Minoan Malia Palace Archaeological Site
The Minoan palace of Malia is an archaeological site 3 km east of Malia town, beside the wetland and Potamos beach. Malia held the third largest Minoan palace on Crete, after Knossos and Phaistos, and the city around it was one of the significant Minoan settlements of the north coast. The palace stood for roughly 450 years across two building phases.
The plan of the second palace is the one visitors walk through: a rectangular central courtyard with four wings around it, on two floors. The ancient name of the city is still unknown.
Sarpedon, the brother of Minos
Mythology gives Malia to Sarpedon, the brother of Minos and a son of Zeus and Europa. Sarpedon ruled here until Minos expelled him from Crete. He then took refuge in Lycia, in Asia Minor.
The discovery of Malia palace: unearthing ancient treasures
The city was completely unknown until 1880, when the landowner of the Chrysolakkos area found a few sheets of gold a few metres west of the palace. Gold diggers moved into the wider area on the strength of that find. Joseph Hatzidakis began proper excavations at the harbour in 1915.
The French Archaeological School took over the work at Chrysolakkos in 1921. There the excavators found the gold jewel depicting bees, which is regarded as the most important find from Malia and is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.
Inside the palace
The first palace was built around 1900 BC and covered 8,800 sq.m. It was destroyed in 1700 BC, and the palace that replaced it had two floors set around a rectangular central courtyard with four wings. The west side was the most important part of the building.
Five kinds of space have been identified on that west side, listed below.
- Warehouses, holding many pots and jars.
- Royal rooms.
- Workshops.
- A weapons room, where the royal scepter of Malia was found.
- Altars.
The palace was destroyed a second time in 1450 BC. Whether an earthquake or an attack brought it down has not been settled.
The city around the palace
The town of Malia covered 1 square kilometre, with its neighbourhoods built sparsely around the palace rather than packed against it. The city minted its own coins, which carried the goddess Athena on one side and two dolphins on the other. Its ancient name is still unknown, though Tarmaros and Milatos are both considered probable.
Things to do near the Malia palace
Five beaches, towns and walks lie within 8 km of the site, listed below with the nearest first.
- Swim at the beach beside the site. Potamos beach lies 1 km away, next to the wetland the palace overlooks.
- Walk into the resort. Malia beach is 2.9 km from the ruins and Malia town 3.1 km, with the full list of things to do in Malia on its own page.
- Head east to Sissi. The village of Sissi is 2.9 km from the palace and the Sissi beaches 4 km.
- Visit the Selinaris gorge and monastery. The St. George Selinaris monastery stands 4.4 km away and the gorge 4.5 km.
- See the cave at Milatos. Milatos Cave is 7.8 km from the site, above the Milatos beaches at 7.3 km.
Getting to the Minoan palace of Malia
Follow the coast road east out of Malia town for 3 km and the site is signposted on the seaward side, next to the wetland. The nearest beach is Potamos, 1 km from the ruins. The next resorts west are Stalis at 5.9 km and its beach at 5.3 km.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Minoan palace of Malia?
The palace stands 3 km east of Malia town, beside the wetland and Potamos beach. The site is on the north coast of Crete, in the Heraklion region.
How old is the palace of Malia?
The first palace was built around 1900 BC and the second was destroyed in 1450 BC. The first building covered 8,800 sq.m. and fell in 1700 BC, and the palace that followed it had two floors around a rectangular central courtyard.
How big was the Minoan palace of Malia?
Malia held the third largest Minoan palace, after Knossos and Phaistos. The first palace occupied 8,800 sq.m., and the city spread over 1 square kilometre around it.
Who discovered the palace of Malia?
A landowner at Chrysolakkos found sheets of gold in 1880, which revealed the site. Joseph Hatzidakis started excavating at the harbour in 1915, and the French Archaeological School continued at Chrysolakkos from 1921.
Where is the gold bee pendant from Malia?
The gold jewel depicting bees is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. The French Archaeological School found it at Chrysolakkos, and it is regarded as the most important find from Malia.
What was the ancient name of Malia?
The ancient name of the city is unknown. Tarmaros and Milatos are the two names considered probable. The coins the city minted show the goddess Athena and two dolphins rather than a name.
Location
Minoan Malia Palace Archaeological Site is located at Malia Minoan Palace, in the Heraklion region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
