Palace of Phaistos, Bronze Age palace ruins near Tybaki, Greece
The Palace of Phaistos is a Minoan ruin site in Crete spanning three large terraces with Bronze Age remains. The excavated areas reveal courtyards, staircases, storage rooms, and other structures that show how this ancient administrative center was organized.
This Minoan palace was built around 2000 BC and served as a major administrative center until destroyed by an earthquake around 1700 BC. This disaster marked the end of the early palace period on Crete and led to significant changes in regional power.
The site displays evidence of early writing through numerous seals and clay tablets marked with Linear A script, showing how important record-keeping was to Minoan society. Walking through the ruins, visitors can see where officials likely worked and organized the palace's affairs.
The site is accessible on foot with pathways connecting the different terrace levels, though some areas are uneven and rocky. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and shade is limited, so early morning or late afternoon visits are more comfortable.
Excavations revealed the Phaistos Disc, a mysterious clay tablet with symbols arranged in a spiral pattern that researchers still cannot fully understand. This puzzling artifact remains one of the most intriguing objects from Minoan culture.
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