Knossos
Knossos sits on the Kephala hill of Crete, well-placed between the sea and the island's interior — a site continuously occupied from the Neolithic period all the way to the fifth century CE. Legend places here the throne of the wise King Minos, the labyrinth and the Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus. The Minoan palace open to visitors today is largely the work of British archaeologist Arthur Evans, who began excavating in 1900 and carried out extensive restoration: a multi-storey complex of 20,000 square metres arranged around a central court, with light-wells, polythyra screens, and a sophisticated water system throughout. When you walk in, look past the vivid painted surfaces to the corners that thousands of feet cross every day — the ones that rarely get a second glance.
Greece · 29 The overlooked corners inside
The overlooked corners inside
Throne Room, Knossos
Against the north wall stands a gypsum chair — flanked on each side by a griffin painted in profile, both turned to face it. Along three walls runs a gypsum bench, and next to the chair, a small sunken basin. Arthur Evans uncovered this room during the first phase of excavation in 1900, and identified the chair as the throne of the legendary Cretan king Minos. Set to the west of the central court, at the very heart of the palace, it is considered the oldest stone throne in the Aegean world, and possibly in Europe.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Palace of Knossos
The Palace of Knossos is the largest Minoan palace complex, covering roughly 14,000 square metres across multiple floors arranged around a central court. The first palace was built around 1900 BCE; after an earthquake destroyed it around 1700 BCE, it was rebuilt on the same site on a larger scale. This second palace continued in use after partial destruction in 1450 BCE, and was finally consumed by fire around 1350 BCE, ending the palace period.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · wikidata.org
Little Palace
The Little Palace stands about 200 metres northwest of the main palace, making it the most significant of the ancillary buildings in the Knossos complex. It has a Minoan hall, a lustral basin, a pillar crypt, and gypsum staircases — in effect a scaled-down palace. Evans excavated it alongside the main complex. A notable find here was a bull's-head rhyton (a ceremonial vessel) carved in stone, now in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · heraklionmuseum.gr
Royal Villa
The Royal Villa, a high-status building northeast of the palace, was excavated by Arthur Evans in 1904. It is built across three floors, connected by a spiral three-flight staircase, with a reception hall, residential suite, cult space, and storerooms on the ground level. Its most striking feature is the tripartite Minoan hall — antechamber, central hall, and external light-well in sequence, supported by columns and forming a broad, well-lit core.
Sources: knossos-palace.gr
House of the Frescoes
The House of the Frescoes, situated alongside the main palace, was discovered by Arthur Evans in 1923. This Late Bronze Age building (c. 1700–1500 BCE) is known for its painted walls; it yielded some of the finest frescoes found at Knossos. The site also produced fine pottery, stone vessels, seal stones, and inscribed objects — a range of finds suggesting the building's role went well beyond an ordinary residence.
Sources: archaeological.org
Temple Tomb
The Temple Tomb, south of the main palace, was built during the New Palace period (c. 1700… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: knossos-palace.gr
South House
The South House, immediately south of the palace's southwest corner, is one of the best-pr… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ajaonline.org · bmcr.brynmawr.edu
Unexplored House
The 'Unexplored House' takes its name from the Evans era: he marked it for excavation but… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Caravanserai
The Caravanserai lies on the slope below Gypsades Hill, south of the main palace. Evans na… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: knossosdocumenta.gr · knossos-palace.gr
Little Palace (entrance point)
This point marks a second registered entrance to the same building as the Little Palace to… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · heraklionmuseum.gr
Unexplored Mansion
The Unexplored Mansion adjoins the Little Palace, connected to it by a bridge, and probabl… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: cambridge.org
Sir Arthur Evans
Almost everything you see at Knossos today — the red columns, the painted walls, the multi… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: el.wikipedia.org
Central Court
The Central Court is the organisational nucleus of the entire Palace of Knossos. Roughly 5… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: knossos-palace.gr · en.wikipedia.org
West Court
The West Court is the main formal forecourt on the palace's western side, paved in large i… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: knossos-palace.gr
Piano Nobile
The *Piano Nobile* — 'the noble floor', an Italian Renaissance palace term — is Evans's na… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: nomadicniko.com
South Propylaeum
The South Propylaeum is one of the palace's principal formal entrances on its southern sid… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: knossosdocumenta.gr · heraklionmuseum.gr
Magazine of the Medallion Pithoi
This storeroom takes its name from the large storage jars (pithoi) preserved inside, decor… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: interkriti.org
South Entrance (Corridor of the Prince of the Lilies)
The palace's south entrance is an uphill corridor leading from the south toward the centra… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: knossosdocumenta.gr · en.wikipedia.org
North Entrance
The North Entrance is one of Knossos's most visually striking approaches — a roofed colonn… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: heraklionmuseum.gr · ipswichtours.com
Hall of the Double Axes
The Hall of the Double Axes, in the east wing, was named by Evans the 'King's Megaron' — a… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: knossos-palace.gr · en.wikipedia.org
Grand Staircase
The Grand Staircase, on the east side of the central court, was the vertical spine of the… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: knossosdocumenta.gr
Royal Road
The Royal Road runs westward from the Theatral Area at the palace's northwest corner, conn… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: greekreporter.com
Theatral Area
The Theatral Area, northwest of the palace beside the start of the Royal Road, is a flagst… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: diazoma.gr
Storerooms and Administrative Quarter
Along the west wing of the palace runs a series of long narrow storerooms, each lined with… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Water Supply, Drainage, Light, and Ventilation
Deep inside this sprawling building, natural light and moving air still reach you — and th… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Minoan Column
One of the most immediately recognisable features of Knossos is its columns — they taper d… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Frescoes and Decoration
Knossos is famous for its frescoes — but a fact worth holding on to as you move through th… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Throne Room
This is one of the most visited rooms in the palace. It contains a gypsum throne against o… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Surrounding Building Complex
Knossos is more than its palace. Around the main building, the Little Palace, Royal Villa… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
FAQ
What overlooked corners are worth seeing inside Knossos?
Throne Room, Knossos, Palace of Knossos, Little Palace and more — 29 spots in all, each with sources and a guide in your language to read or listen to on the spot.
Is the Knossos guide free?
The first 5 spots are free to read; the other 24 unlock with a one-time purchase (not a subscription).