Minoan Era
Crete was the birthplace of the first European civilization, the Minoan, which flourished in the second millennium BC. The naval kingdom, ruled by the dynasty of Minos, culminated in the Mediterranean and the Cretan products (such as the cypress wood, pottery products, oil, wine, etc.) became famous throughout Europe. Dozens of well-known Greek myths, such as the myth of the Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus, the Rape of Europe, Theseus and Ariadne, etc. are linked to this era.
Crete is mentioned by Homer as having one hundred towns. The periods of Minoan Crete are divided into three subcategories. These are the Early Minoan period (3400BC-2100BC), the Middle Minoan (2100BC-1580BC) and Late Minoan (1580BC-1200BC). The boom with the large palaces and the imposing structures took place between 2100BC and 1200BC. It is worth noting that in 1400BC this course terminated abruptly by the great earthquake of Santorini or the hostile invasion of the Mycenaeans, which leveled all the Minoan buildings. However, they managed to revive their civilization till 1200BC, when the advent of the Dorians took place.
The women were equal with men and took part in all religious ceremonies, sports, hunting, theater, dance, etc. The men were shaved and wore jewelry. Masterpieces of architecture, painting, sculpture and goldsmithing still inspire modern civilizations. Another important part of the culture was the Minoan script, Linear A with 70 symbols, influenced by the Egyptian hieroglyphics. In the 15th century another script emerged, Linear B. Linear B was deciphered in 1952 and it was amazing that it was proven as a pure Greek language.
The whole island is filled with remnants of this glorious civilization, with the Minoan palace of Knossos being the most impressive archaeological finding.
Minos Palace in Knossos
Knossos was the most important city on Crete before the Roman Era and the center of the first brilliant European civilization, the Minoan. The palace of the city is the most visited archaeological site in Crete with more than 1.000.000 visitors per year. Apart from the palace, the area is full with several more archaeological finds, which makes sense considering that Knossos was a town with more than 100,000 people.
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Phaestus Palace
Phaestus (Phestos or Festos) was a Minoan city on Crete, the ruins of which are located 55km south of Heraklion. The city was already inhabited since 6000BC and prospered concurrently with the city of Knossos, till the 1st century BC. Phaestus is famous for its Minoan palace, which is a visitable archaeological site and receives thousands of visitors every year.
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Malia Palace
The archaeological site of Malia is located 3km east of Malia, next to the wetland of the area and very close to the beach. It was an important Minoan city and housed the third largest Minoan palace, after Knossos and Phaestus. According to mythology, Sarpedon reigned here, who was brother of Minos and son of Zeus and Europa. Sarpedon was expelled by his brother Minos and then took refuge in Lycia in Asia Minor.
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Zakros Palace
Zakros is located in a remote area of eastern Crete, 45km southeast of Sitia. Communication with the Mid East was faster from here during the Minoan Age, thus the Minoans built here the administrative center of Eastern Crete, with an important port. The findings are very rich (sheets of gold, ivory, jewelry, pottery, etc.) and prove the close relationship of the city with the ports of Cyprus, Egypt and the Middle East.
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Ancient Kommos
The archaeological site of Kommos is located 4km west of Phaestus, near Pitsidia and Matala. Kommos (or Komos) was a small Minoan town founded in 2000BC and served the port needs of Phaestus, with which it was linked by road. Kommos was probably destroyed by an earthquake in 1700BC, but survived up to the Hellenistic period.
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Minoan Zominthos
Ancient Zominthos is located 7km west of Anogia, on the road heading to the plateau of Nida. Discovered in 1982, Zominthos is one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Crete, compared my many to that of Knossos.
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Minoan Town in Gournia
The archaeological site of Gournia is located on a hill west of Pachia Ammos, near the road connecting Agios Nikolaos to Ierapetra, 19km east of Agios Nikolaos. The city flourished in the Minoan period and is the most complete excavated Minoan town in Crete. Because of its good conservation, it was named as the "Pompeii of Crete". The excavation of Gournia was implemented by an American Archaeology Group, headed by Harriet Boyd, in 1901-1904.
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Psira Islet
Psira is a small uninhabited islet located 1 mile north of Tholos beach, situated at the northeastern edge of the Gulf of Mirabello. In Psira a Minoan settlement of 15-20 acres has been found, being one of the most important sites in Crete.
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Vrondas Minoan Town
The Late Minoan settlement of Vrondas is located in an elevated position, 2km south of Kavoussi. It was inhabited during the setting of the Minoan Civilization by Minoans who moved to the peaks of the Cretan mountains so as to protect themselves from the Dorians who occupied the island.
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Kastro by Kavousi
The Late Minoan settlement of Kastro is located on a steep hill, 3km south of Kavoussi, which is accessed via an ancient trail. The view of the bay of Mirabello, the wild gorge of Mesonas, Malavra mounts and the island of Psira are unique.
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Azorias by Kavousi
The Late Minoan settlement of Azorias is situated on a hill with two peaks 1km southwest of the village Kavoussi. The town flourished in the Archaic Period (7th - 5th century BC).
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Pirgos by Myrtos
The unknown Minoan settlement of Pirgos is located shortly east of the coastal village of Myrtos, by Ierapetra, on a low hill overlooking the east bank of the River Krygios (Cold). It is located on a position overlooking the sea (south) and the forested mountains of Dikti (north) and was selected for settlement by the Minoans ,after leaving the nearby peak of Fournou Kefali. The settlement flourished from 2200 to 1450BC.
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Karfi
Karfi (i.e. nail) is a big rocky hill on a top of the Diktaean Mountains, with incredible views to the north coasts of Crete and Lassithi Plateau, near the Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa. Atop of it, at an altitude of 1200m, traces of a Minoan peak sanctuary have been found.
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Rousolakos Minoan Town
Rousolakos is located 91km southeast of Agios Nikolaos, right next to the beach of Hiona. Here, the archaeologists have discovered an important town of Minoan Crete covering an area of more than 50 acres, which flourished particularly at the end of the Minoan Age till 1450BC.
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Minoan Mansion in Vathypetro
Vathipetro is a very small settlement located 4km and 20km south of Archanes and Heraklion, respectively, in a location with spectacular views to Jiouktas Mount and the vineyards south of it. Next to the village and the road connecting Arhanes to Ligortynos, a Minoan mansion has been excavated.
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Minoan Palace in Arhanes
The palace of Archanes is located in the suburb Tourkogitonia of Archanes town. It came to light only in 1964 by Giannis Sakellarakis because, by then, only a few traces of the palace had been found. Some parts of the palace are still below the houses of modern Arhanes.
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Fourni Minoan Cemetery
The archaeological site of Fourni is located on the homonym wooded hill, 17km south of Heraklion and west of Kato Archanes. To get there (the site is not open, but you could contact the guard), you could walk along the Minoan path starting from Kato Arhanes or drive to the beautiful artificial grove of Fourni.
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Galatas Minoan Palace
The Palace of Galatas is located 30km south of Heraklion, near Arkalochori, at an elevated position with views to south Crete and close to the Minoan sacred cave of Arkalochori.
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Ancient Tylissos
The archaeological site of Ancient Tylisos is located 16km west of Heraklion, in a strategic location. Tylissos was a Minoan city that was flourished in 1650-1450 mainly because it was amid the road that led from Knossos to the west Minoan centers and Ida Mount. In 1450 it was destroyed, but was rebuilt and prospered until 1200.
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Kastrokefala
At (E)llinoperamata of Heraklion and at a short distance from the beach of Ammoudara, you will find the stone steep hill of Kastrokefala. The pyramid-shaped hill raises to an altitude of 355 meters from the sea level and has breathtaking views of the sea, the settlement of Rogdia, the once sacred pyramid mountain of Stroumboulas and the fertile plains of Heraklion.
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Amnisos
The Minoan palace of Niros is located 15km east of Heraklion, near Vathianos Kambos. It was an almost square two-storey villa covering an area of 1000sq.m. and with 40 rooms, built by the sea.
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Niros Mansion
The Minoan palace of Niros is located 15km east of Heraklion, near Vathianos Kambos. It was an almost square two-storey villa covering an area of 1000sq.m. and with 40 rooms, built by the sea.
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Armeni Necropolis
The necropolis of Armeni is situated 9km south of the town of Rethymnon, on the main road which leads to the south coast of Crete. The greatest Late Minoan III A-B (c. 1400-1200 BC) cemetery was discovered on a shallow hill called Prinokefalo, which means “hild of the wild oaks”.
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Ancient Kydonia
The Minoan Kydonia was built at the current location of the old town of Chania. Kydonia was the third largest town of Minoan Crete. Here developed a thriving craft industry and the town became rich through sea trade, which was favored by its position. Indeed, the ancient writers mention Kydonia as the mother of the Cretan towns.
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