The Minoans were the first Greek civilization that developed around 4000 years ago on the island of Crete. The largest and most important site from this civilization is the Bronze Age palace at Knossos, the capital of Crete. Built in 2000 BCE, the palace at Knossos housed the king and served as the center of government, business, and religious life for the Minoans according to excavations. While Greek mythology associates the palace with King Minos and the Minotaur, archaeologists found no evidence of an actual labyrinth and the legends were likely based on caves near the palace. The Minoan civilization and its palace were ultimately destroyed by mainland Greeks around 3400 years ago.

1. The Minoans:
Greece’s First Civilization
Dr. Jennifer Davids
Schechter Westchester

2. The Minoan Civilization
The first Greek
civilization developed
on the Mediterranean
isle of Crete around
4000 years ago.

3. The Palace at Knossos
The bronze age
palace at the
Cretan capital of
Knossos is the
largest and most
important site on
the island of
Crete. It was built
in 2000 B.C.E.

4. Home of King Minos?
In Greek mythology,
the palace is believed
to be the home of the
legendary King
Minos, the human
father of the minotaur.

5. Theseus &the Minotaur
According to Greek
mythology, the
Minotaur lived under
the palace in a great
labyrinth (maze) and
needed to be fed
Athenian prisoners
of war in order to be
satisfied.

6. The Home of King Midas?
The palace is also
believed to be the
home of the
legendary King
Midas, who turned
everything he touched
into gold.

7. King Minos’ Palace
The palace at Knossos was excavated in 1900
by British archaeologist Arthur Evans.

8. King Minos’ Palace
The palace not only housed the king, but would have served as the
meeting place of the government, and the center of business and
religious life.

9. Was there a labyrinth under Knossos?
Archaeologists
have never
found a true
labyrinth under
the palace, but
there are caves
nearby that may
have been
maze-like and
used to keep
prisoners.

10. Was there a Minotaur?
There is no
evidence for a real
Minotaur, but the
people of Crete
seemed to worship
the bull in their
religion. A number
of paintings and
mosaics of bulls
have been found
on the walls of the
ruined palace.

11. What happened to the Minoans?
It is likely that the
Empire of Crete
was destroyed
by the mainland
Greeks about
3400 years ago.
The palace was
destroyed and
never rebuilt.