Minotaur and the Knossos Palace in Heraklion, Crete

When we visited Heraklion, Crete, we toured the Knossos Palace. Some say there is a labyrinth there that was used to house the minotaur, a half-man, half-bull monster. To date, no physical labyrinth has been found. You may be asking, why does archaeologists think a labyrinth exists at Knossos? The myth goes as such: Poseidon sent King Minos a white bull to sacrifice. King Minos didn't want to sacrifice the white bull so he let it go and replaced it with another bull that he sacrificed. Poseidon found out and was displeased with the king so he put a spell on King Minos' wife, Pasiphae to fall deeply in love with the white bull. The union created a monster, a half-human, half-bull known as a minotaur. Pasiphae nursed the minotaur but he became a ferocious monster. The king had no choice but to hire Daedulus to build a labyrinth to hold the minotaur.

When we toured Knossos, our tour guide pointed out a symbol of a double axe. Interestingly enough, the double axe in Greek is Labrys. Throughout Knossos, the double axe symbol was carved into the stone. 

Sir Authur Evans was a British archaeologist and he excavated the city of Knossos in Crete and discovered the Bronze Age civilization. Knossos is known to be the oldest city in Europe. The palace was built in 2000 BC. and contains 1,300 rooms. Between 1500 and 1600 BC, a volcanic eruption from the surrounding islands destroyed the palace. Around 1450 BC, it was attacked by the Mycenaeans.

The reason why the paintings at Knossos looks fresh is because Evans reconstructed the palace and he hired artists to repaint the walls. No doubt Evans' work was controversial.

The Knossos Palace had multiple levels, multiple entrances and exits. It is 150,000 sq. ft. Scholars debate that the design of the palace is the 'labyrinth'.

All the frescoes found at Knossos is now in the museum. The dolphin fresco is an example of early Minoan art.