Knossos & The Minotaur

Crete's fertile soil and towering peaks witnessed the development of one of the earliest recorded civilizations on earth, the Minoans. Knossos was the court of the legendary King Minos, whose wife Pasiphae gave birth to the Minotaur, half-bull, half-man. The excavations on the site lasted 35 years. Entering the Great Palace through the West Court, one can easily understand why the legend of the labyrinth grew up here. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to walk around the site. Admire the superb Royal Quarters, the Throne Room with an antechamber and main throne, and the Queen's Quarters whose wall above the entrance door is decorated with a copy of the famous dolphin frescos. Apart from the Royal Palace there are also other buildings included on the site such as the Small Palace, the House of the High Priest and the Caravanserai.