Knossos. In the labyrinth of the Minotaur

The story of Crete can not start other than with this legendary story. It was here, in a grotto in the mountains dictate born chief of all the Greek gods Zeus almighty. It also embraced the desire God has decided to kidnap the Phoenician princess Europe. However, he soon abandoned his chosen one, along with children born of their union. Three sons: Minos, Sarpedon and Radamanf-together ruled the kingdom of the three palaces: Knossos, Malia and Festo. After some - while the eldest of the sons, Minos, seized power in Crete, and became king. He married a beautiful Pasi - FAE, the daughter of the god Helios, and they begat many children. The family ideal place finish at the angry sea god Poseidon. Seeking to punish the king of Crete for disobedience, he didst send for his wife charms, making her fall in love with a bull to be slaughtered. From this context was born a man with a bull's head, who was named the Minotaur. King Minos ordered Daedalus to construct a brilliant designer labyrinth, where he locked his son and his faithless wife. On the location of the labyrinth, there are many hypotheses. Most often, it is believed that the mythical labyrinth was the palace at Knossos. Difficult to challenge this hypothesis, a multi-level residence the king of Crete had about fifteen hundred rooms, that is, it could easily get lost. The palace at Knossos was so important that from its construction began counting time. Moreover, all the thousand-year civilization of this legendary period was named after King Minos, the Minoan. The palace, whose ruins we can now look around Heraklion, was built about 4 thousand years ago. To this day, he admires the design and scale up with what was built. In addition to the palace halls, there were workshops and barns, which housed 10,000 residents. Entering the palace on the west side, we see dug in the ground round pits (koulouras), playing the role of the silos. Most likely, it remains a building which was destroyed in 1700 BC. er. the earthquake. Through the area we get closer to the so-called East House (1600 BC). This rich building belonging to a prosperous inhabitant of Knossos, as evidenced by the surrounding majestic staircases and columns. Another staircase leads us to the upper level, apartments, who initially took over the royal bedchamber. Now, however, considered that there was a sanctuary. Directly beneath it are warehouses full of pitosami (pithoi), ie, clay vessels, used for storage of olive oil, wine and wheat. Moving on, we get into the throne room, and then in a mirror pool, which is likely used for ritual ablutions. Behind him stretches a central courtyard. The surviving fragments of the altar show the function of the place-arenas Minoan rites. The square adjacent wall throne hall, where they found the alabaster throne and wall paintings. It also housed royal chapel with the vessel for ablutions. Nearby is the treasury and the staircase leading to the apartments of the rulers of Crete.