The Palace of Knossos

"The Minoan civilization is by far the richest, yet strangest, of the Aegean world" (Aegean Art 99). Through an in-depth analysis of the Palace of Knossos it will be evident that it mirrors the Minoan culture and lifestyle. The function, style, techology, medium, and symbolism used throughout the Palace, illustrate the intelligent, spiritual, and mercantile people the Minoans were. Cottrell states "Yet from the start of the excavations the great mound began to reveal its secrets-not material treasure of gold and precious stones such as Schliemann found at Mycenae-but evidence of a mature, sophisticated art, a skill in engineering and an architecture of such splendour, subtlety and refinement as could only have been produced by a civilization of great age" (110).

The Minoan civilization, which survived from 3000 B.C. to 1200 B.C., consisted of the Greek islands Crete and Thera. On the long narrow island of Crete exists the great Palace of Knossos; it is one of the most unique and legendary architectural structures of the Bronze Age. Knossos was first build around 2000 B.C. but was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1700 B.C. The rebuilding of the Palace commenced immediately