Images in this gallery are from the Minoan palatial city of Phaistos, situated in central southern Crete in the prefecture of Iraklio.
The Minoan palatial city of Phaistos (Phaestos, Festos) is magnificently sited on a rocky crest overlooking the fertile Messara Plain and in the shadow of Mount Psiloritis, the highest mountain in Crete at 2454 metres.
Founded by the legendary Rhadamanthys, the younger brother of Minos, Phaestos was the second most important Minoan...
more »Images in this gallery are from the Minoan palatial city of Phaistos, situated in central southern Crete in the prefecture of Iraklio.
The Minoan palatial city of Phaistos (Phaestos, Festos) is magnificently sited on a rocky crest overlooking the fertile Messara Plain and in the shadow of Mount Psiloritis, the highest mountain in Crete at 2454 metres.
Founded by the legendary Rhadamanthys, the younger brother of Minos, Phaestos was the second most important Minoan palatial city in Crete after Knossos. The first palace was built in the Middle Minoan period (2000-1650BC) and was destroyed by a disastrous earthquake. It was rebuilt almost on top of the first palace between the Middle and the beginning of the Late Minoan period (1650 - 1500 BC) with a similar layout plan as the Palace of Knossos. This second palace was destroyed around 1450 BC due to a catastrophic natural event that affected most of the island. This event brought an end to the Minoan/Mycenaean culture here, although the site continued to be inhabited through to the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Most of the ruins seen today are from the second palace period.
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