FBU4250072: Minoen archeological site of Knossos. West wing next to the “” tripartite shrine””. Room with two large rectangular repositories sunk into the floor. They were full of clay vases and valuable obects among which the famous statuettes representing the “Snake Goddess””. The repositories have been interpreted as the 'Temple Repositories'. Knossos, Crete., Minoan / Bridgeman Images
FBU4250141: Minoan archeological site of Phaistos.The west court and the theatral area. Large paved court in front of the facade and the central entrance of the palace (1900 -1700 BC). This court played an important part in the lives of the inhabitants. At the foot of the wall there are eight wide steps which formed the seats of the theatral area, used for religious event and festivals., Minoan / Bridgeman Images
FBU4250167: Minoan archeological site of Phaistos.North east complex. Complex of four rooms directly adjoining the old palace. These rooms were used to store valuable ritual vessels. The famous “” Phaistos disc”” bearing hieroglyphic writing was found here with other clay tablets inscribed in linear A. There are also Potter's Workshop as a large number of unfinished pots were found here. Phaistos, Crete., Minoan / Bridgeman Images
FBU4250170: Minoan archeological site of Phaistos.North east complex. Complex of four rooms directly adjoining the old palace. These rooms were used to store valuable ritual vessels. The famous “” Phaistos disc”” bearing hieroglyphic writing was found here with other clay tablets inscribed in linear A. There are also Potter's Workshop as a large number of unfinished pots were found here. Phaistos, Crete., Minoan / Bridgeman Images
FBU4250198: Minoan archeological site of Phaistos.The queen's Megaron (ie the queen's apartments). The southernmost of the “” Royal Apartmentsof Phaistos. The floor were paved with Gypsum slabs and red plaster filling the interstice. Gypsum were also used for thr benches running around the walls. Two staircases led to the upper floor of the Megaron and the peristyle, where one of the main entrance of the “” Royal Apartment 'was located. Phaistos, Crete., Minoan / Bridgeman Images
FBU4250228: Minoan archeological site of Phaistos. General view of the central court from the shrines of the west wing.The central court is a basic architectural element of Minoen palace. It is a core around which the different wing are set. This central court was built in the time of the old palace (1900-1700 BC). It was also use in the New Palace. The central court was used for economic, social and religious activities of the palace. Phaistos, Crete., Minoan / Bridgeman Images
FBU4250262: Minoan archeological site of Phaistos. The west magazines. Large complex of the palace storerooms. It consists of the antechamber, the corridor of the storerooms, and the storerooms themselves. To right and left of the corridor were 11 magazines in which the goods of the palace were stored. The column insde supported the roof. The antechamber opens off the central court and under the floor of the antechamber was discovered the Archive Room of the Old Palace (1900-1700 BC) containing over 6000 clay sealings, ie impressions on balls of clay which were used to monitor the use of the goods in the magazines., Minoan / Bridgeman Images
FBU4250274: Minoan archeological site of Phaistos. View over the central court from the north wing. The central court was a basic architectural element of Minoen palace. It is a core around which the different wing are set. This central court was built in the time of the old palace (1900-1700 BC). It was also use in the New Palace. The central court was used for economic, social and religious activities of the palace. The stairs, visible here, led to the upper floor of the palace. Phaistos, Crete., Minoan / Bridgeman Images
FBU4250287: Minoan archeological site of Phaistos. General view of the west wing shrines along the central court from the north wing. There were two types of shrine: “Bench shrine” and “Lutral Basin””. The “” bench Shrine”” was a small and rectangular room with low benches running round the walls to support cult objects and figurine of the deity. On some of them were found female figurine, ritual vessels, and “” offering tables”” (small altar). The “” Lustral Basin”” type was a room lower than the founding structures, with a few steps leading down into them. It was used for purification rituals., Minoan / Bridgeman Images
FBU4250313: Minoan archeological site of Phaistos. Gateway of the north wing opening off the central court. The north wing is the most important wing of the palace because it is believed to have housed the “” Royal Apartments””. Gateway leading to the complex of the “” Royal Apartments. Behind the gateway is a wide corridor with a drainage duct leading to an inner court yard next to the Royal Apartments. Phaistos, Crete., Minoan / Bridgeman Images