Minoan palace, malia

Knossos Palace on Crete stands on a par with the greatest creations of mankind - Egyptian pyramids, the Roman forum, .This magnificent creation of the ancient inhabitants of the island is the main attraction of Crete. And if you are in Crete, be sure to go to Knossos.

The city of Knossos is a 20-minute drive from Heraklion, and city bus number 2 goes there.

The bus stop is located near the city bus station. When you exit the bus station, you need to turn right and after 50 m there will be a bus stop going to Knossos. If in doubt, ask the local Knossos, they will wave you in the right direction.

Bus stop number 2 on the map

Near the bus stop is a kiosk that sells tickets. A ticket from Heraklion to Knossos costs 1.5 euros. Buy right there and back. You can buy from the driver, the ticket in this case will cost 2.40 euros.

The bus makes several stops in Heraklion. The Palace of Knossos is the final one.

A lot of people go there, so it’s immediately clear where to go from the bus stop.

For those who travel to Knossos in a rented car, there is free parking near the museum.

Knossos Palace opening hours and ticket prices

Opening hours of the archaeological complex: from 8:00 to 19:00 June to October and 8:00 to 15:00- from November to May.

Entrance ticket to the palace costs 15 euro(for beneficiaries - 8). If you take complex ticket for 16 euros, then you can also go through it in Archaeological Museum Heraklion, which must also be visited - without a museum, the impression of the Knossos Palace (and especially Minoan civilization) will not be complete.

We were lucky - we went to Knossos and Heraklion on the last Sunday of September, on the day cultural heritage when admission to all museums is free. So a visit to the Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion did not cost us a cent. You will be in Crete at the end of September - use this opportunity.

Excursions to the Palace of Knossos

Excursions to the Palace of Knossos are very popular. They are offered by both local travel agencies and tour operators that provide an influx of package tourists to the island of Crete. Usually such excursions also include the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion and a short walk around Heraklion.

The operator Teztur excursion to the Palace of Knossos from Rethymnon cost 64 €. These 64€ included lunch and guided tours in the palace and museum.

Railway and bus tickets in Europe and If you want to be notified when new stories appear on the site, you can subscribe.

One of the four most important Minoan palaces discovered on the island of Crete just about 3 km east of popular resort Malia. Despite the fact that the Mali Palace is perhaps the most easily accessible palace, we did not visit it in the first place. In addition, the Cretan siesta intervened in our plans, which is why we had about 45 minutes left to explore a very large and interesting archaeological site.

On the other hand, a great reason to come back, and more than once. After all archaeological research here continue to this day and there is absolutely no doubt that many new discoveries lie ahead.

Mali Palace. History repeats itself...

Approximately 37 km east of Heraklion, there is an archaeological area that holds a lot of secrets and mysteries. In 1915 Joseph Hadzidakis began one of the most important excavations on the territory of Malia, which was then continued by the French Archaeological School. By the way, excavations are being carried out to this day. And who knows what other discoveries they have in store for us...

The most significant find in Malia, of course, was the Minoan palace, in which, according to legend, Sarpedon, the brother of Minos and Rhadamanthus, the son of Zeus and Europe, reigned. The palace at Malia was less luxurious than the palaces at Phaistos and Knossos. He had no theater, and the premises may not have been decorated with frescoes. However, it is unlikely that he played a less significant role in the life of the Minoans. Moreover, most likely locals did not experience threats from outside. Otherwise, how else can one explain the choice of terrain for the construction of the palace and the city that was located around it - a low, flat area, and even next to the sea?

The city itself has existed here since the Neolithic era, as evidenced by the fragments of vessels of those times found around the palace.

Here, fragments of the city dating back to the old palace era were discovered.

The most interesting among them is the "Agora", located a little north of the palace, a workshop in which seals were made and the Royal Necropolis in the town of Chrysolakkos. By the way, the name of the city is still unknown.

But what about Malia? Malia- this is the name of a modern village, most likely not related to the name of the old city. According to one of the assumptions, the name Malia comes from the word Ομαλή (Omali), which in Greek means smooth (smooth), obviously indicating the nature of the local area.

Let's return to the history of the palace. And his fate in a strange way repeats the fate of Knossos and Phaistos palaces. The first palace in Malia was built around 1900. BC. and was reduced to ruins by a devastating earthquake around 1700 BC. Almost immediately, a new palace was erected in its place, the ruins of which we now have the opportunity to observe. The new palace in Malia lasted until 1450 BC, after which it was destroyed as a result of a mysterious catastrophe that led to the disappearance of the Minoan civilization. Unfortunately, as I said, the Mali Palace separates tragic fate other Minoan palaces of Crete. And archaeologists again manage to find only the ruins of the palace.

However, turning off the Heraklion - Agios Nikolaos highway, you already understand that the local area is saturated with history and many mysteries that have yet to be unraveled. On the territory of the palace it is quiet and calm, and only cicadas, every now and then, blow up the air with their singing. Time is silent here, but still, the veil of secrecy is a little ajar. I propose to take a walk with us in the XV century. BC...

Palace in Malia. How we saw it...

1. West Court.
The first thing we see when we get to the archaeological territory of Malia is the large Western Courtyard, through which, as in other palaces, the Processional Roads that protrude slightly above the general level of the courtyard pass.

2. Vaults (Round Cellars).
Adjacent to the southwestern part of the Western Court are the Circular Vaults, sunken into the ground. Most likely, the granaries of the Palace were located here. In the middle of each of the 8 cellars was a square column, on which the semicircular roof of the vault once rested.

3. West Entrance.
It is assumed that the oblong corridor leading from the West Court to the rooms of the West Wing of the Palace was none other than the West Entrance. On both sides of the West Entrance, most likely there were Storage Rooms (3a)

4. Reception with a Multi-Aisle.
To the north of the Western Entrance there is a hall with a multi-door. There are several opinions about this place. According to one of them, this was the reception room of the palace. According to another version, the Royal Chambers were located in this place. And finally, the swords with golden handles found here suggest that weapons workshops or warehouses could be located in this part of the palace. What can I say ... Minoan palaces are full unsolved mysteries... However, no less mysteries are hidden in the premises located south of the Reception Room (4a). According to some versions, the Queen's Megaron was located here. The ivory items found in the next room indicate that, perhaps, workshops were also located in these rooms.

Personal notes. If we draw parallels with the Palace in Phaistos, then the Royal Chambers were located there in the same part of the palace and were adjacent to the treasuries. Therefore, perhaps, after all, these were the Megarons of the King and Queen.

Through the Western Entrance we pass deep into the premises and find ourselves in ...

5. Columnar (Pillar) Crypt.
The sacred character of these premises is indicated by the columns on which the sacred signs in the form of double axes, a star and a trident are carved.

To the north of these rooms is a staircase, more than 3 meters wide, which led to the upper floor of the palace in Malia.

6. Loggia.
To the north of the stairs, at some elevation above the level of the Central Court, there was a room in which, among other valuables, the famous royal scepter in the form of a panther, dating from 1650 BC, was found. Perhaps there was a treasure chest here. Perhaps the Throne Room or the Loggia, with its open side oriented towards the Central Courtyard. Unfortunately, this is another mystery of the Minoan palace in Malia...

7. Big Staircase and Kernos.
In the southern part of the western wing there is the "Great Staircase" 8 meters wide, next to which the famous Kernos was discovered - a large stone vessel used in ritual ceremonies. The Malian Kernos contained 35 recesses: one large in the middle and 34 small ones arranged in a circle.

And what was the purpose of such a wide staircase? And there are several assumptions about this. According to one of them, the Sanctuary was located in this part of the palace. Who knows, it is quite possible that the staircase was not a staircase at all, but, for example, was intended for sitting ... but, after all, these are all assumptions ...

8. South Entrance.
Between the western and southern wings is the slab-paved South Entrance leading directly to the Central Courtyard...

9. Central Yard.
The peculiar center of the Palace in Malia was the Central Courtyard with an altar located almost in the middle of the courtyard. The eastern and northern wings of the Palace featured spectacular porticos with columns and pilasters facing the Central Court.

10. East Entrance The Malian Palace was located between the South and East Wings.

11. Warehouses.
Finds made in the East Wing indicate that there was a whole complex of warehouses here. Moreover, even those insignificant remains of the palace in Malia that we can see in our time tell us that great attention was paid to the storage of goods in this palace. For example, the floor of the warehouses was equipped with gutters, which, most likely, were part of a perfect system for draining liquids spilled from pithoi and discharged into special containers in the floor.

12. Hypostyle hall.
Here was Big hall with six columns. The entrance to the hall was carried out from the Central Courtyard through a small room, the former, apparently, an entrance hall with one column. From the Hypostyle Hall a staircase went up to the upper floor, into a room facing the Central Courtyard.

For us, this is another mystery... After all, according to some archaeologists, the Crypt was located here. But, if we draw an analogy with the Knossos Palace, in which, by the way, the Hypostyle Hall was also located north of the Central Court, then we can assume that there was a room of a completely different nature...

13. Inclined (curved) structure.
Leaving the Central Courtyard along the road leading to the Northern Courtyard, we run into a room built at an angle relative to the lines of the remaining walls. The building consisted of two rooms, one of which, apparently, was an entrance hall. According to speculation, the Leaning Building was nothing more than a Mycenaean Sanctuary. But, unfortunately, this is just another guess...

14. paved with slabs Northern Yard, which was surrounded by premises, mainly of an economic nature. In the eastern part of the courtyard, presumably, the Pottery Workshop (14a) was located. And in the northern part, the courtyard borders on the Northern Storerooms and Workshops (14b). In fairly good condition, giant pithoi as tall as a human have been preserved here. But not only the size of pithoi attracts attention. Look how they were decorated.

15. North Entrance.
We left the Mali Palace through the Northern Entrance, to which a paved road leads from the west.

On it we went to the unique excavations taking place outside the palace...

Here we managed to visit a place that appears on the map as Crypt.

I do not know what was the reason, but the passage to the famous quarter M and to the adjoining excavations that day was closed. Quite possibly, the reason was trivial - time was inexorably approaching the closing of the archaeological site for a siesta.

Afterword...
In general, the Palace in Malia made no less impression on us than, say, Knossos. Perhaps the Malian Palace was more provincial and simple, but how much it, along with other palaces of the island of Crete, keeps in itself mysteries and unsolved puzzles left over from the great Minoan civilization...

Reference Information:

1. Where is located? The Mali Palace is located in the north of Crete, 40 km east of the city of Crete. Heraklion, 26 km northwest of Agios Nikolaos and 16 km east of Hersonissos .
2. Palace in Malia: DD 35.293019, 25.492903. DMS 35°17"34.9"N 25°29"34.5"E.
3. How to get there? The Palace in Malia can be reached by rented car, taxi and guided tour.

How to get there by car. The easiest way to get to the palace is by moving from Heraklion along national road towards the town of Agios Nikolaos. In the area of ​​Stalida or Malia, you need to exit onto Old Road and continue through the village of Malia to the east of the island. After Malia, after about 3 km, under the sign with the inscription THE MINOAN PALACE AND CITY OF MALIA (maybe the inscription is slightly different, I don’t remember exactly), you need to turn left towards the coast. Near the palace there is quite spacious parking for cars.

4. What to see in the area? 20 km to the west is Aquapark(DD 35.288413, 25.365864. DMS 35°17"18.3"N 25°21"57.1"E). 11 km to the southwest is a traditional Mohos village where Cretan Evenings are held (DD 35.263081, 25.423377. DMS 35°15"47.1"N 25°25"24.2"E). 8.5 km northwest of Malia is

• Location:
  north of the island, Lassition region, distance from Agios Nikolaos 26 km.
• Coordinates:
  35.292467, 25.491903, 35°17’32.9″N 25°29’30.9″E
• Parking:
  there
• Trip story —
• Peculiarities:
  • most Grand Palace in Crete, however, not the best preserved.
  • excavations are underway.
  • a large number of people in the morning.

The excavations of the Palace of Malia and the surrounding area, which began in 1915 by Joseph Chatsidakis, revealed part of its western wing and tombs along the coast, and were continued from 1921 by the French Archaeological School in Athens. According to legend, Sarpedon, the son of Zeus and Europa, the younger brother of Minos, reigned in Malia.
Occupying an area of ​​7500 square meters, the palace is the third largest among the palaces of the Minoan period. The Minoan name of the palace is unknown, modern name given from the name of the city of Malia.

The palace complex was originally built in 1900 BC. on the site where the earlier buildings were located; it was destroyed in 1700 BC along with other palatial centers of the time. Excavations throughout the region have unearthed objects from the early and middle Minoan period, as well as the remains of more ancient palace. The palace was rebuilt around 1650 BC. on the same site, with the same dimensions and for the same master plan, which was later destroyed once and for all in 1450 BC.
The Palace of Malia had a very thoughtful spatial organization. Built around the Central Courtyard, it has specific sectors and spaces in each wing with specific and conspicuous functionality. Most of the ruins visible today belong to the Neoplatic complex; part of the first palace was discovered on its northwestern side.

The largest and most important part of the palace is the two-story west wing, which includes spaces of a religious nature such as the "Loggia" and "Pillar Crypt", halls for receptions and large events, and extensive storage areas. A large staircase led to the upper floor, where the living quarters for visitors were to be located. Another large staircase to the southwest of the Central Court, which may also have served as a theater space, is located next to the famous Malia Cannonballs, a ritual vessel with a series of shallow depressions arranged in a circle. In general, many features of Minoan architecture as a whole are found throughout the palace: central courtyard with an altar, royal chambers, lustral pools and "light wells" (courtyards with columns that provided natural light). The double pilasters in the temple in the left wing of the palace are decorated with the image of a double ax - the sacred symbol of the Minoan civilization.

Official rooms were placed in the northern and northwestern parts of the palace complex. Reception halls, ritual and banqueting halls have been identified here. The south wing, which was also bipolar, had rooms for residents and guests, a small sanctuary, and a monumental paved south entrance to the palace. The hypostyle hall, with six internal columns, which supported the banquet hall on the top floor, is located in the north wing behind the counter of the Central Court.
The east wing was almost entirely taken over by liquid storage facilities, with a system of canals and water collectors. In the southwestern corner of the palace complex are eight circular structures arranged in two rows of the same size, most likely used for grain storage (granaries).
The Minoan city, one of the most important in Crete, extended around the palace for large area. Of the districts and individual residences that have been found to date, the most important is the quarter (district) M. Quartier. This area with with total area more than 3000 square meters belongs to the Protopalatial period and is the largest, best preserved and most important complex of this period in Crete. Its structures were built around 1800 BC. and destroyed by fire around 1700 BC, at the same time as the first palaces and other areas of the city. In Buildings A and B, which are much larger than normal living spaces, spaces comparable to palace buildings have been identified: living rooms, religious premises, official halls, pantries. These big buildings were surrounded by seven smaller buildings, five of which have been identified as artisan workshops and houses, including potters, bronze workers, and a seal engraver.
Another structure to the southwest and a short distance from Malia Palace was the so-called Sanctuary of the Horns (1800-1700 BC), a semi-underground complex with various spaces, the most important of which were on the northeast side. Its entrance was marked by large consecrated plaster horns.
The cemetery of Chrysolakkos - "Golden Pit", 500 m north of the palace, was a tomb with small rectangular spaces that served as burial chambers. In one of them was found a bee pendant - the most famous artifact of Malia.

The history of Crete - the largest of Greek islands, is divided into several periods, the most significant of which is the Minoan. During the heyday of the Minoan civilization, economic relations were established with other regions of the Mediterranean, a powerful flotilla was formed, large palace complexes were built - centers of the emerging statehood.

The palaces of Crete were not only the residence of the rulers and their families, but also the centers of the economic, political, cultural and religious life of the settlements. The layout of the palaces of Crete is identical - the central courtyard, halls for receptions and feasts, living quarters, workshops, large pantries for storing valuables and supplies.

The layout of the palaces is identical - the central courtyard, halls for receptions and feasts, living quarters, workshops and large storerooms.

During its existence, the palaces in Crete were destroyed several times and rebuilt again. The largest crash occurred around 1500 BC. as a result of a volcanic eruption on, which led to the emergence of a powerful tsunami.

Knossos

Knossos Palace of Crete, located in the vicinity of Heraklion, significantly surpassed other palaces in size and luxury decoration.

The grandiose palace complex occupied an area of ​​about 16 thousand square meters, on which living quarters, many halls and galleries, a throne room, halls for receptions, feasts and solemn ceremonies, pottery, blacksmith, jewelry workshops, storage rooms were randomly located. In its central part, it reached a height of three floors.

Knossos was both the residence of kings and the seat of religious figures, and administrative center

The Cretan Knossos was at the same time the residence of the kings, and the place of residence of religious figures, and the administrative center. In that palace complex Crete produced and stored tools, weapons, handicrafts, food supplies, trade and barter operations were also carried out here.

As Grekoblog already wrote in the article, the complex acquired its current appearance thanks to large-scale restoration work carried out at the beginning of the last century by archaeologist Arthur Evans.

Evans directed both archaeological excavations, and the reconstruction of the complex in Crete, thanks to which today everyone can touch history at least a little and imagine how the Cretans lived many thousands of years ago.

To visit the Palace of Knossos with an organized Russian-speaking tour, you can contact Victoria - a guide in Crete, about which Grekoblog. IN summer time Excursions are held regularly, but it is better to sign up for them in advance - there are a lot of people who want to.

Fest

The Phaistos Palace of Crete is the second largest after Knossos. Historians suggest that in the Minoan period, Phaistos was a little less important than Knossos, because it was Phaistos that lay in the way of ambassadors and merchants from Egypt.

The complex at Phaistos was built on top of a hill around 1900 BC.

The first palace in Phaistos was built on top of a hill around 1900 BC, this grand building It was destroyed as a result of an earthquake and rebuilt again already in the new palace period. But the new palace did not survive to our time, around 1500 BC. there was another natural disaster that almost completely destroyed the buildings.

Excavations at Phaistos in Crete were carried out at the beginning of the 20th century by Italian archaeologists, who discovered both the ruins of the new and the remains of the first Phaistos palace.

These excavations brought unique finds to the world - a lot of pottery, clay tablets with inscriptions, as well as the famous Phaistos disc with an inscription that has not yet been deciphered.

The famous Phaistos disk with an inscription, over the decoding of which scientists are still “breaking their heads”

Today, at the site of excavations in Festa, one can see massive stone stairs, powerful columns and pillars, spacious stone courtyards, ruins of the walls of the old and new palaces, pottery workshops, royal chambers. In essence, the architecture of Phaistos is in many ways similar to Knossos, only, unfortunately, no one has been involved in its restoration.

Palace in Malia, Crete

The Malian palace on Crete was much more modest than that of Knossos or Phaistos, but its fate was no less tragic. Built in the 1900s BC, it was destroyed by an earthquake. A new palace was erected in its place, the ruins of which tourists can see now.

The ruins of the complex are located three kilometers away and occupy an area of ​​​​about 7500 square meters - this is the third largest Minoan palace in Crete.

Excavations in Malia began in 1915 and continue to this day, the work is carried out by employees of the French Archaeological School.

Built in the 1900s BC, the Mali Palace was destroyed by an earthquake

The center of the palace is a large courtyard, paved with stone slabs and lined with pillars and columns, adjacent to it are front doors and storage rooms, as well as a hypostyle hall with rows of massive square pillars. The location of the entrances to the Mali Palace of Crete from the four cardinal directions is clearly traced.

During the excavations, archaeologists discovered a royal scepter in the form of a panther, swords with golden handles, ivory items, and huge clay pithoi, on which the handprints of the masters remained, on the site of the former pottery workshops.

The mysterious Kernos was also found here - stone circle with recesses, which was probably used for sacrifices.

Zakros

The ruins of the palace of Zakros were discovered in the eastern part of Crete, near the village of Kato Zakros. This is the smallest of the Minoan palaces of Crete, built in the new palace period, when new palaces were built on the site of the destroyed Knossos, Phaistos and Malia palaces.

Excavations in Zakros were carried out at the beginning of the last century by the British Archaeological School, whose work was continued by Greek archaeologists, who discovered the complex in 1961. Through Zakros passed the eastern trade route, thanks to which some traditions of the East penetrated here.

IN modern resort town located Minoan palace, the name of which was already invented by our contemporaries and it developed according to the name of the closest locality- Malia. The reason for this unusual phenomenon served as an absolute impossibility to determine its true - original - name. The palace in Malia is located on the seashore - this is another of its features. A beach runs from it to the shore, and nearby is a bay in which the remains of the port have been preserved.

According to one of the legends, it was in this palace that one of the sons of Zeus and Europe lived, who reigned in ancient times Sarpedon. Second building: the first building of the palace (1900 BC) stood in the same place before it, which was destroyed by an earthquake 2 centuries after construction. The remains of the Minoan palace are the result of its destruction simultaneously with the complete disappearance of the entire Minoan civilization.

In addition to the palace itself, the city also has fragments of the old city, which was built by representatives of that civilization long before it was built.

How to get to the Minoan Palace

To have enough time to explore this attraction, you need to book a hotel in Malia. It is worth noting that in the direction of the Minoan Palace there is no organized excursions so you have to get there yourself. To see the palace, you need to go heading from Malia towards the sea coast, and overcome 3 km. Personal transport can be left at the equipped parking lot located next to the palace itself. Malia herself spread over north side islands of Crete. Neighboring cities are Hersonissos and Agios Nikolaos. Near the city are long sandy sea ​​beaches surrounded by olive groves.

There are not many people in the ruins and this is positive side no group tours. Everything can be seen slowly and no one will interfere.

Minoan Palace on the map of Malia

In the modern resort town there is the Minoan Palace, the name of which was already invented by our contemporaries and it was formed by the name of the nearest settlement - Malia. The reason for this unusual phenomenon was the absolute impossibility of determining its true - original - name. The palace in Malia is located on the seashore - this is another of its features..." />