Knossos

Lore & Background

Knossos lies on Kephala hill in the valley of the Kairatos river. The first palace was built around 1900 BC and functioned as an administrative, economic, religious and ceremonial centre. The site is dominated by the monumental Palace of Minos. Knossos is closely associated with Greek myths of Minos, Pasiphaë, Ariadne, Theseus, Daedalus, Icarus and the Minotaur. In later Greek tradition, the complex plan of the palace was remembered as the Labyrinth. After about 1450 BC, Knossos became an important Mycenaean administrative centre, as evidenced by Linear B tablets recording an early form of Greek.

Reader's Guide

Knossos is significant as the largest and best-known centre of the Minoan civilisation, widely regarded as the earliest advanced civilisation in Europe. Its long occupation from the Neolithic period into the first millennium AD, combined with its central role in Minoan culture, supports its claim as the oldest city in Europe. The site's mythological associations with the Labyrinth and the Minotaur have given it enduring cultural importance.

Did You Know?

• Knossos is often described as the oldest city in Europe, based on its early Neolithic foundation and long continuity of occupation.
• Linear B tablets discovered at Knossos record an early form of Greek and provide evidence for Mycenaean administrative control.