The Palace of Knossos
Before the Greeks, there were the Minoans. The Palace of Knossos is one of the largest and most restored Minoan palaces on Crete. Built around 1700 BC, these ruins are the oldest we've ever visited, but this site was actually inhabited even earlier back in 7000 to 3000 BC. With great age comes a few great myths, and this place is rumored to be the labyrinthine palace of King Minos and the Minotaur and also where Icarus lost his wings.
The ruins of Knossos lie tucked next to Kephala hill.
Bull horns overlooking the south entrance.
Bulls were a popular symbol for the Minoans.
A typical Minoan style column, tapered from top to bottom and painted in red and black.
Large jars called "pithoi" were used throughout the palace to store food, wine, and other palace supplies.
Knossos is famous for its frescoes, although now, all of the frescos at the palace are replicas. The originals can be found at the Heraklion Archeological Museum, which we went to after.
The Prince of the Lilies fresco
The Bull Dancers fresco. You can kind of tell in this picture that only a few original pieces remain and the rest of the image is reconstructed. This is the same for the rest of the frescoes.
Dolphin frescoes in the Queen's Hall.
The Minoans had advanced architecture techniques such as light-wells which funnelled light from the upper levels down to the lower levels.
The Throne Room, complete with lustral basin and alabaster throne.