Phaistos (Greek: Φαιστός, pronounced; Ancient Greek: Φαιστός, pronounced [pʰai̯stós], Linear B: 𐀞𐀂𐀵 Pa-i-to; Linear A: 𐘂𐘚𐘄 Pa-i-to)), also transliterated as Phaestos, Festos and Latin Phaestus, is a Bronze Age archaeological site at modern Faistos, a municipality in south central Crete.It is notable for the remains of a Minoan palace and the surrounding town. The Palace of Phaistos lies on the East end of Kastri hill at the end of the Mesara plain in Central Southern Crete. To the north lies Psiloritis, the highest mountain in Crete. On the slopes of Psiloritis is the Kamares cave, probably a religious or cult centre for Phaistos and the Mesara plain. In this cave a very fine pottery style was.
Visit Phaistos Palace Crete's LesserKnown Minoan Sight Travel Greece Travel Europe
The Minoan palace of Phaistos corresponds to a flourishing city which arose in the fertile plain of the Messara in prehistoric times, from circa 6000 BC to the 1st century BC, as archaeological finds confirm. Phaistos, history. The history of the Minoan palace of Phaistos, like that of the other Minoan palaces of Crete, is a turbulent one: OVERVIEW. Around 60km south of the city of Heraklion, close to Matala and other seaside resorts in southern Crete, the Palace of Phaistos is one of the most important remains of Europe's oldest civilisation, the Minoans. But before you get complacent about taking a tour around yet another Greek ruin, just consider how old that makes it. The palace of Phaistos is one of the largest palaces in Crete and is located in the Regional Unit of Heraklion.. The Minoan palace of Kydonia, discovered by Greek, Danish and Swedish archaeologists, is located in the modern city of Chania in northwest Crete. The low Kastelli hill, rising above the natural harbour and the plain of Chania, was. The Phaistos Disc. The name of Phaistos is quite famous because it is associated with the Phaistos disc which was found in those ruins. In the Northeast part of the palace (in a complex from the first palace), you will see a board explaining where the disc was found. The disc is made of clay and dates back to around 1600 BC.
The Minoan Palace at Phaistos
The Palace of Knossos, the largest Minoan palace.. For instance, the palace at Phaistos appears to align with Mount Ida and Knossos is aligned with Mount Juktas, both on a north-south axis. The first palaces are generally dated to the MM IB period. However, they were not a spontaneous development but rather the culmination of a longer. Located on the fertile Mesara plain in central Crete, Phaistos has been inhabited since the Final Neolithic period (c. 3600-3000 BCE). The settlements greatest period of influence was from the 20th to 15th century BCE, during which time it was, along with Knossos, Malia and Zakros, one of the most important centres of the Minoan civilization.. The settlement of Phaistos continued into the. The archaeological site and Minoan Palace of Phaistos (also spelt Festos) is one of the most visited and well known in Crete.The palace complex and the city of Phaistos were built on a hill, offering a panoramic view, especially to the east, north, and to the south. The rich and fertile plain of Messara opens up ahead to the east for a distance of 40 kilometres. The palace of Phaistos (Faestos, Phaestos, Faistos) commands the Messara plain from its location on a low hill, and it is the second largest palace of Crete after Knossos. The site was inhabited since the late neolithic era with several well organized settlements on the hill and the surrounding area, and the first palace was built around 2000.
Minoan Palace of Phaistos at Greek island Crete Stock Photo Alamy
The unique contribution of the Minoan civilization to European architecture is possibly most evident in the great palace structures of the major Minoan centres of Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and Zakros.Perhaps influenced by Egypt and the Near East and evolving through the monumental tombs of the preceding period, these magnificent buildings, constructed from c. 2000 BCE to c. 1500 BCE, were so. the magnificent Minoan palace of Phaistos with its great royal courts, the great staircases, the theatre, the storerooms and the famous disk of Phaistos.. The exact location of the Palace of Phaistos was first determined in the middle of the 19th century by the British admiral Spratt, while the archaeological investigation of the palace.
Knossos (pronounced /(k ə) ˈ n ɒ s oʊ s,-s ə s /; Ancient Greek: Κνωσσός, romanized: Knōssós, pronounced [knɔː.sós]; Linear B: 𐀒𐀜𐀰 Ko-no-so) is a Bronze Age archaeological site in Crete.The site was a major center of the Minoan civilization and is known for its association with the Greek myth of Theseus and the minotaur.It is located on the outskirts of Heraklion, and. Unfortunately, an unknown disaster hit the city in 1700 BC, when the locals built a new palace on top of the ruins. This new palace lasted until 1450 BC, when the whole site was destroyed for good, possibly by fire. The locals abandoned the idea of rebuilding the palace and never attempted to live there again.
Phaistos, the most splendid representative of Minoan architecture
Since then, Phaistos Palace has largely been left to ruin until archaeological excavations began uncovering the site in the mid-19th century. Today, the site is one of the best-preserved examples of an authentic Minoan palace on the island of Crete, whereas the larger Knossos has largely been restored. The Minoan Palace Phaistos with its superb architectural composition and its almost perfect design, is considered. The most beautiful representative of all Minoan palaces. The ruins of the old and new palace are still preserved. Many visitors to Phaistos call it the most beautiful and interesting archaeological site on Crete.
