FAQ: How Was Knossos Discovered?

The site of Knossos was discovered in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos. The excavations in Knossos began in 1900 by the English archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans (1851–1941) and his team, and continued for 35 years.

How did they discover Knossos?

In 1900 Evans began a systematic excavation of the site. After expanding upon Kalokairinos’s initial dig, Evans discovered a complex network of corridors and rooms that reminded him of the legendary labyrinth of King Minos. Evans accordingly named the palace, Knossos, after that of Minos.

How was Knossos excavated?

The palace was excavated and partially restored with the use of concrete, which was controversial in that time. Its size far exceeded the original expectations, as did the discovery of two ancient scripts, which Evans termed Linear A and Linear B.

When did Evans Discover Knossos?

He began his excavations at Knossos in 1899 when he took over the site which was previously being excavated by Minos Kalikairinos. He found evidence of an early Bronze Age civilization which predates the recently discovered Mycenaean settlements.

What did the discovery of Knossos reveal about Minoans?

The discovery at Knossos revealed that the Minoans built the palace at Knossos and that they were the first civilization to develop in the Aegean region. the discovery also revealed that trade was an important economic activity for the Minoans.

Who discovered Knossos?

Excavations were begun at Knossos under Sir Arthur Evans in 1900 and revealed a palace and surrounding buildings that were the centre of a sophisticated Bronze Age culture that dominated the Aegean between about 1600 and 1400 bc.

What is Knossos who discovered it?

The site of Knossos was discovered in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos. The excavations in Knossos began in 1900 by the English archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans (1851–1941) and his team, and continued for 35 years.

What is Knossos known for?

Knossos is known for being Europe’s oldest city and is famous for the Minoan Palace of Knossos. The Palace of Knossos is located just five kilometers southeast of the island of Crete’s capital city – Heraklion.

How do you get to Knossos?

Getting to Knossos: Knossos is easily reached from the Iraklio’s bus station. Simply take bus number 2 (city bus line which runs 3-5 times an hour) until it reaches its final stop: Knossos. The public buses are cheap. In 2021 the bus will be only around €1.50 one-way.

What artefacts were found at Knossos?

Among the most famous examples form Knossos are a fragment known as “La Parisenne” depicting a woman’s face, one of flying fish and another depicting “bull vaulting”. Many other important artifacts are drawn from Knossos, such as tablets with inscriptions in the Linear A and Linear B syllabaries.

Where did Arthur Evans Discover Knossos?

Sir Arthur John Evans FRS FBA FREng (8 July 1851 – 11 July 1941) was a British archaeologist and pioneer in the study of Aegean civilization in the Bronze Age. He is most famous for unearthing the palace of Knossos on the Greek island of Crete.

What does Evans believe his discovery of Linear B at Knossos proves?

When Arthur Evans started digging at Knossos on Crete in 1900, a major aim was to find inscriptions and prove that the ancient Cretans had been literate. The later, Linear B, represented a subsequent intrusion of Mycenaeans from the mainland.

Why was the Palace of Knossos built?

Ιn Greek mythology, the Palace of Knossos was the residence of the mythical King Minos, the son of Zeus and Europa. King Minos had the legendary artificer Daedalus construct a labyrinth in which to keep his son, the Minotaur, a mythical creature who was half bull and half man.

Who uncovered a Mycenaean palace at Pylos?

Pylos was excavated recently by Carl Blegen. The excavations revealed a large palace. This was given the name the Palace of Nestor because of its similarity in location to the palace of the King Nestor named in the stories of Homer. The palace is characteristic of Mycenaean palace construction.

Who had the strongest army in Greece?

The Spartans were widely considered to have the strongest army and the best soldiers of any city-state in Ancient Greece. All Spartan men trained to become warriors from the day they were born. The Spartan Army fought in a Phalanx formation.

On what island was the palace of Knossos found?

The Palace of Knossos is located just south of modern-day Heraklion near the north coast of Crete.