It’s a place of history, legends, and Crete’s most extensive and important archaeological sites and it is called Knossos Palace! If you’re planning a trip there, (which you should) here’s the history you need to know before going!
For a long time, historians did not think Knossos was a real city. It was considered to be only a myth. But now we know it isn’t so here is the history of this enticing place.
Legend states, King Minos who was the ruler of Crete and who lived in his palace at Knossos claimed that he had the support and authority from the gods to rule, and he boasted that he could prove it by praying for whatever he wanted and the gods would make it so. Thus, one day while sacrificing to Poseidon, he prayed that a bull would appear from the depths of the sea. Minos vowed to heaven that he would sacrifice the bull to Poseidon once it appeared. Poseidon, then, produced a magnificent bull from the sea; thus, Minos' claim for power was true for no one dared to defy the favour of the gods, let alone the mighty Poseidon who ruled over all of the seas. However, King Minos did not fulfil his vow to Poseidon; he kept the majestic bull for himself and sacrificed a different one to the god. Angered by King Minos' disrespect, Poseidon plotted to punish him.
So, Poseidon punished Minos by creating a passion within the king's wife, Pasiphae, for the bull that came from the sea. Eventually, The Minotaur became the offspring of the Cretan Queen Pasiphae and a majestic bull. Due to the Minotaur's monstrous form, King Minos ordered the craftsman, Daedalus, and his son, Icarus, to build a huge maze known as the Labyrinth to house the beast. The Minotaur remained in the Labyrinth receiving annual offerings of youths and maidens to eat.
One day Theseus, a prince from Athens, whose father is an ancient Greek king named Ageaus sailed to Crete where he was forced to fight a terrible creature called the Minotaur. The Minotaur was a half man, half bull, and was kept in the Labyrinth – a maze – by King Minos. It was said that the Minotaur was the King’s son.
The king's daughter Ariadne however, fell in love with Theseus. When he entered the Labyrinth to fight the Minotaur, Ariadne gave him a ball of thread which he unwound, so that he could find his way back by following it. Theseus killed the Minotaur, and then he and Ariadne fled from Crete, escaping her angry father.
All of this historical information can be found in Knossos so if you enjoyed this article, I hope you take a trip to this place. I hope you enjoyed reading this article.
