5 km east of Heraklion are the ruins of the palace of Knossos. The first palace was built around 1900 BC 200 years later it was destroyed by an earthquake and was rebuilt again, becoming more majestic and luxurious. In the XV century. BC. Palace finally destroyed as a result of another earthquake and fire. Palace was not only the royal residence, but also a religious and administrative center.

In 1878, the merchant, amateur archaeologist from Heraklion Minos Kalokairinos began excavations of one of the warehouses. As a result, it was found the ruins of a huge palace of Knossos.

The palace is a complex of buildings, which are grouped around a large courtyard. They are located at different levels, interconnected stairs and corridors, some of which go deep into the ground. The corridors lead into blind alleys, passages between the floors are made in the most unexpected places, the layout of rooms defies common sense. Palace is not a monolithic structure at its center is a fairly extensive yard.

The floors of the palace is based on columns and staircases are interconnected. Historians suggest that the life in the palace held the most lush and diverse. This is confirmed by numerous surviving fragments and shards have been found among the ruins of Knossos. Hundreds of halls and rooms intended for receptions, served as a rest for the king and queen, dignitaries and ladies, servants and slaves. Here we were located and spacious royal workshops of artisans. The palace discovered huge storage, a theater that can accommodate up to 550 people, a place for ritual representations of bullfighting, well thought-out system of sewerage and water supply, and even the first in the history of flush toilets. From the palace began the oldest road in Europe, used only by pedestrians.

In the throne room of the palace of Knossos on the walls depict griffins - mythical creature with a lion's torso, head and wings of an eagle. Tales of monstrous bull appeared, apparently, is not accidental. The walls of the palace of Knossos are covered with numerous frescos, which are well preserved. They, as well as stone and gold vessels constantly meet the image of a bull sometimes peacefully grazing, sometimes furious, flying gallop. The cult of the sacred bull was circulated on the island, but so far it is not clear what it was religion.

Among the pictures in many rooms of the palace are often found images of bilateral hatchet. This is a symbolic sign, associated with the religious cult of the Cretan people. Double Axe with the tip in Greek is called "Labrys". Scientists say that from here comes the word "labyrinth" which is called "the house of the double ax" - the palace of King Minos.