Table of Contents
Who built the labyrinth in Knossos?
architect Daedalus
Minos then had the architect Daedalus create a labyrinth which would hold the monster. Seven young Athenian men & maidens were sent to Crete every year & then released into the labyrinth to be eaten by the Minotaur.
Who is responsible for the excavation of the palace of Knossos?
If there is one site that you should see while on the island of Crete, it’s the archaeological site of Knossos. German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann dreamt of it and a local, Minos Kalokairinos, a Cretan merchant and antiquarian, conducted the first dig.
Did the Minoans built the Knossos?
Built on a largely artificial hill, it was the most impressive of the Minoan palaces. It was the administrative center of Minoan Knossos. According to Greek mythology, the famous architect Daedalus designed the palace with such complexity that none of those who entered could find the way out.
What is the Knossos famous for?
Knossos is known for being Europe’s oldest city and is famous for the Minoan Palace of Knossos. The Palace of Knossos is located just five kilometers southeast of the island of Crete’s capital city – Heraklion.
Is the labyrinth of Knossos real?
Whether the Minotaur’s Labyrinth was inspired by the complex ruins of Knossos or a system of underground caverns with smooth walls, most historians believe that a real site on Crete was the source of the story.
Is the labyrinth of Crete real?
A disused stone quarry on the Greek island of Crete which is riddled with an elaborate network of underground tunnels could be the original site of the ancient Labyrinth, the mythical maze that housed the half-bull, half-man Minotaur of Greek legend.
Why was Knossos abandoned?
The city of Knossos, and almost every other community centre on Crete, was destroyed by a combination of earthquake and the invading Mycenaeans c. 1450 BCE with only the palace spared.
What destroyed Knossos?
Despite speculation that Knossos was destroyed by the volcanic eruption on Santorini, it is generally accepted that the cause was human violence following an invasion of Crete by Greeks from the Argolid, most probably Mycenaean.