Knossos, on the island of Crete, was the home of the ancient Minoan capital. Discovered by British archaeologist Arthur Evans in 1900. He spent 35 years and £250,000 reconstructing the site. Some question the authenticity of the reconstruction stating it the site was a victim of his over zealous imagination. However others feel that his recontstruction provides more of a feel for a site which would have been little more than rubble.

Knossos built in 1900 BC but toppled by a large earthquake in 1700 BC. It was then subsequently rebuilt in a much more grand manner and with considerably more elaborate design. Destroyed again sometime around 1500 and 1450 BC, reasons unknown. It was completely wiped out by a fire some 50 years or so later. Palace was home to hundreds of officials, priests, ordinary people and burial grounds. It would have held many rooms of varying functions from royal domestic quarters, public reception rooms, shrines, workshops, treasuries, storerooms etc, all built around a central court.