The most important center of Minoan civilization, Knossos, grows on the hill of Kefalas, surrounded by olives, vineyards, cypresses, and is located 18 km from Aelia Apartments. According to tradition, it was the seat of King Minos and the capital of the state. With Knossos and more specifically with its palace space, the myths of the Labyrinth are connected with Minotaur and Daedalus with Icarus.
The oldest traces of inhabitation in the palace area date back to the Neolithic period (7000-3000 BC). The habitation continues in the pre-period (3000-1900 BC), at the end of which the space is leveled for the erection of a large palace. This first palace is destroyed, probably by an earthquake. Second, a magnificent palace is erected on the ruins of the old one. After a partial disaster around 1450 BC, the Mycenaeans settled in Knossos.
The palace was destroyed around 1350 BC. from a big fire. The area covered was reborn from the late Mycenaean period to Roman times. Numerous excellent paintings from the palace, vases, utensils, figurines, the recordings of the Linear B writing, as well as the frescoes originals, are kept at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.
