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Knossos Facts & Worksheets

The ancient Cretan city of Knossos, also called Cnossus, served as the legendary monarch Minos's capital and the central hub of the Minoans, one of the oldest Aegean civilizations.

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The ancient Cretan city of Knossos, also called Cnossus, served as the legendary monarch Minos’s capital and the central hub of the Minoans, one of the oldest Aegean civilizations. Excavations at Knossos started under Sir Arthur Evans in 1900, and they uncovered a palace and other structures that were the epicenter of an advanced Bronze Age civilization that ruled the Aegean between 1600 and 1400 BCE. 

See the fact file below for more information on Knossos, or you can download our 25-page Knossos worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

THE FIRST AND SECOND PALACES

  • Under Minos’ rule, Knossos flourished as a result of commerce with the two largest cities of Crete, Kato Sakro (Phaestos) and Mallia, on the sea and land. 
  • At least twice, Knossos was destroyed and rebuilt. The first palace was discovered in modern times. Atop the remnants of a much earlier town, about 1900 BCE. The initial castle appears to have been enormous in scale and had extremely thick walls based on the site’s excavations. 
  • Since the island of Crete was not united under a single civilization then, ancient pottery discovered at several places around the island suggests that the palace’s walls were likely built to their scale and thickness for defensive reasons.
  • Nothing other than conclusions drawn from archaeological evidence is known about this period since the Cretan hieroglyphs of this era have not been decoded.
  • This original palace was destroyed and rebuilt in 1700 BCE on a more significant, albeit less substantial, size and with less focus on defensive walls, intricate architecture, and design received much attention.
  • It has been discovered that the culture of Knossos predominated at this time and that Crete was a cohesive nation governed from a single location since pottery from this period displays cultural uniformity across the whole island.
  • Four doors, one in each direction, led to the center court in this palace. The tale of the Labyrinth of Minos is believed to have originated because of the interior’s dark and winding pathways. 
  • The royal chamber was breathtaking. The British School at Athens states: “Two double doors opened into the Throne Room, which had seats made of gypsum on either side and a beautiful throne in the middle of the north wall surrounded by the restored Griffin mural.” 
  • The scholars of the British School have further concluded that the throne room was not intended for the ruler but rather as a seat for the goddess who was to receive supplicants and sacrifices there. 
  • This view is supported by murals and other artifacts discovered at the site, which indicate the monarch’s throne was probably in the central court and the throne room was more ceremonial and religious.
  • The most significant deity of the Minoans was known as the Snake Goddess. She could have been an ancestor of the Greek goddess Eurynome, who performed the act of creation by dancing over the chaos of the primordial sea with the serpent Ophion. 
  •  At Knossos and other locations in Crete, artifacts of the Snake Goddess from this period have been discovered. She is currently on display at the Iraklion Museum. 
  • The repeated use of the double-axe motif, especially in the palace’s Hall of the Double Axes, provides more proof of the goddess’ existence. 
  • The double ax undoubtedly represented a significant deity to the Minoans. However, it is unclear if that goddess was the Snake deity or another.

THE MYTHS

  • King Minos reportedly engaged the Athenian architect, mathematician, and inventor Daedelus to create his palace. 
  • According to early city mythology, the castle was so brilliantly built that no one who entered it could find their way back without a map.
  • In other versions of the same tale, the labyrinth constructed inside the palace to hold the half-man, half-bull creature known as the Minotaur, rather than the castle itself, was designed this way.
  • Daedalus and his son Icarus were imprisoned by Minos at Knossos in a high tower to prevent them from revealing the palace’s secrets. 
  • Daedelus, who had made his and his son’s wings out of wax and bird feathers, succeeded in flying. Icarus, however, perished as his wings melted after he flew too near the sun.
  • The monster-child of Minos’ wife, the Minotaur, lived on human sacrifice. Therefore, Minos demanded tribute from the most honorable adolescent in Athens to feed the beast. 
  • With the aid of Minos’ daughter Ariadne, Theseus of Athens killed the Minotaur, set the children free, and triumphantly returned to his hometown.
  • Both tales emphasize Athenian heroes while painting King Minos in a highly unfavorable light, which is not unexpected given that they are thought to have Athenian roots.

THE END OF KNOSSOS & LATER DISCOVERIES

  • A combination of an earthquake and the advancing Mycenaeans devastated Knossos and nearly every other community center on Crete, except for the palace in 1450 BCE.
  • It has long been believed that the destruction of the city and second palace was greatly influenced by the volcano’s eruption on the adjacent island of Thera (Santorini) around 1600 or 1500 BCE.
  • However, more recent research challenges this notion by pointing to Mycenaean activity at the palace beyond 1450 BCE. 
  • After the Thera volcano erupted, the Mycenaean writing system, often known as “Linear B,” continued to be used in Crete. Additionally, there is evidence that the Mycenaeans rebuilt the destroyed palace.
  • Knossos was the Mycenaeans’ principal operational hub and capital until a fire destroyed it in 1375 BCE. No trace of the Minoan civilization existed beyond 1200 BCE, widely considered its demise.
  • With the Mycenaean invasion, some researchers place the end date at around 1450 BCE, while others assert that it was closer to 1375 or 1300 BCE because of the fire that destroyed the palace and the city. 
  • Regardless of how long the Minoans remained on the island, the remnants of the enormous town were abandoned and allowed to deteriorate after the fire.
  • But aside from this, Knossos also stands out for its significance in the history books. It was the scene of some of the most contentious ancient Mediterranean restorations, one of the first significant scientific excavations in Europe, and the model site for all Minoan archaeology.  
  • Knossos is an essential element of many discourses in the history and historiography of the ancient world due to all of this. 

Knossos Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Knossos across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Knossos. Excavations at Knossos started under Sir Arthur Evans in 1900, and they uncovered a palace and other structures that were the epicenter of an advanced Bronze Age civilization that ruled the Aegean between 1600 and 1400 BCE. 

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Knossos Facts
  2. Fill the Space
  3. Define It!
  4. Fact Check
  5. The Main Characters
  6. Show The Way
  7. Impact of Discoveries
  8. Acrostic & Symbol Making
  9. Bulls in Knossos
  10. Broadcasting 
  11. Storytelling Time

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Knossos?

Knossos is an ancient archaeological site located on the island of Crete, Greece. It is one of the most important and well-known archaeological sites in Europe, dating back to the Bronze Age. Knossos is particularly famous for being the center of the Minoan civilization, which flourished from around 2700 BC to 1450 BC.

Who built Knossos?

Knossos was built and inhabited by the Minoan civilization, which is considered one of the earliest advanced civilizations in Europe. The Minoans were skilled architects, engineers, and artisans, known for their impressive palaces, sophisticated art, and maritime trade.

What was the purpose of Knossos?

The exact purpose of Knossos is still a subject of debate among historians and archaeologists. It is widely believed that Knossos served as the administrative and political center of the Minoan civilization. It was also likely a religious and cultural hub, as evidenced by the numerous religious artifacts and frescoes discovered at the site.

Who discovered Knossos?

Knossos was rediscovered by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans in the early 20th century. He began excavations at the site in 1900 and continued them for several decades. Evans’ work was instrumental in uncovering the Minoan civilization and shedding light on its history and culture.

What are some notable features of Knossos?

Knossos is renowned for its impressive palace, which is believed to have been the residence of the Minoan rulers. The palace complex features intricate frescoes, colorful pottery, advanced plumbing systems, and a labyrinthine layout. One of the most famous frescoes discovered at Knossos is the “Bull-Leaping” fresco, depicting acrobats performing daring feats over a charging bull.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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