In the late 19th century, Minos Kalokairinos, a Cretan merchant and antiquarian, initiated the first modern exploration of Knossos, an ancient site near Heraklion on Crete’s north coast. In either 1877 or 1878, Kalokairinos excavated at Kephala Hill, revealing sections of the west wing's storage magazines and facade. Among the finds were large pithoi still containing remnants of food and the double-axe motif, a symbol of Minoan royal authority. However, fearing Ottoman interference, the Cretan parliament halted the dig in early 1879, and Kalokairinos' excavation notes were later lost in the 1898 insurrection. It wasn't until 1900 that Knossos would be excavated on a much larger scale by British archaeologist Arthur Evans. Over the next three decades, Evans uncovered the massive palace complex and restored parts of it, transforming Knossos into the most significant Bronze Age site in Crete. He interpreted it as the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization, characterized by complex architecture, vibrant frescoes, and a centralized administration. Evans’ reconstructions were controversial, blending archaeology with imagination, but they drew global attention to the Minoans and redefined early Aegean history. Knossos later played a role in more recent history. Villa Ariadne, the mansion Evans built on the site, briefly housed the Greek government-in-exile during World War II’s Battle of Crete. It was subsequently occupied by Nazi military authorities. After the war, the site was transferred to the Greek government and became a central location for Aegean archaeology, with the British School at Athens maintaining a presence. Today, Knossos stands as both a symbol of Minoan civilization and a touchstone for modern archaeological practice, shaped by layers of ancient occupation, 19th-century discovery, and 20th-century political history.

Shop

Knossos Palace