This Minoan Palace contains the oldest throne room in Europe

Photo: Stock Images from IULIIA_N / Shutterstock

On the island of Crete lie the ruins of an ancient palace. Now part of modern Greece, Crete was once the center of the Aegean civilization known as the Minoans. Known for their elaborate palaces and beautiful frescoes, the Minoans were powerful players in the eastern Mediterranean during the Bronze Age, with trade links with the Old Kingdom, Egypt, and Mesopotamian civilizations. The Minoans are generally described as the first complex civilization in Europe. Nowhere is the glory of Minoan culture on display as in Knossos – a royal palace near the port of Heraklion in Crete.

The Minoan civilization flourished from about 3000 BC to about 1500 BC, and eventually came under the rule of late Mycenaean Greece from the Bronze Age. The first palace in Knossos was built around 2000 BC. It was later destroyed in an earthquake around 1720 BC. The reconstructed palace is what remains today – a complex of rooms with frescoes, magnificent columns, and winding stairs. The palace served as the administrative and ceremonial seat of the Minoan realms.

The palace was built to accommodate a large number of residents. Storage in the basement allows for storing wheat, oil, and treasures. Craftsmen worked in neighboring neighborhoods to meet the needs of the residents. Drains, pipes, and paved roads brought convenience of fresh water and ease of travel to the rest of Crete. Minoans also had a writing system (developed from a hieroglyphic script into one known as Linear A) and inscriptions can be found across the Minoan culture.

The throne room of Knossos features frescoed walls. (Photo: ANTON CHYGAREV / Shutterstock)

As a royal seat, the palace at Knossos had an impressive throne room – believed to be the oldest intact throne room in Europe. The king sat on a throne made of gypsum stone that is still on display today at the site. The room also contains a stone bowl that may have been used in religious rituals. The frescoes along the walls of the room depict the griffin. Although the throne room may have been used by the ruler, it may also be purely ceremonial with the throne dedicated to the presence of a god or goddess.

The 1,300-room palace has many frescoes and painted columns. Many of them have been restored in recent decades. A famous dolphin mural is evidence of the importance of the coastal palace’s marine life. Another mural depicts a scene believed to be intended to “jump on a bull”. The acrobats were literally jumping bulls – defying danger – in what may have been part of a religious ritual centered around cows.

Famous dolphin mural. (Photo: GEORGIOS TSICHLIS / Shutterstock)

Bull jump scene shown in a fresco (restored). (Photo: PECOLD / Shutterstock)

Knossos Palace was destroyed by fire – likely caused by earthquakes or the Mycenaean invasions – after 1400 BC. The ruins were discovered thousands of years later in 1878 by Minos Kalukyrinos. The site was later excavated by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans in the early decades of the 20th century.

Today, Knossos can be visited by travelers and history buffs. Along with other Minoan palaces, Knossos is currently on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The site is easily visited from Heraklion, Crete – a beautiful place known for its blue beaches and ancient wonders. Anytime you visit Crete, be sure to explore Knossos and learn more about one of Europe’s greatest ancient civilizations.

See more displays and photos from ancient Knossos – a royal palace in Crete.

Artist’s reconstruction of the Palace of Knossos. (Photo: Mmoyaq via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

North portico of Knossos. (Photo: Bernard Gagnon via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Bronze Age Palace sewers. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

Royal Road of Knossos in Crete, Greece. (Photo: Harrieta171 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

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