A Glimpse of the Glorious Past at Malia Palace Archaeological Site
While it appeared on Crete and several other Aegean islands in the early Bronze Age, the Minoan Civilization, beyond mythological references, was - until its collapse in 1450 BC and its final end around 1100 BC - a particularly powerful and flourishing civilization, considered by historians to be the cradle of Greek and European civilizations
For more than a century, archaeological works in Crete have brought to light the ruins of palaces and settlements, which impress with their architectural grandeur, technological advancement, artistic refinement, and the network of roads and ports that prove that there was an intense commercial activity.
An archaeological attraction in the Heraklion Region is the Minoan Palace in Malia, located in a wonderful green setting near the sea, on the road linking eastern and central Crete. This is the third-largest Minoan palace in Crete, after Knossos and Phaistos, first excavated in 1915.
Its first inhabitants lived here during the Neolithic and early Minoan periods (6000-2000 BC). As archaeological findings suggest, the famous Minoan Palace, covering a total area of 7,500 sq m, was a vassal of Knossos. It was erected around 1900 BC by King Sarpedon, the third son of Zeus and Europa and brother of the legendary king Minos (In Greek mythology, Sarpedon, Rhadamanthys, and Minos were the three sons of Zeus and Europa. Each ruled a different part of Crete, Sarpedon at Malia, Rhadamanthys at Phaistos, and Minos at Knossos).
Driven by the curiosity to explore the glorious past of the island, we visited the site for a few hours with two enthusiastic local girls from Malia, who shared their knowledge of history with us.
We are happy to present to you our photo album, enjoy!
Photos by Nick Deris
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