Palace of Knossós, Jars

The Palace of Knossós, just 6 km from the modern capital of Heráklion, was destroyed in an unknown catastrophic event around 1300 B.C. Perhaps, but not universally accepted, some say the Minoan civilization was dealt a death blow by the volcanic eruption on the island of Thera (Santorini) in 1628 B.C.

The west wing of the Palace was occupied by storerooms with the large pithoi (storage jars), and on the upper floors, there were the banquet halls. The east wing contained the residential quarters. The north wing contained the so-called "Customs House," and the South Propylon was the most imposing building in the south wing

Throughout the site, the arrangement of passages, staircases, and doorways would have made it difficult for an intruder to find his way around. Probably a connection between the layout of Minoan palaces and the legend of an inescapable Labyrinth associated with the Minoans.