Knossos Palace where. Knossos Palace on Crete. Frescoes of the Minoan civilization

Crete is located in the center Eastern Mediterranean, due to its geographical position, connected Europe, Asia and Africa. It was here that the ancient sea routes crossed. And therefore it was the main center before the Greek culture.

This was proved by the English archaeologist Arthur Evans, who from 1898 for almost 30 years, carried out archaeological excavations on the northern coast of the island, near modern Heraklion. Here he found the remains of a palace - the residence of the supreme rulers of the early slave-owning state in the city of Knossos.

And it was no less important sensational discovery than the found tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen. According to Evans, this palace belonged to the legendary powerful king of Crete - Minos, whose state was 1000 years older Ancient Greece.

According to ancient folk tales, King Minos founded (in addition to Knossos) the cities of Festus and Kedonia. Under his reign, Crete achieved maritime dominance in the Mediterranean, the dawn of Cretan culture and education, the introduction of the first legislation in Crete.

And Evans proposed to call the Cretan culture "Minoan" - after the name of King Minos. It was a highly developed culture Bronze Age in 3-2 millennia BC e. In his monumental work The Palace of Minos at Knossos, which was published from 1921 to 1935, Evans divided the history of development Ancient Crete for three periods:

• Early Minoan (3000-220 BC);
• Middle Minoan (2200-1600);
• Late Minoan (1600-1100).

The dawn of the Minoan culture falls on the Middle Minoan period (17th century BC). It was at this time that the Palace at Knossos was built.

The main aspects of the architecture of the Minoan culture

The architecture of this era is characterized by the following compositional techniques and main elements

1. A peculiar layout of the interior of the palace.
2. High level of amenities.
3. Creation of a type of two-column portico in "ants".
4. The rooms are plastered and decorated with frescoes, carved reliefs depicting games and harvest scenes.
5. Creation of the foundations of landscape architecture.
6. Development of new earthquake-resistant structures:

• columns mounted on a pedestal expand upwards, have a wide capital and a large, square abacus;
• ceilings are made of round beams;
• a wooden frame made of bundles and filled with mud and stone blocks.

All this was used in the construction of the palace at Knossos.

Construction of the Palace at Knossos

This amazing labyrinth palace was built by a talented architect, sculptor and artist of that time, Daedalus. He was also an outstanding inventor. He is credited with the creation of a planer, a drill, a plumb line, the invention of a sail for ships. In Greece, many considered him creatures wooden sculptures and wooden buildings.

The architectural wonder of the world, the Palace of Knossos, was located on a low plateau. This huge complex with a dungeon and with a complex intricate plan. Its total area was, according to one source, 16,000 m2; for others - 20,000 m2.

The center of the palace was a large, rectangular, so-called central courtyard. Its size is 50x28 m, hundreds of premises for various purposes, courtyards, a theater were located around. One-story complexes alternated with two-three-story ones, and were interconnected by numerous staircases, intricate corridors, and passages. But all this was united into a single whole and the building picturesquely fit into the surrounding landscape.

Complex in plan, the chaotic arrangement of rooms, with many doors, light shafts, countless turns, corridors leading to small courtyards with a colonnade, really resembled a labyrinth. And, apparently, served as a source for the creation of the myth of the labyrinth.

The inner chambers of the palace could be entered through two main entrances. One - from the South-West, had a portico with one column in the middle. The other is from the North of the central courtyard. According to the frescoes found, this entrance was decorated with 536 life-size figures. Apparently, they were participants in the festive procession.

The central courtyard divided the palace into Western and Eastern parts. In its turn, Western part The palace was separated by a long corridor. On one side were narrow storerooms. In them, in huge clay amphoras (pithoi), and in stone boxes, food was stored. And these are: grains, olive oil, dates, beans, wines. The height of the pithoi reached two meters, their capacity was up to 185 liters.

According to Evans' calculations, they could store up to 475,000 liters of products, including 80,000 liters of wine. All this would be enough to feed a city with a population of 100,000 people.

On the other side of the corridor, to the second floor, there was a large staircase with a column. To the south of it was the palace sanctuary. This can be assumed from the various cult objects found here and large square pillars, which were decorated with the symbol of a double ax.

To the north of the stairs was the majestic throne room - one of the famous attractions of the Knossos Palace.

A portico with three pillars led to it. And from it - a door with a column in the center, directly to the "throne room". In the center of the northern wall of the throne room, there was the Royal Throne with a wave-shaped back and a recess for sitting. This is where the kings sat. The legend even preserved their names - Minos with the brothers Sarpedon and Rhadamanth.

Light entered the throne room through a light shaft. Bright red stripes were applied to its walls. That is, part of the flat roof and ceiling, which was supported by columns, was removed. Thus, a span was created through which the hall was illuminated. Often, such a span passed through several floors. Since it was arranged near the internal staircase connecting the floors.

Under this flight, in the floor of the throne room, they found a square depression. Several steps led up to it. Until now, it has not been clarified how this throne room served Minos. It is assumed that it was intended for ceremonial receptions, and a square recess in the floor - as a pool for ritual sacred rites.

From the northwest, a wide staircase adjoined the Knossos Palace, connecting all three floors. It led to a large, spectacular platform - the oldest theater in Europe. Evans's colleagues called this arena "the court entertainment theater". She was surrounded by rows of spectator seats. Rising, they formed an amphitheater and accommodated about 500 spectators. This is where the king's bed was located.

The entire arena was cemented, with sidewalks slanting across it. Apparently, various kinds of processions were moving along it. This is where the bull games took place.

On the eastern side of the palace from the central courtyard were technical rooms. They were located:

• a complex and perfect plumbing system for supplying drinking water to the palace;
• sewer system - drainage channels - stone gutters with a special device for cleaning;
• ventilation systems;
• great bathrooms.

It should be noted that such systems of water supply and sewerage were not known to the inhabitants of Greece, even during the period of the highest dawn of their culture in the 5th century BC. e.

There were also workshops of sculptors and potters. In one of the rooms there was an installation for the production of olive oil. The special rooms in this part of the palace, in terms of size and significance, included the “hall of the double ax”. It was named so according to the symbolic signs found here on the walls and pillars. This hall consisted of three spatial elements:

• an outdoor portico on columns overlooking an open terrace;
• main room;
• vestibule with two doors and two columns overlooking the light shaft.

From the vestibule of this hall, a narrow corridor led to the queen's quarters, the so-called "queen's megaron". The chambers got this name because of the closed, one might say intimate nature. Since they had neither an exit nor an open view of the surrounding landscape. But on both sides, the chambers were surrounded by light shafts.

There were two doors in the western wall of the "Queen's Megaron": one led to the bathroom, the other to the bedroom. Here, on a square gypsum platform, stood a bed. From the bedroom the door led to the toilet room, which has all the conveniences of modern technology.

Underground rooms were found in the southern part of the Knossos Palace. They contained food storage, palace bedrooms, and bathrooms. Here, in hiding places, the treasures of the king and his family were kept. And this:

• swords decorated with elegant inlay;
• men's belts studded with precious stones;
• gold reserves.

As well as women's jewelry: necklaces, bracelets, tiaras, rings, earrings.

The construction of underground rooms is explained by the fact that the ancient architects noticed that such rooms were the least destroyed even during very strong earthquakes. They were quite frequent in this region.

The walls of the palace were made of hollow bricks and plastered. The flat roofs supported the columns.

Decorations of the Palace of Knossos

The walls of the rooms and the interior of the palace were decorated with frescoes, reliefs, ornamental paintings. The walls of some rooms (including the throne room) were decorated with a kind of alabaster frieze. It consisted of a continuous alternation of vertical and horizontal elements. Vertical - decorated with spirals; horizontal - consisted of two halves touching circles filled with images of palm leaves.

Some scholars believed that this frieze resembled the so-called "triglyph-like" frieze of a Doric temple with triglyphs and metopes. But, the alabaster frieze did not perform any constructive functions. It did not have a permanent place on the wall. It could be seen both at the top and at the bottom of the wall. Therefore, to see in it the prototype of the Doric triglyph by scientists is a mistake.

Ornamental painting made in yellow, red, blue colors adorned the lower parts of the walls of the queen's megaron. The ornament in the form of an endless ribbon resembled either the contours of clouds or the stormy streams of water jets. And moving from one wall to another, as if denying the presence of corners, it creates the impression of an endless space in all directions.

The queen's Megaron was also decorated with frescoes, where he was depicted seascape with fish and dolphins.

The supreme deity and object of worship, Fr. Crete was a bull god. Therefore, the themes of many frescoes that adorned the walls, ceilings of the rooms and interiors of the palace are associated with the image of a bull and bull horns.

Frescoes of the Palace of Knossos were also found depicting a group of animatedly talking, elegantly dressed, with skillful hairstyles, women. Perhaps among them was Ariadne. Apparently, being in the amphitheater, they watched what was happening in the theater arena. They admired the acrobats, who either skillfully performed somersaults on a racing bull, or deftly jumped over the backs of angry animals.

A fresco depicting the king was also found. Long hair is visible from under the crown; on the hands - massive expensive bracelets; on the neck - jewelry made of precious stones.

The reliable support, protection and support of the king of Crete was the army. Images of Cretan warriors were also found on the frescoes. They were reliably protected by a shield in the shape of a figure eight. And the offensive weapon of the warrior was the spear.

Arthur Evans was struck by the beauty of stone vessels, golden vases, fragments of magnificent furniture, metal lamps, statuettes of gods found in the ruins of the Knossos Palace in Crete. The stone vessels depicted fights with bulls, processions of warriors, and fisticuffs.

On two gold vases there is a relief image of wild bulls catching among plants (apparently, the action took place in the forest). A round vase was also found, where an octopus is depicted with burning eyes.

Its tentacles cover the entire surface of the vase. And between them - corals and algae. And thus, the illusion of the marine environment is created.

All this, found during archaeological excavations, testifies to the former wealth and luxury of the mysterious labyrinth palace.

Features of the columns of the Palace of Knossos

Archaeological excavations confirm that one of the structural elements of the Palace of Knossos were columns. And they served as an internal support. That is, they supported either the ceiling next to the light shafts, or the marches of countless multi-story stairs.

The columns are atectonical, that is, they are, as it were, turned upside down. This is their shape, it is due to the fact that they were made of wood and installed with the rhizome up. It was on him that it was convenient to lay the floor beams. And, in addition, in the wide upper part, the bond and fastening are stronger.

The peculiar capital of the column was made in the form of a double shaft. And, apparently, it served to secure the fabric awning (curtain stretched between the columns). Some frescoes show that the capitals had light, original decorations on the sides. And, therefore, they were taken as a symbol of a double ax.

Another interesting detail. Columns tapering downwards were never installed at the corners of the palace. Since they are completely unsuitable for such an arrangement in the building. The columns were mounted on flat ring stone bases. This protected the wooden trunk from rotting.

Archaeological excavations have found many such round stone bases and charred remains of wooden columns. In addition, it was determined that the columns were white, the pilasters were blue, the bases and capitals were decorated with red stripes.

It is believed that the columns of the palace were of two types. One type is a twisted column intertwined with an ornament of spiral convex vertical flutes. Its wooden trunk is, as it were, entwined with plant stems. Another type is a ribbed column.

According to archaeologists, it was the use of columns that made it possible to visually increase the size of the numerous rooms of the palace.

Myths about the Palace of Knossos

About this amazing mysterious building and about the legendary personalities, somehow connected with him, the authors of antiquity composed myths, tales and legends. Many of them have survived to this day.

The myth of Minos and the Minotaur shows the fierce struggle of the oppressed peoples against the oppressors for their independence. Since for centuries Crete, as a powerful sea ​​power, controlled the entire Eastern Mediterranean. And Athens was completely dependent on Crete.

The myth of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur reflects the fierce struggle against the forces of evil (the Minotaur) for the freedom of the individual. In ancient beliefs, the minotaur monster was the personification of dark forces in the heavenly underworld and sea worlds.

The legend has also been preserved that, allegedly, Theseus took part in the Marathon battle (490 BC). In military armor (with a spear, shield, helmet), he led the battle formation of the Greeks. And the Greeks won a brilliant victory over the Persians. But in reality, according to historians, Theseus is a collective image of a hero-warrior. In fact, such a person never existed in life.

The myth of Minos and the Minotaur.

The legendary King Minos, according to Greek legends, was the son of the supreme God Zeus, and the beautiful daughter of the Phoenician king - Europe. One day, Zeus saw young Europe among the girls on the seashore. He turned into a huge beautiful bull with golden, curved horns and hair shining in the sun.

He approached the girls, and Europe, jokingly, sat on the back of a wonderful bull. Immediately the bull jumped up and rushed into the sea, and, like a dolphin, quickly, together with Europe, swam to the island of Crete.

Europa became the wife of Zeus, and since then has never left the island. Years passed, Minos became the King of Crete, married the daughter of the Sun - Pasiphae. One day, Minos, boasting to the sailors, declared that the God of the sea - Neptune, would fulfill his every desire. And he asked Neptune to send him a bull, which he would certainly sacrifice.

When a beautiful white bull came out of the sea, Minos sent him to his herd, and sacrificed another bull. Neptune could not forgive such a deception, and asked Venus to take revenge on Minos. Venus made Pasephae fall madly in love with a beautiful sea bull. From this connection, Pasefai had a monster son, incredibly fierce and strong, with the head of a bull and the body of a man. They called him the Minotaur, and he only ate human flesh.

Minos demanded that Athens, which at that time was completely dependent on Crete, pay a terrible tribute. Every nine years, Athens had to send seven boys and seven girls from the best Athenian families to Crete to feed the minotaur. The Athenians paid such a terrible tribute to Crete because it was in Athens that the marathon bull killed the son of Minos, Androgeus, at the competitions.

To hide this monster, Minos decided to build a labyrinth palace from which it would be difficult to get out. To do this, he invited a well-known architect at that time, who lived in Athens - Daedalus.

The myth of Daedalus and Icarus

The famous architect, sculptor and inventor, according to the Athenians, was the son of the King of Athens, Erechtheus. Daedalus' sister, Perdika, had a son Tal, whom Daedalus taught all the wisdom of his craft. The boy was much more talented than his teacher. He invented the potter's wheel and the saw. Envying his nephew, and realizing that he could surpass him in skill, Daedalus decided to kill him.

Once, when they were standing alone, at the very edge of the high Athenian Acropolis, and there was no one around, Daedalus pushed him down. Falling from a great height, Tal crashed to his death. Hastily descending from the Acropolis, Daedalus decided to secretly bury Tal. But when he was digging a grave, the Athenians saw him. For this murder, Daedalus was sentenced to death. Therefore, he gladly accepted the invitation of Minos and fled to about. Crete.

Daedalus created many masterpieces of art for Minos. In particular, he designed and built, at the request of Minos, the labyrinth palace at Knossos.

Daedalus lived in Crete for many years. His son, Icarus, was also born here (Icarus's mother is a slave of Minos - Navcrates). Minos did not want to let Daedalus leave Crete. He wanted to use his art alone. And when Minos found out that Daedalus helped Theseus safely get out of the labyrinth, after killing the minotaur, he, along with Icarus, was thrown into Prison.

It was simply impossible to escape from this prison, since it was located on a small sea reef. And all around was the sea. Watching the flight of birds, the inventive Daedalus realized that the only way to leave the island was by air. Having collected the wings of birds, he fastened them with linen threads and filled them with wax. Made four of them. large wing, giving them, like birds, a curved shape.

When the wings were ready, Daedalus decided to test them. Putting them on, he ascended into the sky. And Icarus watched with delight as his father, like a huge bird, soared in the air. Everything was ready to run. Daedalus warned his son not to get close to the sun. For its rays will scorch the wings. It is also impossible to fly low over the sea, as sea salt spray can also damage the wings.

Putting on wings, Daedalus and Icarus climbed the tower and flew into the sky. At first, Icarus obediently followed his father. They safely flew over the islands of Samos Delos and Paros. But suddenly Icarus, carried away by flight, forgetting about his father's warning, flapping his wings, flew high into the sky. The sun instantly scorched his wings, the wax melted, and Icarus fell into the sea from a terrible height.

For a long time Daedalus called his beloved son, until he saw his body thrown ashore, and feathers on sea ​​waves Oh. Since then, in honor of the deceased Icarus, the sea began to be called Ikarian (this is part Aegean Sea between the islands of Paros, Samas, and the coast of Asia Minor).

Daedalus sank ashore, in deep sorrow buried his young son. Continuing the flight, he landed safely in Sicily. And the King of Sicily, Kokal, invited Daedalus to his palace.

When Minos learned that Daedalus was in Sicily, he went there with a large army and demanded that Daedalus be handed over. But, the daughters of King Kokal wanted this artist to stay with them. They persuaded their father to invite and receive Minos in the palace as a guest. And when Minos took a bath, they poured boiling water over his head.

Minos died in terrible agony, and Daedalus lived in Sicily for a long time, then returned to his homeland in Athens. And he became the ancestor of the dynasty of Athenian artists - the Daedalides.

The myth of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur

Theseus was born in Troezen. It was the city of his mother Ephra. Shortly after the birth of his son, his father, the king of Athens, urgently needed to return to Athens. But leaving, he hid his sword and sandals under a huge rock. And he said to Ephra, when the son can push back the rock, he should take the sword and sandals and come to Athens. So Aegeus will be able to recognize his son.

Until the age of 16, Theseus was brought up in the house of his grandfather, King Trezin Pitfey. He surrounded his grandson with care, love, attention. By this time, no one could compare with Theseus in strength, dexterity, and possession of weapons.

He was a tall, slender and handsome young man with a clear look, beautiful eyes, and dark curls. His young muscular body spoke of mighty strength. Ephra led Theseus to a rock where the sword and sandals of Aegeus were hidden. Theseus easily moved the stone block, took the things left there and went to Athens.

At this time, a feast was going on in the palace. Theseus took out his sword from its scabbard, and the King of Athens, seeing his sword and sandals on the feet of a stranger, recognized and joyfully greeted his son.

As the saying goes, "not at a good hour" Theseus came to Athens. It was at this time that ambassadors from Crete arrived to once again receive tribute. The next 7 boys and 7 girls for the minotaur monster. The ship under black sails was already ready to sail as a token of deep sorrow for the young victims. And Theseus decided to go with them to kill this monster and forever free Athens from this cruel tribute.

Theseus turned to the goddess Aphrodite for help and, having sacrificed to her, went to Crete. The ship arrived safely on the island. When the doomed boys and girls were brought to Minos, he immediately drew attention to the slender, beautiful young man - it was Theseus. The king's daughter, the beautiful Ariadne, also noticed him. And the Goddess Aphrodite kindled love for Theseus in her heart. And Areadna decided to save Theseus.

She turned to Daedalus with a question about how Theseus could be saved. And Daedalus gave her a ball of thread, and Ariadne, secretly from her father, took a sharp sword. She gave Theseus a ball of thread and a sword, and he promised her that after defeating the minotaur and returning from the labyrinth, they would get married.

When Theseus and the captives were taken to the labyrinths of the Palace of Knossos, at the entrance he tied the tip of a ball of thread and went along the endless, intricate corridors and passages of the palace, gradually unwinding the ball. Finally, he approached the room where the sleepy growl of the minotaur could be heard. The enraged minotaur attacked Theseus, a fierce struggle ensued.

Several times the minotaur pounced on Theseus, but a sharp sword stopped him. Finally, having contrived, Theseus grabbed the Minotaur by the horn and plunged a sharp sword into his chest. Having killed the monster, Theseus, along the thread of the ball, safely exited the labyrinth along with young men and girls (hence the expression "Areadna's thread"). At the entrance, Ariadne was waiting for them and joyfully greeted them.

Now it was necessary to escape as quickly as possible, from the wrath of Minos. Theseus quickly equipped his ship, and the bottom of all the ships of the Cretans was broken so that they could not pursue them. And all the way with Areadna went to Athens. But, unexpectedly, a strong storm began at sea and Theseus' ship was forced to moor at the island of Naxos.

The tired travelers fell asleep, in a dream Theseus saw the God of winemaking Dionysus, and informed him that by the decision of the Gods, Areadne should become his (Dionysus') wife. And, therefore, she needs to stay on this island. Theseus woke up, he could not go against the will of the Gods, and, saddened by the loss of his beloved Areadna, quickly got ready to go. Theseus completely forgot to change the black sails to white ones, and his father, Aegeus, was waiting for his son on a high rock by the sea.

Seeing the black sails, and deciding that his son was dead, he threw himself into the sea and the sea waves swallowed him up. Since then, the sea began to be called the Aegean. With great honors, Theseus buried his father. And after the funeral he became the ruler of Athens. But for a long time he mourned the death of his father, blaming himself for his departure from life.

Conclusion

Myths of antiquity ... What is the deep meaning hidden in them? And the legend is closely intertwined with reality. The myth of Daedalus and Icarus expresses, firstly, the desire for freedom. For many years, the King of Crete did not allow the talented Daedalus to leave the island with his son. And, secondly, since ancient times, the desire of man to rise into the sky and fly over the earth, like birds.

As for the Minoan culture. She caused an irreparable, irreparable loss in 1470 BC. e. earthquake. It was caused by an incredibly strong volcanic eruption on about. Santorini, located in the Aegean Sea.

At the same time, part of the land sank, which caused a strong tsunami, and all the islands of the Eastern Mediterranean (including the island of Crete), which were located within a radius of 200 km from Centarina, were covered with ejected volcanic ash. Fires started. Minoan culture fell into complete decline, and the center of civilization moved to mainland Greece (Mycenae and Tiryns). The era of Mycenaean culture began.

And most importantly ... During the Archaeological excavations of the palace in Knossos, Evans found a mysterious stone seal. Strange images were carved on stone tablets: the head of a wolf, a bird, a ram's head, the mistress of beasts with two lions, and others.

It was a pictorial letter of the ancient inhabitants of Crete. According to the nature of the writing, Evans divided them into two groups: Cretan Linear A; Cretan-linear writing B. Apparently, they contain the secret of a little-known, almost unexplored culture of Antiquity - the Minoan culture. But neither Evans, nor to date, has been able to decipher this letter.

This was perhaps the only failure of the archaeologist. Success has always accompanied him. In 1909 Arthur Evans became the chair of archeology at Oxford University. In 1916 he was elected President of the British Academy of Sciences. 1936 - was awarded the Copley medal by the Royal Society. In June 1941 he died, and a month before that, in June 1941, German paratroopers captured Crete.

During the bombing, on fire, the museum where the exhibits of the Cretan Palace were kept was destroyed. But the courtyard at Knossos was already known to the world. And information has been preserved that the architect Daedalus built this fabulous labyrinth palace in ancient times, and the archaeologist Evans restored it from oblivion, describing in his work “The Palace of Minos at Knossos”.

At present, the former labyrinth palace is just a local cave, the length of which is 3 km.

: 35°17′52″ s. sh. 25°09′49″ in. d. /  35.297778° N sh. 25.163611° E d.(G) 35.297778 , 25.163611

Ruins of the Palace of Knossos

Fresco "Parisian", priestess of the deity, XV century BC. e.

Story

The first palace of Knossos was built c. 1700-1400 BC e. on the remains of what was here earlier from 2000 BC. e. neolithic settlement. This palace was destroyed c. 1700 BC and another was built in its place. Period 1700-1450 BC e. - the time of the highest flowering of the Minoan civilization and especially Knossos. Around 1600 BC e. severe damage was caused by the earthquake. However, the necessary restoration work was soon carried out, and at the same time other magnificent structures were built on the same territory. A new catastrophe - most likely the result of a volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini - occurred ca. 1450 BC e. Then followed the invasion of the Achaeans, and some time later the Palace was completely destroyed during a military conflict, when the Dorians took possession of Crete. The territory of the palace was no longer inhabited, but Knossos continued to be a significant city-state until the first Byzantine period. In the era of Roman rule, Knossos recedes into the background, and during the Venetian rule, it falls into complete desolation.

Almost all the ruins that have survived to this day belong to the period after 1600 BC. e., the so-called new palace period. Systematic excavations of the area began from 1900 by the English archaeologist Arthur Evans.

Links

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See what the "Palace of Knossos" is in other dictionaries:

- (from the "prince's yard" the dwelling of the prince) a monumental front building. Initially, the residence of only the ruler, later representatives of the upper strata of society (see also the Castle, Palazzo); in the 13th-15th centuries. D. also began to call the most important buildings ... ...

The ten most significant archaeological finds in the world- Rosetta stone - a monument of epigraphic culture (196 BC). It is a stone (granodiorite) with a decree of the Egyptian king Ptolemy V, written in Egyptian hieroglyphs, in demotic writing (one of the forms of Egyptian ... Encyclopedia of Newsmakers

It existed in the II millennium BC, with its center on the island of Crete. First great civilization on European soil, forerunner of culture ancient Greece. Crete is located in the Mediterranean Sea, 100 km south of mainland Greece. It is narrow, ... ... Collier Encyclopedia

Ancient Crete- Early Minoan period (XXX XXII centuries BC) Crete is a narrow island located almost at an equal distance from Europe, Asia and Africa. The island, 2.50 long and 12 to 57 km wide, is divided by isthmuses into three parts: eastern, ... ... The World History. Encyclopedia

- (Greek labýr inthos), an architectural structure with a complex and intricate plan. The term was used by ancient historians Herodotus (5th century BC) and Strabo (1st century AD). The etymology of the word "labyrinth" itself (probably of pre-Greek origin) ... Art Encyclopedia

ANCIENT GREECE- the territory in the south of the Balkan Peninsula (see also the articles Antiquity, Greece). The history of DG covers the period from the beginning. II millennium BC at the beginning. I millennium AD Geography and ethnography Phaistos disk. 17th century BC (Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, ... ... Orthodox Encyclopedia

This term has other meanings, see Crete (meanings). Crete Κρήτη ... Wikipedia

This term has other meanings, see Knossos (meanings). The fragments of the Knossos Palace recreated by Evans from the ruins Knossos (Greek ... Wikipedia

Heraklion city Ηράκλειο ... Wikipedia

Paintings and ornaments painted directly on plastered walls, ceilings or on canvas, paper and other materials attached to various surfaces architectural structures. S. p., which are performed ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Books

• 100 Greatest Palaces You Must See by Tatyana Leonidovna Sheremetyeva. This publication contains information not only about the palaces, complexes and ensembles that are on everyone's lips - Buckingham Palace, palace complex Louvre, Winter Palace, White House,…

We went to Greece on the island of Crete on a package tour, since at that moment 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, in Crete between cities, bus service is very well developed. 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.

Services that we use in our independent travels:

Finding and booking accommodation

1. - a world-famous search engine where you can find and book accommodation from guesthouses to luxury villas. Have used many times and highly recommend.
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 it were, at a local rental, but through a service, booking with a bank card, from which only 15% of the cost is charged. 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!

Legends say that the Cretan king Minos was so cruel and arrogant that the gods sent him a monster son as punishment. This monster was the fruit of a no less monstrous sin committed by the wife of Minos, Pasiphae. She was distinguished by unheard-of voluptuousness. Knowing this, the god of the seas, Poseidon, sent a snow-white bull to Pasiphae, from which she gave birth to the Minotaur, a man with a bull's head, who ate human flesh.

The Minotaur lived in a huge palace - the Labyrinth, built in Crete by the famous architect Daedalus, with countless corridors, so intricately tangled that not a single mortal, once in the palace, could no longer get out and died in the mouth of the Minotaur. Every nine years, the inhabitants of the overseas lands, subject to Minos, sent seven young men and seven girls as a sacrifice to the Minotaur.
The brave hero Teeeei, the son of the Athenian king Aegeus, killed the Minotaur and, having accomplished this feat, safely got out of the labyrinth along a ball of thread, which was given to him by the enamored beauty Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos...
There are countless works of art created on these subjects and in ancient world and during the Renaissance. The names of their heroes to this day remain common nouns. And perhaps these legends were destined to remain legends, if one day the forty-year-old curator of the Oxford Museum, Arthur John Evans, did not come to Crete. Then, in 1900, he did not know that years would pass, and he would become a world-famous scientist, an honorary and full member of various academies and societies, whose name would not leave the pages of newspapers and magazines for many years. It was he, Arthur Evans, who received the title of sir from the English king for his exceptional services to science, and was destined to discover one of the greatest civilizations of antiquity, called Crete-Minoan.

On March 23, 1900, Evans began excavations. He himself later said that he did not hope for major discoveries. All. however, things were different. Evans and his assistants had to make sure of this in the coming days. Literally a few hours later, outlines appeared in the excavation ancient building. Two weeks later, Evans stood amazed in front of the remains of buildings that covered an area of ​​two and a half hectares ...
Years passed, and there was no end to the work. forty years in different places islands in the north south coast, in the east - Evans dug, for he believed, and so much so that he declared it publicly, that the building he discovered was nothing more than the ruins of the legendary Labyrinth.
Evans is said to have been asked why he did not hesitate to declare that he discovered the Palace of the Minotaur, although there have not yet been any reliable facts confirming the correctness of his words. Evans replied, "I believed in Ariadne's thread of history—the myths." It was objected to him: “But they are too beautiful to seem true?” Then Evans said: “Any most beautiful pattern on a carpet is embroidered with ordinary thread, twisted from sheep's wool. That's what they say in Crete. I forgot about fantastic patterns and saw a thread twisted from facts ... "

Now, after seventy years, we can repeat these words again. The legends did not deceive Evans. He not only found a huge palace, the size of which could bring to life the legends of the Labyrinth, he found the palace. where the Minotaur lived.
... Mysterious building, there seemed to be no end. More and more walls grew out of the ground, forming bizarre passages, a complex system of rooms, halls, courtyards, light wells, storerooms, and it was impossible to predict what the next stroke of the shovel would open. Years passed, thousands and thousands of square meters of the palace were already unearthed, and the ruins of more and more new buildings rose from the ground.
Now in any work devoted to the history of Crete, one can see a detailed plan of this "Palace of Minos", compiled as a result of the excavations of Evans, his students and colleagues. 16 thousand sq. m was its area. It had many halls, outbuildings, pantries, connected by endless stairs, corridors, passages ... Around the central courtyard - a huge rectangle measuring 60 x 30 m - there were buildings with walls made of hollow bricks and flat roofs, which were supported by rows of columns. -western side. A wide covered stone staircase led up to it. The chambers, corridors and halls were arranged in such a bizarre order, and provided the visitor with so many opportunities to get lost and confused, that anyone who got into the palace had to involuntarily come up with the idea of ​​\u200b\u200ba labyrinth. It should have appeared even for someone who had never heard the legend of the pair of Minos and the labyrinth built by Daedalus - the prototype of all future labyrinths.

At first glance, the plan of the Knossos courtyard strikes with architectural chaos - it would seem so unsystematic. its countless rooms, halls, passages, courtyards are clinging to each other. But at the heart of this chaos created for almost thirteen centuries was a single plan, which was followed from generation to generation by all Cretan architects. It was the most complex, finely thought-out architectural and artistic composition, which set itself the goal of conveying in architecture the concept of the infinity of time.
For more than a millennium, the Labyrinth was built - as long as the Cretan-Minoan civilization existed. Masters each time had to link new structures with each other. connect them with existing ones. The corridors and passages of the Knossos palace are curved, their perspective cannot be captured by a glance from one place - it opens only in motion. There are no usual palace enfilades - rooms and halls strung on a single axis. The premises of the Labyrinth, as it were, go behind each other, and every time more and more new spaces suddenly open up to the eye. And the palace itself was not a single volume. Unlike the palaces of Babylon and Assyria, fenced off by walls and standing so that a person could capture them with a single glance, the Labyrinth was a direct continuation of the intricacies of the crooked streets of the city, it could not be perceived as a whole at once.

Because of the scorching heat, windows were not made in many rooms of the palace. Instead, an ingenious system of light wells was arranged - sources of indirect illumination, which should be considered among the wonders of antiquity. With the first rays of dawn, the palace chambers were flooded with light, but coolness reigned in all the rooms of the palace, even on the hottest days. Air penetrated into them through special ventilation devices, and an extensive and well-organized underground drainage system removed rain and domestic wastewater. Pipes laid with a certain slope entered one another and were fastened with cement. The system was so thoughtfully arranged that almost anywhere it could, if necessary, be easily and quickly repaired.
The fact that in the architecture of the Palace of Knossos everything is subordinated to the desire to make everyday life as comfortable as possible is evidenced by revolving double doors, and magnificent rooms for ablutions, drainage channels, countless workshops and storerooms ... And everywhere - white walls, dark sparkling columns, tapering downward , and nothing bulky, pressing.

... When the workers unearthed a small room in which a recess three meters long and two meters wide was arranged, to which eight steps led down, Evans decided that a bathroom had been discovered. But there was another room nearby, approximately 4 x 6 m in size. On three sides in this room, stone benches stood near the walls, a door was made in the fourth wall - the western one, and near the north-facing wall, archaeologists saw something completely unexpected: a tall alabaster the throne is the background of the ancient ruler of Crete! Now there was no doubt: they were in the very center of the palace - in the throne room of King Minos.
The throne rested on the stems of some plants carved from stone, tied into a knot and forming an arc. It was very comfortable: the seat exactly followed the shape of the human body. A high back with images of sea waves is firmly attached to the wall. The wall of the throne room was decorated with images of two lying griffins. Their paws are extended forward, their heads are proudly raised. Three brownish-black gleaming columns, tapering downwards, separated the throne room from the room in which the bath stood. Red dominated in its decoration.

Evans subsequently restored the Throne Room. He had to cover it and many other rooms with a roof to protect precious relics from rain. In such a partially restored form, the Knossos Palace now appears before travelers. Not a palace-fortress, but simply a palace - with all the splendor associated with this concept. Around it are high mountains with sparkling snow on their peaks, flowering plains, green olive groves under a blue sky. And behind them - the warm sea, which the ships of the Cretan king plow ... The capital of Minos should have seemed like a pearl, set in the blue of the sky, to the sailors approaching the island. Its bluish-white walls and columns seemed to radiate a luster of luxury and wealth.
The main decoration of the palace chambers was painting. The walls of the halls were covered with magnificent frescoes, the colors of which remained so bright and fresh after millennia that it seemed that they were applied only yesterday. "Even our workers felt them magical charm". Evans wrote. In comparison with the art of Egypt and Mesopotamia, this painting reveals a completely new, exciting world to us.

In the painting of Knossos, a riotous sparkle of colors dominated. The dwelling of the Cretan kings was intended to serve not only as a monastery - it was supposed to please the eye. The cult of earthly joy reigned here, freeing a person from fear of fate and the mysterious forces of nature, the deification of beauty, in which is justification, the highest meaning of life. By this the ancient Cretan anticipated the ancient Greek.
The first among the peoples whose artistic creativity has come down to us, the Cretans joyfully admired the visible world - with admiration, with a passionate desire to capture earthly beauty. The Cretan civilization did not know wars. The glorification of military leaders and victors is absolutely alien to the art of Crete; there are no scenes of bloody battles and strings of captives. The main and only theme is a peaceful, civilized life. The frescoes depicted young men gathering crocuses in the meadows and filling vases with them, and girls among lilies. These people are quite European in appearance. Men, however, were usually depicted with reddish-brown skin, and women with milky white. They dance in sumptuous gardens, feast with silver goblets and golden chalices in their hands, and talk animatedly while sitting in relaxed poses on garden benches. There is a truly French charm in their eyes and facial expressions. "Parisian" Arthur Evans called one of the images of a young woman, discovered in the Palace of Knossos. It seems incredible that these people lived several millennia ago.

Another favorite theme of Cretan artists is the sea. Captivating images of flying fish, dolphins, fish - motifs taken from the world sea ​​depths. These motifs are very common both in painting and in the remarkable Cretan ceramics, as, for example, in the famous Octopus Vase. Everyday contemplation of the sea, the sea as a source of the main earthly blessings - everything connected with the sea element is reflected in the content and style of Cretan art, whether it is a fresco or a painted ceramic vessel.
Among the numerous frescoes, sculptures, reliefs depicting courteous conversations of graceful women with pampered men, wild animals and birds, marine flora and fauna, one image meets with amazing constancy - the image of a bull. The bull was depicted on sculptures and frescoes, on vessels, rings and in small plastic, on items made of ivory and clay, gold, silver and bronze. Vessels for religious libations were made in the form of bull heads, and altars were decorated with bull horns.
Bull, bull, bull everywhere. Bull in myths. Bull in artwork. Bull on the frescoes of the Palace of Knossos. Is this not evidence that in Crete at some period of its history the ancient cult of the bull-ploughman, which became the prototype of the Minotaur, was widespread? Or, perhaps, on the contrary, from the legend of the Minotaur, leading into a very distant past, does the trace lead to these images of bulls?

Sir Arthur Evans died in 1941 at the age of ninety, having earned the gratitude of mankind for the remarkable discovery of a great civilization, unparalleled in its significance. ancient footprints This civilization can be traced back to the turn of IV-III millennium BC. The Cretan state stood on a par with such colossi of the Ancient World as the Egyptian, Hittite and Babylonian kingdoms. Crete experienced its golden age between 1600 and 1400 BC. His wealth and power were ensured by his undivided dominance at sea. Steady and strong Cretan ships plowed the Mediterranean Sea from end to end.
It would seem that nothing at that time could even shake the power of Crete. But around 1400 B.C. a catastrophe occurs - mysterious, still not fully explained. The end of the Cretan kingdom was unexpected and instant...
In 1939, the Greek archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos suggested that the main reason for the decline and death Minoan civilization became a rare, gigantic natural disaster. Most likely, it was the explosion of the Santorini volcano, located 100 km north of Crete. As a result, a significant part of the Aegean archipelago suffered. A powerful tsunami caused by the explosion of the volcano destroyed the Cretan fleet. And then hordes of foreign conquerors - the Achaean Greeks - moved to the weakened country from the mainland. Most likely, it was they who dealt the final blow to the Cretan culture...

Palaces and sculptures, frescoes and decorations, all the brilliant material culture created by the Cretan-Minoan civilization, twice played a huge role in shaping European and world culture and art.
For the first time - during its heyday, when it became the beginning, the basis of much of what is still dear to all of us, transferring its knowledge and art to the ancient Greek, Hellenic civilization that came to replace it.
The second time - when archaeologists brought to light the traces of this culture buried for centuries and, it seemed, forever forgotten, when humanity "not remembering kinship" was suddenly shocked by the high perfection of the newly discovered ancient culture and seemed to begin to recall its blood connection with it, then calling " Parisians" captivating Cretan women depicted on the walls of the Palace of Knossos, then comparing all the labyrinths of the world with the Labyrinth of the Minotaur.
Was Crete the legendary Atlantis? What the mysterious people inhabited the island, what language did he speak? What gods did you worship? Alas, all this is shrouded in mystery. But regardless of this mystery and whether the Cretans were or were not related by blood to the Greeks, the monuments of Cretan art bring us irrefutable evidence from the depths of centuries that Crete was the cradle of ancient Greek, and therefore of all European civilization. In any case, we do not know of another cradle, even earlier.

What was, has become a legend. And it remains for her, because wise legends, in which cruelty is powerless before love, which gives birth to courage, remain with people forever - for they contain the truth born of History.

Probably, there is no such person who has not heard about the famous labyrinth of the Minotaur and the majestic Palace of Knossos! But it's one thing to read history books, and another to see it all in reality. Therefore, it was not in vain that we chose the route "" - "Knossos Palace" for our first excursion in Crete.

How to get to Knossos Palace

The palace is located in the city of the same name, a few kilometers from Heraklion. Therefore, there are many options for how to get there. This and public transport, and taxis, and hundreds excursion tours. But we chose independent travel in a rented car.

Next to the palace is a large free parking. It was barely full when we arrived, but perhaps during peak tourist season, parking can be difficult.

To get to the territory of the palace, you need to return to the main road and go along it a little further. Not everyone can get their bearings the first time, but it’s good that the locals will show you the direction without any problems.

Ticket office and cafe at the entrance to the palace

Immediately at the entrance there are ticket offices where you can buy tickets and book excursions. There were no tours in Russian. So, if you want a tour, then you need to take a tour somewhere in the agency.

Ticket price for the Palace of Knossos— 15 euros. And for 16 euros you will be given a ticket to the palace and museum. We, not immediately understanding, took just such an option. But it is only important to remember that the museum is located in Heraklion. You can use this ticket for the next three days, after which it "burns out".

History of the Minoan Civilization

The Minoan civilization was very highly developed, far ahead of its time. For example, back in the 2000s BC. Minoan palaces had running water and sewerage. Such goods appeared in Europe only in the Middle Ages. There is still debate about its origin, but it is believed that the Minoans are descendants of the ancient Sumerians.

The Minoan civilization itself was built around the so-called palaces. These were not the palaces that we are used to seeing at a later time, but were complex complexes that combined many functions.

The name of the Minoan civilization was in honor of the legendary king Minos, who is believed to have owned a palace with a famous labyrinth. This civilization was discovered only in the 19th century by the British archaeologist Arthur Evans. Before that, nothing was known about this civilization, since during the time of Turkish domination it was extremely difficult to excavate.

The palace that we can now observe is the second one. The first one was destroyed during a strong earthquake around 1700 BC. And the new one, built on the same place, marked the beginning of the “new palace” period, and lasted until about 1400 BC. During this period, the Minoan civilization is strongly influenced by other cultures and begins to decline. Also, around 1500-1600 BC. On the island of Santorini there was a strong volcanic eruption, covering all the nearby islands with ash. Previously, it was believed that this was the cause of the death of the Minoans. But the latest excavation evidence suggests that civilization lasted at least another hundred years after that. Therefore, the exact reasons for the final destruction of the palaces have not yet been found.

Tour of the Palace of Knossos

The main feature of the Knossos Palace, which causes a lot of controversy and criticism, is that some of the buildings were restored by archaeologist Arthur Evans in order to show the real appearance of various rooms. Adherents of the purity of history believe that this should not be done. But for tourists, in my opinion, it is much more interesting to observe the structures in reality than to try to imagine how it all looked 4 thousand years ago.

south house

The South House is the code name for one of the partially restored structures. Presumably, it was the residence of the priest.

southern propylaea

The southern propylaea are part of the cult premises used for various ceremonies. Here is the famous fresco "Rhyton Bearer" - a young man holding a conical vessel for libations. Of course, all this is a reconstruction.

Southern borders of the palace, "Horns of Initiation"

If you go a little south, you can admire the buildings called the southern borders of the palace. And in the distance, to the left of the white column, you can see the sacred horns, which also still raise many questions.

Throne room

You can't enter the throne room. It is closed for restoration work. But it is quite possible to look from the side.

And of course, you can’t pass by, probably, the most famous and recognizable picture that adorns many books and guides - the famous Knossos bull!

Another famous fresco is the Prince with Lilies. Like many others, this is a reproduction. The restored original is in the archaeological museum of Heraklion.