Minoan Palace of Zakros

Zakros, situated in a secluded area of eastern Crete, 45km southeast of Sitia, was a significant port and administrative center for Eastern Crete during the Minoan Age due to its faster communication with the Middle East. Numerous findings, including gold sheets, ivory, jewelry, and pottery, highlight the city’s close ties with the ports of Cyprus, Egypt, and the Middle East.

The Palace of Zakros, constructed at the entrance of the impressive Gorge of the Deads, is the fourth largest Minoan palace to be excavated. The region is abundant in archaeological treasures, with the name of the gorge itself derived from the pre-Minoan graves discovered on its sides. While the site is open to visitors, most artifacts are housed in the museums of Heraklion, Sitia, and Agios Nikolaos.

The palace spans 4.5 acres, while the surrounding settlements cover a total area of 8 acres. Excavations began in 1900 by the British School of Archaeology and continued until 1940, revealing numerous Minoan houses and objects. Nikolaos Platon discovered the palace in 1961 after viewing three golden artifacts from Zakros in a doctor’s collection. The unlooted Palace of Zakros, with its intact treasury vault, is considered one of the most significant archaeological finds.

Similar to other palaces in Crete, the palace was constructed in 1900 BC, destroyed in 1600 BC, and re-destroyed in 1450 BC. The palace’s heart was a large central courtyard, which connected to a paved road leading to the port. Remnants of kitchens, workshops, warehouses, the treasury vault, the file room, a lustral basin, skylights, a banquet room, royal apartments, and a large pool-like fountain can still be seen around the courtyard. Numerous multi-room houses, likely auxiliary to the palace, were also located nearby.

A plethora of freshwater wells can be found in the Zakros region. Interestingly, many turtles reside in the wells located within the site. German scientists are studying this peculiar phenomenon and believe that the turtles’ presence in Zakros dates back to the Minoan era. Additionally, north of Zakros, near the Pelekita cave, visitors can see the quarry from which the palace materials were extracted.