Classical Greece: Crete, Rhodes

The Palace of Minos at Knossos (below), Crete, is considered as Europe's oldest city. The palace proves the advanced level of technology attained by the Minoans. Impressive features of it are the variety of building materials used, painted plaster, marble revetment and wall-paintings adorning the rooms and passages. It is also demonstrated by some original architectural and structural features, such as the use of beams to reinforce the masonry, the complex drainage and water-supply systems.

The numerous finds from the palace, all of exceptionally high quality art, pottery, vessels, figurines, the archie of Linear B tablets, and the original wall-paintings, are all housed in Herakleion Archaeological Museum. The storage jars (below) were used for storing wet and dry consumables, such as oil, wine and grain.

The Palace of Knossos (below) is connected with thrilling legends, such as myth of the Labyrinth with the Minotaur, and the story of Daidalos and Ikaros.

The acropolis of Lindos (below), Rhodes, is a natural citadel, which was fortified successively by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, the Knights of St. John and the Ottomans. This makes the site difficult to excavate and interpret archaeologically.

 

 

The highest point at the acropolis is the temple of Athena (below), which together with the buildings from the Byzantine period and the period of the Knights creates an attractive mix.

The acropolis offers spectacular views (below) of the surrounding harbors and coastline.

 

 

      If you don't want to climb up to the acropolis, then you can take a donkey.

Rhodes has been famous for the Colossus of Rhodes, which stood over 98 feet high, making it one of the tallest statues of the ancient world. It was destructed in the earthquake of 226 BC.

The citadel of Rhodes (below) is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe.                          

 

 

Inside the medieval walls (below).

 

 

The Palace of the Grand Master (below) was built in the early 14th century by the Knights of Rhodes. The rooms are filled with mosaic floors, medieval furniture, mirrors, paintings and candlesticks.

When the Rhodes was occupied by Italy, the palace was a holiday residence for Italian king, Victor Emmanuel, and later for a fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.