Greece is the name of the place where the Minotaur lived. The Minotaur is a monster from the Cretan labyrinth. Video - Crete labyrinth of the minotaur

Myths Ancient Greece They talk about the existence of Knossos (Knossos Palace), where King Minos reigned, and in the Labyrinth of his palace lived a terrible monster, the Minotaur - a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man, feeding on human flesh!

But in short, it all began with the fact that the mighty Zeus, the supreme god of Olympus, saw the beautiful Europa, the daughter of a rich Phoenician king. He saw and desired. In order not to frighten the girl and her friends, he took on the guise of a wonderful bull. His fur sparkled, his golden horns were curved, and on his forehead a silver spot burned like a moon. The bull's breath was fragrant with ambrosia, and the whole air was filled with this aroma. A wonderful bull appeared in a clearing and approached the maidens, among whom was Europe, as they frolicked and picked flowers. The maidens surrounded the wondrous animal and affectionately stroked it. The bull approached Europe, licked her hands and caressed her. Then he lay down quietly at her feet, offering to sit on him.

Laughing, Europe sat down on the broad back of the bull. Other girls also wanted to sit next to her. But suddenly the bull jumped up and rushed to the sea. The golden-horned bull rushed like the wind, then he rushed into the sea and quickly, like a dolphin, swam across the azure waters. The waves of the sea parted before him, and soon the shores of Crete appeared in the distant sea. Zeus the bull quickly swam to him with his precious burden and went ashore. Europa became the wife of Zeus and lived from then on in Crete. TThree sons were born to her from Zeus: Minos, Rhadamanthis and Sarpidon. Europa later married the king of Crete, Asterion, who adopted the children of Zeus. After Asterion's death, his eldest son, Minos, became king. He married Pasiphae, the daughter of the sun god Helios and the nymph Kriti. They had 4 sons and 4 daughters, including the beautiful Ariadne. Together they lived in the Knossos Palace.

During one great holiday, Minos wanted to make a sacrifice in honor of the god of the sea Poseidon and asked him that Poseidon would send a magnificent animal for this (this is a strange manner of making sacrifices, having first asked for them;). In response, Poseidon sent a beautiful white bull from the sea. So beautiful that Minos took pity on him and sacrificed another bull. Poseidon was very angry, and in order to punish Minos, he inspired the voluptuous queen Parsifae with an insane passion for the white bull. To satisfy her perverted passion, Parsifai turned to the famous master Daedalus. Daedalus made an empty effigy of a cow, and when Parsifae entered the effigy, the bull was reunited with her. From this disgusting copulation The Minotaur, a monster with a human body and a bull's head, was born. To avoid scandal, King Minos locked the Minotaur in Labyrinth, a complex structure that Daedalus built for this.

The further fate of the white bull is unknown.

The myth further tells about Androgeos, the son of Minos, who took part in the games in Athens and became a winner in all sports disciplines. One of the offended Athenians ambushed and killed him. This murder angered Minos; he immediately declared war on Athens and set off on a campaign. The compensation he demanded from the Athenian king Aegeus was much harsher and more shameful than the defeat of Athens itself: every 9 years Aegeus had to send 7 girls and 7 boys to the Labyrinth. They were locked in a huge palace, the Labyrinth, where they were devoured by a terrible monster.

Theseus and the Minotaur

The son of the Athenian king, the young hero Theseus, decided to stop paying this terrible tribute and protect the innocent. When ambassadors from Crete arrived for the third time to collect the due tribute, everyone in Athens was plunged into deep sadness and equipped a ship with black sails. Theseus voluntarily became one of the young men sent to Crete with the sole purpose of killing the Minotaur. King Aegeus categorically did not want to let his only son go, but Theseus insisted on his own.

In Crete, in Knossos, the powerful king of Crete immediately drew attention to a beautiful, muscular young man. Minos's daughter, Ariadne, also noticed him. Ariadne was fascinated by Theseus and decided to help him. Knowing that the Labyrinth was built so that anyone who got there would never be able to find a way out, she secretly gave Theseus a sharp sword and a ball (Ariadne’s thread) secretly from her father, which helped him not to get lost. Theseus tied a thread at the entrance and entered the Labyrinth, gradually unwinding the ball. Theseus walked further and further and finally saw the Minotaur. With a menacing roar, bowing his head with huge sharp horns, the Minotaur rushed at the hero. A terrible battle began. Finally, Theseus grabbed the Minotaur by the horn and plunged his sharp sword into his chest. Having killed the Minotaur, Theseus, with the help of a ball of thread, found a way back and brought out all the Athenian boys and girls. Theseus quickly equipped his ship and, having cut through the bottom of all the Cretan ships, hastily set off on the return journey. Ariadne also left Knossos and sailed away with Theseus.

However, Ariadne and Theseus were not destined to live happily ever after. Theseus had to give Ariadne to the god Dionysus. She did not reach Athens. Ariadne, the wife of the great Dionysus, became the goddess. But that is another story...

The ship of Theseus rushed on its black sails across azure sea, approaching the shores of Attica. Theseus, saddened by the loss of Ariadne, forgot about the agreement with his father - he was supposed to replace the black sails with white ones in case of a safe return. Aegeus was waiting for his son. A dot appeared in the distance, now it is growing, approaching the shore, and it is already clear that this is his son’s ship, a ship with black sails. This means that Theseus is dead! In despair, Aegeus rushed with high cliff into the sea, and the waves washed his lifeless body ashore. Since then, the sea in which Aegeus perished has been called the Aegean.

At this time, in the Palace of Knossos, Daedalus, whom Minos was holding captive so that he would not leave and reveal the secret of the Labyrinth, was planning his escape. Using artificial wings, which were held together with wax, he flew away with his son Icarus. Then you probably know everything. Icarus, carried away by flight, flew too high towards the sun, the hot rays of the sun melted the wax, and... The sea in which young Icarus died was called Icarian.

Knossos Palace - history

According to historians, a huge temple in the city of Knossos was built two thousand years before our era. Archaeological excavations show that a settlement of ancient people previously existed in its place. By the way, the temple, built thanks to enormous efforts, lasted only about three hundred years. The cause of its destruction was a strong earthquake, which, except for the “early” Knossos Palace, erased almost all buildings from the island. Immediately after the natural disaster, the ancient Greeks got to work again and built a new, simply gigantic palace, the ruins of which were discovered by Arthur Evans at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The construction of the new palace coincided with the heyday of the city of Knossos and the Minoan civilization.

The Minoan civilization is perhaps one of the most mysterious and little-studied. Even in our time, scientists cannot reliably say what the word “minos” itself means. Some say that this is the “royal throne” and “power” in Crete, while others say that this is the name of the man who ruled the city of Knossos during its heyday, and who built the Palace of Knossos. Alas, the city of Knossos and its luxurious palace were again destroyed by another earthquake, which most likely caused the tsunami that covered the whole of Crete. A detailed study of the ruins of the Knossos Palace led to the conclusion that the main cause of the death of the city was a fire that spread to all buildings. Interestingly, the cause of the fire is unknown.

A more likely version is that the inhabitants of Knossos themselves burned hometown or knew about the approaching disaster. This version, which is found in modern history textbooks, is supported by the fact that no skeletons of people or domestic animals were found during excavations on the territory of ancient Knossos. The townspeople probably knew about the fire and moved to the coast in advance.

Some historians, based on artifacts found in Palestine, similar in shape to artifacts discovered in Crete, make a rather bold statement: the first inhabitants of Knossos were Atlanteans. This version is quite controversial, although the very construction of a huge palace, which is about the same age as the Egyptian pyramids, speaks in favor of it. Most likely, this mystery of history will not be solved in the near future; only with the advent of new technologies that allow us to study the depths of the sea in more detail and what is hidden under centuries-old layers, historians will finally give affirmative answers to the questions: “Did Atlantis exist?” and “Where did the ancient Atlanteans live?”

Palace of Knossos in ancient Greek mythology

The Palace of Knossos is inextricably linked with one of the most popular ancient Greek myths, which tells the story of a giant bloodthirsty bull-man - the Minotaur. This monster, which devoured seven beautiful girls and boys every nine years, lived in a huge labyrinth. To be fair, it is worth noting that this myth appeared when the ruins of the Knossos Palace were already buried under a layer of earth. Theseus, who ruled Athens, was able to kill the Minotaur in a fierce battle, and since then the inhabitants of nearby islands and cities stopped sending their young inhabitants to Crete.

The famous thread of Ariadne helped Theseus find his way out of the labyrinth, which was supposedly located near the Palace of Knossos (or directly below it). From what sources did the ancient Greeks, who passed on the myth of Theseus, the Minotaur and Ariadne from generation to generation, know about the existence of the Knossos Palace and the Minoan civilization, still remains a mystery. Before the excavations, Arthur Evans relied solely on the reliability of this myth and, as time has shown, he turned out to be absolutely right, and maybe there is some truth in the myth of the monster...

Knossos Palace - the greatest architectural monument

It is safe to say that the Palace of Knossos, near which numerous groups of archaeologists can still be found today, is one of the most interesting attractions of modern Greece. Tourists wandering among the ruins often have the feeling that they have encountered something fantastic and inexplicable. Perhaps it appears after reading the myth of the Minotaur, or perhaps the very atmosphere, which is characteristic of the mysterious Crete, puts a person into a state somewhat similar to meditation. Crete and the ruins of the Palace of Knossos are often mentioned in tourist brochures. Not visiting this building, which was once one of the most majestic and, according to enthusiasts, was the palace of the Atlanteans, is an unforgivable mistake.

Nowadays, the palace is great amount buildings located near the courtyard. Of particular interest is that they were all designed by ancient architects at different levels. Each level was connected to each other by an impressive staircase or corridor. Some rooms are located deep underground; it is not possible to explain the meaning of such a construction and the purpose of the building. Why not the legendary labyrinth of Daedalus? Columns were used as supports for the floors of the palace. Archaeologists say that The palace of Knossos was the home of the ancient king, his wife and retinue. In addition, in the Knossos Palace there was a theater in which about six hundred people could watch the fight of two angry bulls (!).

Surprisingly, among the ruins, experts found perhaps the oldest sewerage system on our planet, as well as a water supply system. Due to the fact that the Knossos Palace was buried underground for a long time and was inaccessible to robbers, it preserved unique frescoes, which depict mythical creatures.

Among the ruins, priceless exhibits made of gold and expensive stones. It is also interesting that almost all artifacts found on the territory of ancient Knossos depict a bull. By the way, another image that is quite often found on the walls of the building, shards and vessels is a double axe. In Greek this weapon sounds like “labrys”. Most linguists believe that the word “labyrinth” comes from this name. Isn't this another confirmation of the veracity of the myth of the Minotaur?

Despite numerous discoveries, scientists have still not been able to explain which religion was the main one in the ancient and once influential city, and the Palace of Knossos is a kind of labyrinth, one might even say a rebus, which is impossible to solve even in our age of technological progress .

A traveler who decides to see with his own eyes the Palace of Knossos, a place with which so many legends, myths and secrets are associated, should know that entrance to its territory is paid. Price entrance ticket By the standards of the European Union, it is symbolic and amounts to only 6 euros.

The palace museum operates under open air from 8 am to 6 pm daily. On days recognized as national holidays in Greece, access to the Palace of Knossos is absolutely free. Free entry is also available to young people who have not yet turned eighteen years of age. True, as throughout Greece, boys and girls who are allowed ticketless access to historical and architectural monuments must reside in one of the countries that are members of the European Union.

There is no other culture on Earth that has given humanity so many myths and legends as the Greek one. Every educated person remembers from the school curriculum the stories about Daedalus and Icarus, the seven labors of Hercules, Prometheus, who gave people fire... And it’s no secret to anyone what the name of the island with the Minotaur’s labyrinth is.

Some will not be touched by these legends, but in someone’s heart a keen interest in Greek mythology will settle, which will then develop into a sincere love for this ancient, proud country. Then the Olympian gods will become understandable and familiar, the inviolable law of hospitality will reign in the house, and the heart will uncontrollably rush to the place where modern European civilization was born.

Athens has played a huge role in world history for thousands of years. And now, in 2015, their decision largely depends further fate Europe. But there are places in Greece that are not so politicized, where time seems to flow more slowly, and life, like many centuries ago, is measured and peaceful. They are no less interesting historically, and it seems that the gods themselves guard this land.

Crete. Cradle of the Gods

It was on this island that Rhea hid the newborn Zeus from the bloodthirsty Kronos, who was fed by the mythical goat Amalthea with her milk in the Dictaean cave. Here, according to the beliefs of the Cretans, who doubt the immortality of the Thunderer, his grave is located.

The most visited attraction of this magnificent island is the Palace of Knossos. In its dungeons, Daedalus built a labyrinth in which King Minos hid the Minotaur for many years - a bloodthirsty monster with a human body and a powerful bull's head.

Ancient Greek myths. Theseus and Ariadne

The Minotaur became a sophisticated punishment sent by Poseidon to the Minoan ruler for refusing to sacrifice a beautiful animal to the gods. Minos's wife, the beautiful Pasithea, was inflamed with love for the bull, which, according to various legends, was sent to earth either by Poseidon or by Zeus himself. The bloodthirsty Minotaur became the fruit of their criminal passion.

The monster demanded regular human sacrifices. Every seven years, seven of the most beautiful Athenian boys and girls were brought to the island with the Minotaur’s labyrinth. According to one version, they became prey to the monster, according to another, they died a natural death from thirst and hunger, wandering in despair through the labyrinth and not finding a way out.

This injustice lasted for many years until the Athenian hero Theseus arrived in the Minotaur’s labyrinth as one of the victims, managing to defeat the bloodthirsty monster and free the country from the bloodthirsty tyrant. The Minotaur’s own sister helped him accomplish this feat, giving Theseus a guiding thread that helped the hero confidently find a way out and leave the labyrinth. Her name has long become a household name and is known almost more than the monster itself. The myth "Labyrinth of the Minotaur" made Ariadne the patroness of travelers. Its invisible threads will always show the right path and will not let hope go out.

Theories of Philochorus and Eusebius

The myth of the monster, whose refuge is the island with the labyrinth of the Minotaur, is very picturesque, but the real past is much more prosaic. The ancient Greek historian Philochor said that the labyrinth was an ordinary prison. King Minos loved to organize sports competitions, in which young Athenian boys, who were kept in prison until the right time, were presented as prizes. In most competitions, the Minoan commander named Taurus won, who then sophisticatedly mocked the captive youths.

Eusebius shares Philochorus' version. As a teacher of Minos, Taurus won all sports competitions held by Minos, receiving young strong guys as a reward. This continued until the meeting with Theseus, who managed to defeat the warrior. Plato in his treatises voices the version that Taurus did not take the lives of his captives, and they left the Cretan labyrinth of the Minotaur unharmed.

Modern interpretation

There are many versions about the meaning of this myth. Modern researchers are of the opinion that the labyrinth of the Minotaur is a legend that tells about the interaction and fusion of Indo-European structures and cultures of the peoples of the sea, in which the ancient Hellenic civilization turned out to be the strongest.

Knossos palace

Those who have ever seen the Palace of Knossos with their own eyes will immediately admit that if the labyrinth of the Minotaur ever existed in Crete, its most likely location was Knossos. The preserved walls of the palace, its rooms and passages form tangles in the most incredible way, finding a way out of which seems completely impossible. All the premises were built, from the point of view of modern man, in chaos and disorder, and yet scientists recognize the presence of a certain system in the building. The Minoans did not always strictly follow the laws of architecture, creating structures that seemed impossible to construct.

Now only ruins remind of its former greatness, under which the labyrinth of the Minotaur may be buried. Photos only partially convey the globality and thoughtfulness for which the buildings of ancient civilizations were famous.

The Palace of Knossos is located just five kilometers from modern Heraklion, and the area it once occupied, measuring 75 hectares, is truly amazing in its size. In those distant times, more than 12 thousand people permanently lived in the palace - the same number inhabited Heraklion.

Legend of Atlantis

The ruins that currently excite the imagination of tourists are the ruins of a second palace. The very first one was approximately erected in 2000 BC. e. And around 1700 BC. e. A devastating earthquake occurred on the island, almost completely leveling the palace to the ground. However, in its place, the Minoans built an equally beautiful structure, which to this day attracts millions of tourists like a magnet.

But the new Knossos Palace was not destined to please its inhabitants for long. No later than 1500 BC. e. A volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini caused a strong earthquake and a high tsunami, which led to the repeated destruction of the majestic structure.

What water couldn't do, fire did. A fire in 1450 BC finally destroyed the palace. The reason for it is still unknown to this day. It is noteworthy that in the same way other significant monuments Minoan culture in Phaistos and Zakros.

Most likely, humanity will never know for sure what led to the death of the Minoan civilization. As a result of numerous excavations carried out on the territory of the palace complex, no remains of people or animals were found. For some unknown reason, the inhabitants of Knossos left their homes. Where they went is also a mystery. All existing theories are nothing more than scientists' guesses. Some researchers associate Crete with the myth of the disappeared Atlantis, but neither confirmation of this theory nor its refutation still exists.

Traces of former greatness

And on the site of the palace, even in later periods, people always lived. However, the palace buildings were not destroyed or looted at all. Perhaps the peasants were held back by fear of the mythical Minotaur, who once lived in the labyrinth of the palace. Therefore, when the archaeologist Kalokerinos conducted the first excavations in 1878, he was surprised to discover not only the perfectly preserved premises of the palace, but also many unique artifacts that looked as if they had not lain in the ground for millennia. But large-scale excavations of the palace began only in 1900, when the surrounding lands were purchased by Arthur Evans, who forever entered the history of Crete.

The main architectural monument of Crete

The visit to the palace begins from the West Entrance. Many centuries ago, the main entrance to the palace was located here. Three huge pits immediately catch your eye, the purpose of which is still controversial among scientists. They believe that they were intended to store grain, others see them as a place for sacrifices and recall the labyrinth of the Minotaur.

Photos of these pits, however, look completely everyday and do not evoke sacred awe.

After passing the “Processional Road”, decorated with frescoes depicting young people making offerings to one of the goddesses, you can get to the Central Courtyard, paved with huge slabs. It was here that various ceremonies were held and mysterious rituals were performed.

The Southern House, which most likely belonged to the high priest, is perfectly preserved. The Southern Propylaea, in which the cult rooms of the palace were located, gaze majestically at the descendants. Climbing the stairs, you can see the Greek Temple - a building erected much later than the entire complex.

On the top floor of the palace there was a three-column sanctuary, a little further - a treasury that gave humanity many unique artifacts, and then sanctuaries with two and six columns. Giant pithos - vessels for storing grain and olive oil as tall as a man, produce indelible impression on tourists. Wool, fabrics and other things that were especially valuable in those days were stored here.

The Hall of Frescoes and the Throne Room receive the greatest attention from tourists. Just like thousands of years ago, everyone's attention attracted by the stone throne, opposite which there is a bowl for ablutions. The imagination pictures how the priests, taking their places on stone benches, listened to every word of their master. During excavations, the famous Arthur Evans discovered a terrible disorder in the Throne Room, uncharacteristic of other rooms, which gave him reason to believe that something terrible and tragic had happened in the hall...

In the eastern wing, according to one version, there were living quarters of the royal family, megarons of the king and queen. To the west are the queen’s bathroom and cosmetic room, a school and a craftsmen’s workshop.

Provisions were stored in a warehouse in giant pithoi. The ancient builders did not forget about the impeccably functioning sewage system; its fragments today give an excellent idea of the perfection of the Minoan civilization. The area of the theater allowed the residents of Knossos to gather for the performance and enjoy the wonderful performance.

Throughout the palace complex there are swimming pools for ablutions, and later scientists began to doubt the truth of their purpose. However, even today they appear in guidebooks under this name.

Where is the monster's home hidden?

There is only one question that inquisitive tourists will not receive a reliable answer to: where is the labyrinth of the Minotaur? After all, many tourists flock to Knossos, guided by the ancient myth and hoping to touch the legend.

But not a single person on the planet can say for sure what the labyrinth of the Minotaur is - myth or reality? Like any theory, this one also has its supporters and opponents. The red bull of the Western Bastion clearly refers to an old legend. Its adherents are not at all embarrassed by the fact that the last Knossos Palace was completed much later than the legend about this mysterious creature appeared. And despite the fact that the development of modern science allows us to see deep underground, the place where the Minotaur’s labyrinth is securely hidden in the depths has never been discovered. There is an opinion that it is formed by numerous caves in the mountains near Gortyn, their narrow dark corridors and incomprehensible branches form a complex system of passages, from which it is almost impossible to get out. Stories are passed down from mouth to mouth about lucky people who allegedly saw unusual, unlike anything else creatures in these caves.

Indirectly, the reality of the labyrinth is indicated by coins that were minted in ancient city It is precisely this intricate structure that is depicted at Knossos.

Opponents of fairy-tale theories deny the existence of the Labyrinth of Daedalus, as the labyrinth of the Minotaur is called after its creator, and argue that the intricate layout of the Knossos Palace, capable of confusing anyone, is a real labyrinth. Other scientists share the opinion that the mysterious structure is just a double ax “labrys”, which was the main weapon of the Minoans.

Spiritual labyrinth

In many cultures, the labyrinth has a sacred meaning. You can move forward and find yourself at a dead end, take a step and find a way out, or vice versa, wander in the dark for a long time and forever be mired in problems and doubts. And then the inner Minotaur will destroy everything good and good that is in every person.

The labyrinth serves as the personification of the complexity of the eternal struggle with dark forces, and the exit from it serves as evidence of the victory of good over evil.

Some researchers of Minoan culture are inclined to believe that the legend of the Minotaur's labyrinth is an encrypted message to descendants, telling about the clash of two cultures - the Indo-European and the civilization of the sea peoples who worship the bull. The destruction of the Minotaur, half-bull, half-man, indicates the victory of the ancient civilization over the alien tribes.

But be that as it may, tens of thousands of tourists come to the island of Crete every year in the hope of finding a mysterious labyrinth. After they failed to find him in Knossos, the geography of their search expanded significantly and now covers the entire island.

Minotaur This is a terrible bloodthirsty monster that has a human body, but inherited its head and tail from a bull. Such a monster fed exclusively on human bodies, and it required food in considerable quantities. He lived in a labyrinth, from which the one who got there to an ordinary person it was absolutely impossible to get out.

As with many powerful creatures of wild appearance, the origins of the minotaur are closely connected with the history of the ancient gods. In those distant times, the island of Crete was ruled by King Asterion. It so happened that he took Europa as his wife, who had three sons born from her union with Zeus himself. The children's names were Minos, Sapedon and Rhadamanthus.

The moment came when the ruler died, and he did not have time to bequeath the throne to one of his offspring. As usual in such situations, a struggle for the throne began between the brothers.

It was Minos who had the advantage, since even his name meant “king.” In addition, he called on all the gods for help and boasted of their support. Minos promised to make a generous sacrifice to the gods. And then one fine day Poseidon himself sent him from the sea a most magnificent bull. Now no one could doubt the victory of the future king. Two less fortunate brothers were expelled from the island of Crete.

But Minos did not keep his promise to Poseidon, but sacrificed the most ordinary bull from the herd, leaving himself a divine gift. For this, the ruler of the seas and oceans became seriously angry with the careless king and decided to punish him.

Appearance of the Minotaur

Kara was sophisticated. Poseidon instilled in the wife of the guilty king, Pasiphae, a love for the bull. Going crazy with perverted passion, the woman was looking for a way to reunite with the object of her desires. Two masters helped her in this: Daedalus and Icarus. While inside a wooden frame covered with the skin of a real cow, Pasiphae seduced a powerful bull. From this unnatural vicious relationship, the queen brought offspring.

The child, a boy whom the queen named Asterius, of course, turned out to be not entirely normal. When he grew a little older, his head became bull-like, horns grew and a tail appeared. He became a terrible monster who had to be fed something, but ordinary human food did not suit him. He was tormented by a thirst for blood, human flesh.

Minotaur Labyrinth

King Minos realized that this was his punishment for breaking his promise to Poseidon. Therefore, he did not judge his wife, but something had to be done about the predatory monster. With the help of the same Daedalus and Icarus, an unimaginably intricate structure was built, where the bull-man named Minotaur was imprisoned.

People were sent to him as food, mostly sentenced criminals who could not get out of the tricky tangle of roads and remained there to be devoured by the monster. Subsequently, wanting to avenge the death of his only son Androgeus, King Minos demanded an annual payment from the Athenians in the form of seven girls and seven boys. They became victims of the labyrinth and the Minotaur.

Who killed the minotaur

According to legend, only in the third batch of unfortunates sent to the island was a daredevil named Theseus. The Minotaur's half-sister, named Ariadne, fell in love with this handsome and brave young man. Realizing that he would certainly be doomed to death if he went into the labyrinth, she decided to find a way to save him. The girl handed young Theseus a ball of thread, one end of which the guy tied near the entrance. He managed not only to get out of the trap, but also to defeat the Minotaur in battle. Some sources say that the future king of Athens won with his bare hands, with a blow of his fist. Others mention the sword of Aegeus. However, in any case, the monster was defeated. And thanks to the thread leading to the exit, all the surviving prisoners of the labyrinth, led by Theseus, left their sophisticated prison.

Ania Mendrek tedbassman Ania Mendrek JB TorresMedina Juan Manuel Caicedo Carvajal William Allen Inside the Palace of Knossos (Steve Jurvetson) Max Froumentin Fresco of the Palace of Knossos (Juan Manuel Caicedo Carvajal) Fresco of the Palace of Knossos (Juan Manuel Caicedo Carvajal) Taurocatapsy, fresco from Grand Palace in Knossos, Crete (George Groutas) Fresco with dolphins (Ania Mendrek) Ania Mendrek Ania Mendrek Ania Mendrek Knossos Palace - North Entrance (Nelo Hotsuma) Giant pithos (Ania Mendrek)

The culture of ancient Crete is shrouded in numerous myths and secrets. So the ancient Greeks believed that the island was the homeland of the supreme god Zeus. Then the Thunderer gave the lands to his son Minos, one of the most powerful rulers of antiquity. Here, according to legend, there was a labyrinth built at the behest of Minos by the mythical builder Daedalus.

Palace of Knossos (William Allen)

ABOUT real history Crete began to be talked about only at the beginning of the 20th century, when sensational archaeological monuments and artifacts were discovered, as a result of which it became known about the existence of a state that arose long before the Ancient Greek one.

In 1900, British archaeologist Arthur Evans began excavations near Knossos. The very first penetrations into the cultural soil layer revealed to researchers evidence of the existence of settlements on these lands. And just two weeks later, scientists saw the remains of buildings occupying an area of 2.5 hectares. Their outlines resembled a labyrinth.

The abundance of rooms and halls with many doors and a complex layout of corridors, even in a destroyed state, could confuse anyone. All this has led a number of researchers to believe that the discovered Knossos Palace once belonged to the semi-mythical king Minos, the father of Ariadne and the owner of the terrible creature the Minotaur.

This is how civilization was discovered, which received modern history name "Creto-Mycenaean".

Knossos Palace: architecture and interior decoration

Many who have seen the Palace of Knossos with their own eyes claim that it is the same legendary labyrinth of the Minotaur, brought to life from myths.

Eyewitnesses are not confused by the fact that the labyrinth on Crete was built much later than the myth itself was born. And this is no coincidence; the impressive architecture and scale of the structure suggest this idea.

Inside the Palace of Knossos (Steve Jurvetson)

The Knossos Palace was larger than the Vatican and Versailles. Built on a solid foundation, the building had a complex system of passages.

The palace was a kind of building-state with various multi-level buildings connected by countless stairs and passages.

There were several courtyards and buildings, a theater and the summer residence of the king, temples, warehouses and even internal gardens. With all this diversity, the Palace of Knossos was not a chaotic heap, but had a clearly conceived architectural plan, which has no analogues in the world.

The Knossos Palace was distinguished by its magnificent decor with artistic painting and frescoes with a complex composition. Artifacts found during excavations testify to the luxury of the surroundings.

Thus, fragments of furniture and elements of decoration have reached our time: golden vases and lamps, gilded figurines of gods. Armor inlaid with precious stones was found in the storerooms. There are women's jewelry in the rooms.

The surviving wall paintings provide insight into the values and ideals of a bygone civilization. Here you can find the Minoans' ideas about the universe and the gods. In addition, wall scenes made it possible to establish the material culture of a bygone civilization: traditional clothing, household items, occupation, etc.

Fresco with dolphins (Ania Mendrek)

Why was the Palace of Knossos destroyed?

There is no exact information about the “death” of the Knossos Palace. There is a version that it was destroyed during an earthquake and was abandoned by people.

It is also possible that he was buried under the influence of volcanic lava that covered him during a volcanic eruption, as evidenced by the corpses of people and animals discovered during excavations.

And a completely mythical version - the inhabitants of Knossos are representatives of Atlantis.

The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur

One of the famous ancient Greek myths says that once on the island of Crete there lived a terrible creature - the minotaur - a monster with the body of a man and the head of a bull.

He was the fruit of a vicious relationship between the wife of the Cretan ruler Minos Pasiphae and a bull. To hide traces of his wife’s infidelity, Minos ordered Daedalus to build a labyrinth in which he placed the monster.

After the son of Minos Androgeus died at a competition in Athens, the angry ruler of Crete demanded a terrible tribute from the Athenians - every 9 years 7 girls and 7 boys arrived on the island by ship. All of them, as a sign of punishment, were sent to the labyrinth, where they either died, unable to get out of the labyrinth, or were torn apart by a ferocious monster guarding the underground possessions.

The third terrible tribute from Athens took the son of the ruler of Athens, Theseus, to the island of Crete. The young man begged his father Aegeus to let him go with the young people in the hope of defeating the monster and breaking the chain of terrible tribute. So, under black sails - a symbol of mourning - the next group of the terrible sacrifice set off. However, Theseus assured his father that he would return alive and announce his victory with white sails.

According to myth, the daughter of the ruler of Crete, the beautiful Ariadne, fell in love with Theseus. To save her lover, she came up with a cunning plan - she secretly gave him a knife to kill the Minotaur and a ball of thread with which the hero and his companions could get out of the labyrinth.

The plan was a success - the monster was defeated, and the young people went to their homeland. Ariadne followed her lover. However, Theseus was forced to abandon the girl, because she was intended to be the wife of the god Dionysus.

Saddened by the separation, the young man forgot to change the sails, and the ship entered the harbor of Athens under a black banner. Seeing this, Aegeus, distraught with grief, deciding that his son had died, threw himself off the cliff into the sea. Since then it began to be called Aegean.

Labyrinth of the Minotaur: Fiction and Truth

The origin of the legend of the Minotaur has a historical basis. In Crete, the cult of the bull has been revered since ancient times. It was believed that he ruled the underworld and in anger shook the earth's firmament, causing it to oscillate. This is exactly how the islanders explained the frequent earthquakes.

Knossos Palace - North Entrance (Nelo Hotsuma)

The island of Crete, which is of volcanic origin, was constantly subject to earth tremors. This version is also supported by numerous finds of ceramics, images on walls and frescoes, where the main character is a bull. To appease the wrath of the underground god, the Cretans offered him human sacrifices. Thus, there is information about the existence of a bull dance in the ancient Cretan cult ritual.

Tavropols - girls and boys who underwent special training - took part in this sacred rite. Their whole life was devoted to mastering the sacred dance, so that later, at the age of 14–15 years, they would be sacrificed to the underground god during a bloody “fun” with bulls.

At the same time, the Cretans identified the labyrinth with the path of life - there is a beginning and an end, its own roads, choice of direction and dead ends. In addition, the labyrinth was a symbol of the struggle of light forces with dark principles.

Thus, the labyrinth was enveloped in a kind of sacred meaning. It is no coincidence that Cretan builders arranged all the temples in the likeness of a labyrinth.

Frescoes of the Knossos Palace

Frescoes of the Knossos Palace with elegant drawings of Minoan culture picturesquely decorate the walls. The main colors used by ancient decorative artists were turquoise, orange, black and bright red.

Fresco of the Palace of Knossos (Juan Manuel Caicedo Carvajal)

Many frescoes with images of girls jumping over a bull, handsome young men, the “Prince with the Lily”, and the “Rhyton Bearer” are skillfully and detailed.

Unfortunately, tourists are not allowed into many rooms that have beautiful images. The throne room is decorated with paintings in red and white shades, with painted graceful vultures guarding the throne of the ruler of Knossos. The walls of the rooms above the throne room are decorated with copies of found frescoes ("Hall of Frescoes") with beautiful images of "Blue Bird", "Lady in Blue", "Blue Monkey", "Saffron Gatherer", "Playing with the Bulls" and many others. The original frescoes are kept in the Heraklion Museum.

Of particular interest is the megaron of the Queen of Knossos. Parts of a clay bath were found in the bathhouse. An image of a labros periodically appears on the walls of the palace - this is a sign of a labyrinth, which once again suggests that the Palace of Knossos is the secret labyrinth of the Minotaur from the myths of Ancient Greece.

The Palace of Knossos is the main tourist attraction of Crete

The Knossos Palace's resemblance to a labyrinth has made it the most popular archaeological site among tourists. All guidebooks mention its second name – “Labyrinth of the Minotaur”.

There is also a legend that the real labyrinth built for the Minotaur is hidden under the mountains. It is an extensive network of bizarre caves and shapes. Locals they claim that strange creatures still live in it to this day.

The attractiveness of the Knossos Palace also lies in the fact that even during the excavations, work was being carried out simultaneously to restore it. Thus, tourists are presented not just with ruins, but with reconstructed “labyrinth” premises. But at the same time, the restoration work carried out does not allow the ordinary tourist to determine where the real remains of the palace are located, and where is just an interpretation.

Where is the Palace of Knossos?

The Palace of Knossos is located near the Cretan capital Heraklion. Buses constantly run towards the palace. Thus, the journey to the main attraction of the island takes very little time.

Cost of visiting the Labyrinth of the Minotaur

A visit to the “labyrinth” for adults will cost 6 euros, for children – 3 euros. The palace museum is open all year round. During the peak tourist period - from July to October - it is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The rest of the time - from 8 to 15. Near the palace there are numerous souvenir shops where anyone can buy a souvenir.

Tips: how to save money on an excursion to the Palace of Knossos?

The Palace of Knossos stands serenely, literally on the outskirts of the capital of Crete, Heraklion. Just 4 kilometers from stunning beaches and a popular recreation area, getting here is quite easy.

Juan Manuel Caicedo Carvajal

When purchasing a guided tour to the Palace of Knossos, you can overpay 3-5 times, average price from a tour operator - 50 euros, from a street guide - 35 euros. Please note that entrance to the museum complex itself is not included in the price of the excursion offer.

But there are also positive aspects here - a comfortable bus and a competent guide.

For those who want to visit the museum complex on their own and save money, they can use by public bus. Buses depart from Heraklion bus station and Astoria Hotel every 10-15 minutes to Knossos Palace (bus no. 2). The trip does not last long - about 20 minutes.

There are differences between the buses: green buses are intercity, blue buses are city. To travel to the Palace of Knossos, a blue bus departs, costing 1.5 euros one way (final stop). You must buy a bus ticket from a machine located at the bus stop.

For those who rented a car, there is a free parking and a lot of signs on how to get there, which, however, are not required, because... Almost all rental cars in Crete are equipped with navigators with maps of the island's attractions.

Cost of visit

The cost of visiting the palace complex is 6 euros, children under 5 years old are free, preferential categories, children 5-12 years old are 3 euros. We advise you to purchase a “double ticket” at a price of 10 euros for an adult, which is also a ticket to the educational and interesting Heraklion Archaeological Museum(Children under 5 years old also have free admission).

Best time to visit

A visit to the Palace of Knossos during the peak tourist months (from April to October) is possible from 8-00 to 19-00 on weekdays (entry until 15-00 on weekends); and from March to November from 8-00 to 15-00. Crowds of tourists can be avoided if you visit the palace complex in the early morning or closer to the closing of the museum. An hour or two is enough to visit the museum complex.

Free entry

Like many Greek museums and the Acropolis, Crete has special days for tourists where entry to many museum complexes free. This also applies to visiting the Knossos Palace. So, these days are May 18, June 5, August 15, September 27 and the last weekend of September.

Before the trip, it is advisable to prepare and study the map of the Palace complex. The Knossos Palace is located on the top of a hill, so it is almost constantly blown by the hot wind and exposed to the hot rays of the sun. It is necessary to wear hats and take drinking water. It is still better to buy souvenir products in Heraklion, where they will cost several times cheaper.

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