Knossos

ancient Greece · archaeology · Minoan civilization · palace

Biggest Minoan City. Knossos was the largest and most important center of the Minoan civilization, a powerful society that flourished on the island of Crete long before ancient Greece became famous.

Thousands of Years Old. People lived and built at Knossos starting in the Neolithic period and continued living there all the way into the first millennium AD, making it home to many different cultures across thousands of years.

Island of Crete. The archaeological site sits in Crete, Greece, just a few kilometers south of the city of Heraklion, where experts have dug up amazing artifacts that tell us about how ancient Minoans lived.

Incredible Palace. Knossos was not just a city but a grand palace complex with multiple stories, colorful frescoes (paintings), and thousands of rooms that show how sophisticated and artistic the Minoans were.

Window to History. What archaeologists found at Knossos, including pottery, tools, and beautiful decorations, gives us one of our best looks at how people lived in Europe thousands of years ago.