Middle and Late Bronze Age settlement, 8 km/5 mi south of present-day Iraklion, Crete. Knossos is one of the main cities of what is known as the
Minoan civilization (a modern name derived from the legend of King Minos). The archaeological site, excavated by Arthur Evans in 18991935, includes the palace throne room, the remains of frescoes, and construction on more than one level. The Greek myth of Theseus's encounter with the Minotaur in a labyrinth was possibly derived from the ritual bull-leaping by young people depicted in the palace frescoes and from the mazelike layout of the palace.
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