Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History
Knossos' first palace (1900 BC) was destroyed by an earthquake around 1700 BC, re-
built to a grander and more sophisticated design, partially destroyed again between 1500
and 1450 BC and inhabited for another 50 years before finally burning down. The com-
plex comprised royal domestic quarters, public reception rooms, shrines, workshops,
treasuries and storerooms, all orbiting a central court.
The ruins of Knossos were unearthed in 1900 by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur
Evans (1851-1941). Evans was so enthralled by his discovery that he spent 35 years and
£250,000 of his own money excavating and reconstructing sections of the palace. Al-
though controversial in expert circles, his reconstructions help casual visitors tremend-
ously in visualising what the palace might have looked like in its heyday.
