where blue buses at number 2 to the city of Knossos. You need to sit on the platform with the inscription BUS TO KNOSOS.

The fare on the Heraklion-Knossos Palace route is one and a half euros one way, but you should take a round-trip ticket, since there are no ticket offices in Knossos, and it is impossible to buy a ticket there.

The best way to go is final stop. For greater certainty, you can find the Palace of Knossos on the map and determine its position relative to the bus station in Knossos. In extreme cases, any local resident will tell the traveler the way.

So, on the way to the palace, you can be sure that the tour has taken place, and in a minute the Knossos Palace, whose opening hours are strictly regulated (from 8 am to 7 pm, seven days a week), will hospitably open its doors. The administration announces all changes in the museum's work schedule in advance.

Interior decoration

The frescoes of the Knossos Palace, the oldest wall paintings, unique in beauty, having historical and artistic value, are located separately from the dilapidated palace premises. Most of the images were restored by artists from the team of English archaeologist Arthur John Evans, who excavated the Palace of Knossos in 1900. Work continued until 1931.

Some frescoes were named, for example, the image of a young woman with the hairstyle of a priestess, they began to call "Parisian". In her appearance there really is something from the French fashion of the early 20th century. However, in the catalogs she is listed as the "Minoan Lady".

Structure

Visitors enter the palace with western entrance, and the first thing that appears before tourists is three wide stone wells for ritual sacrifices. Then there is a corridor leading to a vast courtyard, which gives the impression of some chaos. Many randomly arranged galleries, large and small halls, staircases leading nowhere. There are a number of sports-themed decorations on the walls. Boys competing with each other and girls playing with bulls. All paintings are written in the smallest detail.

Further, a wide staircase connects the courtyard with the royal chambers. Here everything is harmonious and orderly, a strict alternation of red and black columns arranged in a special way. Studies have shown that the colonnade in the royal chambers is connected with larger outer pillars. Air currents come from above and carry coolness, which is evenly distributed between the lower columns. Thus, a microclimate was created in the bedroom of the kings.

Knossos Palace today

A grandiose monument of antiquity, a unique masterpiece of sacred architecture, its majestic ruins convey the spirit of 3000 years ago. The amazing relief of monolithic stone blocks, jewelry mosaic masonry, timeless - all this attracts millions of tourists from all over the world.

The Palace of Knossos is not only the rarest museum exhibit, it is also the object of close attention of scientists. Architects, ethnographers, graphic designers and many other specialists study the structure from the point of view of classical architecture, artistic and historical value, social and public arrangement.

The palace absorbed the history of several millennia, starting from the late Neolithic, and this requires scientific analysis and systematization. Scientists around the world consider it an honor to participate in projects to study the unique structure in Crete. Every year, the materials on the Palace of Knossos are becoming more voluminous and reliable.

In picturesque Crete, in the vicinity popular resort Heraklion, is the famous Palace of Knossos. He is the most beautiful monument ancient architecture Greece and is shrouded in many myths and stories. It is difficult to find a person who has not heard about the Minotaur and other legends associated with this place. Despite the destructive power of time, barbarians and earthquakes, individual elements of the palace are very well preserved and are of great interest to tourists.

Knossos palace in mythology

In ancient Greek documents, the line between real story and mythology, so it is difficult to say what really happened and what the fantasy of the poets gave rise to. It is assumed that the Palace of Knossos, like most buildings in Crete, was founded by King Minos. He enjoyed the mercy of Zeus and Poseidon, who more than once rescued him in difficult times.

According to legend, Minos was obliged to sacrifice the most beautiful bull to Poseidon, but one day he got greedy and gave a less worthy animal. The angry god, in revenge, awakened his wife's passion for the bull, from the union with which the Minotaur was born - a man with a bull's head.

This creature was very bloodthirsty and demanded human sacrifices. Every year, young men and women were sent into the corridors of the labyrinth to be devoured by the Minotaur, until one day Theseus was among them. The Prince of Athens managed to defeat the cruel Minotaur. True, for this he needed the help of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos. Later, Theseus and his beloved left the island, and a few centuries later a strong earthquake significantly damaged the palace, and almost completely destroyed the labyrinth.

History of the Palace of Knossos

In the architecture of the Minoan period, the Palace of Knossos is considered the largest and most monumental building. It was located in the administrative and economic center of the island. At one place the palace was erected twice. The first building dates back to 1900 BC. It was destroyed by a strong earthquake.

The rebuilt palace the greatest building. For several centuries it has been an important cultural and administrative center until 1500 B.C. the volcano didn't wake up neighboring island. As a result of seismic activity, the strongest tidal waves headed from Santorini to Crete. They caused irreparable damage not only to the Palace of Knossos, but to the entire Minoan civilization.

The ruins of the palace complex were discovered at the beginning of the last century by A. Evans. It was he who worked for several years with his team on the restoration majestic building. Under his leadership, a partial reconstruction of the structures was also carried out, but these works were often criticized by contemporaries.

Description and architectural features

In ancient times, the Palace of Knossos consisted of many interconnected buildings and occupied several levels. Some scientists believe that the labyrinth of the Minotaur was located somewhere near the palace. Others, having studied the intricate plan of the complex, are sure that the palace itself was a labyrinth. It is more correct to call it a city, and not just a palace, because more than 1,300 rooms are located on an area of ​​16,000 m².

Reconstruction of the Palace of Knossos

It is very difficult to find any consistency in the architecture. There is a feeling that it was built by absolutely separate teams. Some rooms are cut into the rock, others are lined with mud bricks. There are few symmetrical details in the building, frescoes and decorative elements are placed contrary to the laws of harmony, but the construction technology is at the highest level.

Some elements are very spectacular and attract the attention of architects, historians and ordinary tourists. One of them are "irrational" columns, painted in ocher and black. They have an unusual shape and are narrowed down.

No less interesting are large staircases made of solid blocks. The stairs had special channels for sewage, thus the ancient sewer system was introduced.

It is surprising that all the buildings are deprived of the windows we are used to. For the penetration of light and ventilation, the builders provided multi-level openings in the ceilings.

Found during excavations a large number of statues, household items and jewelry. Ancient frescoes are well preserved in the decoration of the premises. Traveling around Knossos, tourists seem to move to small bright islands ancient palace. In order not to get lost in the countless corridors, you should use the map of the ruins.

How to get there?

Knossos is located on Crete, near the city of Heraklion. Regular bus lines depart from the bus station every half an hour, and sometimes more often. You can get to the museum by car. So that tourists do not get lost, along the way there are many signs to the main attraction of the island. At the very entrance to the territory of the palace there is a large car park with free entry.
You can visit the palace with a group tour. It is offered in neighboring cities and right on the spot. Near the entrance to the territory of the palace, in about 15-20 minutes, they gather excursion groups for 6-10 people. You can also hire a personal guide.

The museum opens its doors to tourists every day. Hours of operation change twice a year:

• 8:00-19:00 (April-October);
• 9:00-15:00 (November-March).

How to prepare for the tour

The tour of the ruins takes several hours, so you need to have comfortable clothes and shoes, as well as stock up on water. A hat and sunscreen will also come in handy. In the summer months, you should come before lunch or after 16:00, otherwise you can get sunstroke, because there is almost no shade.

To explore the sights in more detail, you can buy a map and a guidebook from the kiosks at the entrance. They are offered in various languages, including Russian.

Good afternoon friends! The Palace of Knossos in Crete is called the 8th wonder of the world. This title is claimed by more than a dozen attractions around the world. It is indisputable that the Palace of Knossos is a monument of the Minoan civilization. Twice it was rebuilt by the ancient inhabitants of Crete and twice it was destroyed by a terrible natural disaster. Centuries passed before archaeologists discovered palace complex. The myth of the labyrinth and the terrible Minotaur living in it is associated with the Palace of Knossos. In what condition the palace is and whether it is possible to get lost in its corridors, we will tell today.

Greece. Crete. Among the 4 palaces of the Minoan era found by archaeologists (Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and Zakros), the Knossos Palace is the largest and most significant.

Scientists are sure that at least 2 more similar buildings are hidden on the island, and not 4 palaces, but 6 or even 7. Research is just to come. It is known for certain about the Palace of Knossos that it was he who - main object the Minoan culture that disappeared from the face of the earth.

Lost Civilization

When in books we come across stories about once great, but disappeared ancient civilizations, such as the civilization of the Atlanteans, the Aztecs, the Maya, two thoughts come to mind:

• Who would we be and how would we live if these cultures had not perished?
• and the second thought: why they died and how can we avoid their fate

The contribution of archaeologists to these studies is invaluable. Thanks to them, we learned that Minoan civilization was destroyed by a powerful earthquake and the accompanying tsunami.

In the history of the Minoan culture in Crete, there were 2 periods of prosperity and decline.

The first heyday of the Palace of Knossos from 2000 to 1700 BC. Then there was an earthquake and the palace was destroyed.

Then, quite quickly, a new palace was built on the same spot. Now it's time for scientists to wonder. It turns out that the Minoans had very advanced engineering technologies.

The second period of prosperity took about the next 2 centuries. It ended quickly and tragically. A volcanic eruption occurred on the island of Santorini, it dates back to 1628 - 1500 BC.

It is believed that part of the land went under water, and a giant tsunami swept over Crete, destroying all the palaces and settlements, and with them the entire Minoan civilization.

Archaeological excavations

The world saw the Knossos palace complex thanks to Arthur Evans, a learned archaeologist. In 1900, he decided to explore the mounds of this area. Evans gave 40 years of his life to his discovery. About how the excavations went and what was found as a result, he wrote 6 volumes detailed descriptions research.

The find turned out to be even more valuable than he could have imagined. The life of the palace was rich and rich in events.

There were halls for celebrations, ritual rooms, workshops and even a theater. There was even a fighting arena that could accommodate up to 500 spectators at a time. And of course, royal chambers, canteens and warehouses.

Architecture is certainly interesting. But special respect is given to the layout of the sewerage and water supply systems.

The Mycenaean civilization in its development was far ahead of the achievements of the Greeks of the Achaeans. When the former were building aqueducts, the latter were still grazing goats.

By the way, we call this building a palace, and archaeologists and scientists are not yet completely sure that it really was a palace.

There is an opinion that this is, nevertheless, a complex of religious buildings.

Archaeological site

Fantasy draws a giant palace, streets, labyrinths, but what will we see on the spot?

The archaeological site is similar to other excavation sites in Greece: the sacred grove and temple of Zeus in Olympia, the Parthenon in Athens, the Peloponnese public health resort - Asklepion in Epidaurus, only more complete.

The palace of Knossos is called the second after of the Athenian Parthenon the main attraction of Greece. This can be argued, but the fact that the palace is impressive and causes the effect of "Wow!" undoubtedly.

Today we can walk through the archaeological complex and see how it used to be here. The Greeks treat their culture very respectfully, so don't expect any spectacular replicas. Only history and archeology. And this is enough, because some fragments of the palace are well preserved.

• In the center of the courtyard. This is typical of all buildings of this period. The system of rooms and buildings can seem very confusing, and sometimes completely illogical.

• Rooms at different levels, corridors and stairs, unexpected secret rooms. It will be difficult to figure out the layout of the facilities on your own, we advise you to join the tour.
• Of interest are the columns: black and red, they taper towards the base. They are called "Minoan" because of this special shape.
• The frescoes are well preserved inside. On them are scenes from the life of the city, artisans, kings and gods, mythical animals, natural ornaments. Many wall paintings contain images of a fearsome bull with a human body.

Minotaur Labyrinth

In history Ancient Greece mythology and historical reality are so closely connected that even scientists find it difficult to understand. It is this palace that is associated with the history of King Minos, the son of Zeus the Thunderer and the Phoenician princess of Europe.

And with the labyrinth of the Minotaur. This monster has the body of a man, and the head of a bull.

The Minotaur lived in a gloomy labyrinth, which Daedalus built on the orders of the king. According to the bloodthirsty tradition, criminals and those who tried to enter the palace without permission were launched into the labyrinth. The monster treated them cruelly.

It all ended with the well-known legend of the hero Theseus. In order not to get lost in the labyrinth, he used the thread of Ariadne, got inside the labyrinth and defeated the Minotaur.

This legend has another, more plausible historical version: the son of King Minos Androgey was killed, and Aegeus (the father of Theseus, the king of the Athenians) was involved in his death. As punishment, the Athenians had to send boys and girls to Minos. These captives became slaves in the palace of Knossos.

And there was no terrible Minotaur at all - there was a teacher of King Minos, who was distinguished by his cruel temper and strength. He held gymnastic competitions (maybe it was fisticuffs) and won, until Theseus arrived and defeated him with a punch to the forehead.

Myths are myths, but the palace with all its intricate corridors and dead-end rooms is very similar to a labyrinth. On the walls there is often a sign "labros", or a double axe.

Therefore, some scientists believe that the palace is the labyrinth. The other is sure that the labyrinth is located in the mountains and is a series of interconnected caves.

As long as scientists present evidence for their point of view, we can choose the one we like best.

You can get lost in the numerous passages, especially when looking for the starting point for exploring the castle, but you are unlikely to get lost.

An interesting fact: the Minoan palaces did not have any defense system. Which leads scientists to conclude that there was a telassocracy in Crete. Those. the Minoan state lived at the expense of the sea, the fleet and controlled the coastal metropolitan cities.

Can be purchased complex ticket, which includes other attractions. For example, the Heraklion Museum, where the original paintings of the Knossos Palace and finds from other palaces are located.

Attractions nearby

• Hill of Kefala

Located near the palace. This place is important archaeological sites. Roman tombs have been found here. It was from here that Evans began his excavations. It seemed to him that it was here that the ancient city was located. For some time, Heinrich Schliemann also worked here, looking for his Troy.

• Heraklion

Very close to Knossos is the city of Heraklion. Many people say that there is absolutely nothing to see here, but this is not so. Here it is Archaeological Museum Crete, where the archaeological finds of the Minoan palaces are exhibited, the old fort of Kules, many interesting museums and cathedrals. From here it is easy to get to the ruins of the palace.

• Hersonissos

We will recommend another town for those who want to have great fun after the ruins. Hersonissos - unofficial capital islands. There are many nightclubs, dance parties and life is in full swing. In addition, this old City located between the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.

Knossos palace on video

Working hours

Daily

• From June to October: 8:00 - 19:00
• From November to May: 8:00 - 15:00
• Saturday opening hours from 9.00 to 15.00

What is the price

• for adults - 6 euros
• preferential 3 euro
• children under 3 free of charge

Every first Sunday of the month, tickets are free for everyone.

How to get there

The easiest way to get there is from the city of Heraklion.

• From the main bus station every 30 minutes there is a bus to the ruins.
• You can take a bus stop near the Lion Fountain.
• If you come with your car, don't worry about parking. Near the archaeological complex it is free

Address: Knossos Palace, Heraklion 71000

Knossos Palace on the map

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Knossos Palace in Crete was built around 1700 BC. The greatest architect of antiquity, Daedalus, built this amazing palace for King Minos. Exists ancient legend that Knossos Palace - Labyrinth with many twists and turns. In this Labyrinth, King Minos hid the secret of his wife, the Minotaur. But did the Labyrinth really exist? This was confirmed by the English archaeologist Arthur Evans.

In the 70s of the last century, the scientist arrived on the island of Crete. He hoped to find here information about the mysterious hieroglyphic writing, which he saw in the Oxford Museum on seals that allegedly originated from Sparta. Evans expected to stay on the island for no more than a week. But walking in the vicinity of Heraklion, his attention was attracted by the hill of Kefal. This hill was remarkably similar to sand-covered ruins. ancient city. A few days later, Evans received information that a Cretan merchant on his site, which adjoined the hill, found the ruins of unusual buildings and suspiciously large pots. For the archaeologist, this was enough to start excavations.

For almost 30 years, work continued on the site of the Kefal hill. But from under a pile of construction debris, scientists did not free the city, as it was supposed at first, but only one building, which, however, was not inferior in area to the whole city. This was the palace of Knossos. Together with the palace, Evans discovered the great ancient culture. He decided to name it "Minoan". Since then, the people who lived in Knossos are called Minoans.

After painstaking reconstruction, archaeologists managed to restore the appearance of the Knossos Palace. Around a spacious stone-paved courtyard measuring 50 by 50 meters, a wide variety of structures were bizarrely located. Sometimes they were lined up different levels. Separate floors rested on columns and were interconnected by monumental staircases and long corridors, sometimes going below ground level. A huge number of items made of precious metals, the rich decoration of some rooms, highly artistic wall paintings, frescoes - all this was evidence that the palace was the seat of the rulers of Knossos and all of Crete. Hundreds of rooms served as quarters for the king and queen, dignitaries and court ladies, servants and slaves. Hundreds of halls were intended for solemn receptions. Treasuries and spacious workshops of artisans were also located here.

Apparently, this monumental structure was built for more than one century. The place for its construction, frankly speaking, was not chosen very well. The main part of the palace fell into the zone of an active geological fault in the earth's crust and therefore was destroyed more than once by earthquakes. But each time a new one was built on the site of the old palace. large sizes. In the final version, he appeared before the rulers of Knossos, approximately, in 1700 BC. e. The palace of Knossos by that time occupied an area of ​​about 16 thousand square meters.

The architecture of the palace is chaotic and unsystematic. Some of the rooms are carved right into the mountainside. The free-standing rooms are constructed of mud bricks and attached to the main building with timber frames. The architects of Crete, unlike the ancient Greeks, did not master the art of symmetry. That is why they inserted many architectural details where they saw fit, even contrary to the laws of harmony. But on the other hand, they had no equal in terms of the technology of erecting buildings. To insure buildings against earthquakes, the Minoan builders were the first to erect elastic walls, alternating stone with wooden liners.

The main attraction of the Palace of Knossos is the blood-red columns, which are called “irrational” in art history. They did not expand downwards, as in the buildings of other ancient peoples, but on the contrary, they narrowed. Each such column was topped with a capital in the form of a round roller. It had a square slab that supported the wooden ceiling. The columns of Knossos were not like plant prototypes, as, for example, in architecture ancient egypt and Persia, where they took the form of papyrus or lotus stems stretching upwards. The Cretan masters did not imitate nature and exposed the essence of the column as just a support.

Other interesting feature Palace of Knossos - huge stairs. They were built from large stone blocks and look very modern. The central staircase that leads to the private living areas has a drainage channel. It collects sewage from stone gutters that run throughout the palace. In addition, archaeologists discovered an extensive sewer network under the floors of the rooms, consisting of clay pipes of small and large diameters. Through one pipe came to the palace drinking water, which was stored in special tanks, bathrooms and pools were filled from others, and others were used to remove waste from latrines.

Another interesting feature of the Knossos Palace is the lack of windows. They were successfully replaced by the so-called light wells - large openings in the ceiling. Sometimes they were located one under the other in all the ceilings. Light passed through the openings up to the first floor. This created a different degree of illumination of the rooms. Also, light wells served as a kind of "air conditioner", as they provided natural ventilation of the premises. The heating of the building in winter was carried out with the help of special portable stoves.
The western part of the Knossos Palace was the administrative and ceremonial center. Historians suggest that the three stone mines located here were used in religious ceremonies, when, along with offerings (mostly wine, honey, butter and milk), the bones and blood of sacrificial animals were returned to the land from which they emerged.

The greatest luxury in the western wing was distinguished by the Throne Room. True, it could accommodate no more than 16 people. The high-backed gypsum throne still stands in this hall to this day. This is the oldest throne in Europe.
There were separate rooms for royal family. Government chambers consisted of bright rooms, which were decorated with wall paintings. Frescoes were painted on wet plaster with paints. The masters of antiquity usually depicted plants or ritual actions. But most often there is a pattern in the form of a traveling wave or zigzags. This pattern was mainly covered with irrational columns. In general, movement and movement is a hallmark of Cretan art: there are no frozen poses; people's faces are diverse, which suggests the idea of ​​portraiture; the color range is very extensive - orange, blue, turquoise, but mostly deep red in combination with black trim.

Among the wall paintings of the Palace of Knossos, images of elegant ladies in exquisite dresses, with painted lips and intricate hairstyles are very common. They have very thin waists, pomegranate or blue dresses with puffy crinolines, open bodices, well-groomed bare arms, intricate hairdos entwined with pearls, thin hooked noses and small mouths with a frozen coquettish half-smile. Researchers called them "court ladies", "Parisians", "ladies in blue". These names suit them, of course, but most likely these ladies were priestesses.

In Greece, on the island of Crete, we went on package tour, because at that time it turned out to be much cheaper independent travel. We stopped in the city of Hersonissos (Greek: Χερσόνησος). Before the trip, we set ourselves a goal: not to use the services of travel agencies, but to try to plan and visit local attractions on our own. And the most famous, on the island of Crete, is the Palace of Knossos. It is quite easy to visit the Palace of Knossos on the island of Crete on your own. We found out that the Palace of Knossos is located near the city of Heraklion (Greek: Ηράκλειο), the capital of the island of Crete. It turned out that buses run from Hersonissos to Heraklion. And in general on Crete between cities is very well developed bus service. And we must pay tribute to their work, buses run almost exactly on time, the schedule of routes can be viewed at any stop.

Travel from Hersonissos to Heraklion costs 3 euros per person one way. We did not pay for our daughter, as we took it in our arms, but if there were free places, she occupied one place and no one was indignant. Each bus has a conductor, but this is by no means an aunt with a bag, as we are used to seeing in our country. They are mostly young people, dressed in uniform, with mobile cash registers. In total, the journey takes about forty minutes. Need to get to end point bus - Heraklion bus station. From the same bus station there are buses to the Palace of Knossos, the fare is 1.5 euros one way per person. Ticket offices for buying tickets to Knossos and the buses themselves stand separately on the left side if you look at main entrance bus station. The journey takes no more than 30 minutes. Be prepared for what awaits you at the entrance to the Palace of Knossos big queue, but it's moving pretty fast.

Entrance costs 6 euros per person (they didn’t require a ticket for my daughter).

And now a little life hack. To make it interesting to see the ruins of the Knossos Palace, you need to know the history of this place, and for this, join a Russian-speaking group of tourists with a guide, and you will learn many interesting things. historical facts. What we actually did 🙂 And if you know English or Greek well enough, then these things will help you.

Be sure to take it with you sunscreen and a headdress, the sun is scorching mercilessly.

These are "pithoi", clay barrels in which the ancient Greeks stored food. They were collected from found shards.

Excavations are still ongoing.

Found pieces of frescoes are being restored and painted, fragments of the originals are visible in the photo.

This is the queue in front of the entrance to the labyrinth of the legendary Minotaur. We honestly defended it, hoping to see something unusual, we thought we would go down into the labyrinth. But alas and ah!

We only saw this...

As a child, I enjoyed reading the book "Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece." Something remained in the memory, but still it was necessary to refresh the information before the trip. Anyway, I came to the conclusion that if you go to watch historical monuments, you should read about them first. And somehow the meaning of visiting such places is lost.

On the way back from the Palace of Knossos, ask the driver or local passengers to suggest a stop closer to Heraklion's other attraction - the gypsy market. There you can eat mini kebabs for 0.5 euros and buy some clothes from the 80s for a few euro cents.

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2. Hotellook is a service for finding and booking accommodation from the creators of Aviasales.
3. Airbnb - booking and renting apartments, rooms, houses local residents. Tested on myself, everything is honest, we recommend. When booking through our link, you will receive a bonus of 2100 rubles, which you can use when paying for housing. To do this, you will need to create your AirBnB account.

Service-aggregator for car rental in local rental companies. You choose a car as if at a local rental, but through a service, booking by bank card, from which only 15% of the cost is removed. MyRentacar is the guarantor. You can choose not only the class of the car, but also a specific car, accurate to the color of the body and the type of radio. But most importantly, the prices on this service are the same as if you yourself came to a local rental company!