Introduction to Minoan Crete - Part 5

In my last article, I mentioned the splendid work the craftsmen did in Minoan times. If you remember, craftsmen were highly respected and their skills were much in demand, especially by the royals of ancient Crete. Archeologists and historians are still awed at the decorated palaces, such as Phaistos, Mallia, and Knossos.

The palace of Knossos covers somewhere around six acres. In its center, it has a large, open courtyard; to the west side were the apartments where the king and his courtiers carried out royal functions; on the east side were the private apartments where the king and his family lived away from the public eye.

To approach the palace, one used a bridge, but this was no ordinary bridge across a twenty foot span of water. The approach was awe-inspiring with the bridge crossing a stream and short valley. There were times when the bridge was extremely busy and others when the bridge was empty of wayfarers (since one must keep in mind that ancient Crete was nowhere near as populated as our modern world is). Once a wayfarer crossed that bridge, he entered the palace and his purpose and rank destined his path through the building.

Important visitors entered Knossos from the northwest. Actually, this is called the "oldest road in Europe" and visitors may still see it as they approach the northwest entrance. Trees shaded the "theatral area" or an open space edged on two sides by progressively rising stairs. The king sat on a dais overlooking a considerable audience.

Higher born visitors passed through the entrance gate and turned right. They were immediately challenged by palace sentries. Minoans may not have had much in the line of defenses against sea-borne invasions but within the palace, a great deal of care was exercised not to allow those who had no business within the royal palace. The visitor had to walk through a narrow gate, then pass along an inclined ramp enclosed by thick walls before he entered a pillared forecourt. For any of you intending to visit Knossos, this ramp is still in existence along with a fresco of a head of a charging bull. Once past the guards, the visitor entered the main courtyard itself.

The first sight evidenced by the visitor would have been pillars--some made of wood and painted a russet color, some with bright blue or black painted pediments (architectural decorations like those found above doors). The pillars were wider on top than on the bottom--a fact no one has explained to archeologists' satisfaction.

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