Date: April 5
Partners for the day: Neha (text) Laura (images)
Site(s): Knossos, Archanes, Mount Juktas, Vathypetro, Phourni
Museum(s):
Principal Buildings/Monuments: Palace of Knossos, Little Palace and “Unexplored Mansion,” the ‘Temple Tomb,’ Vathypetro villa, Minoan Peak Sanctuary at Mount Juktas, Minoan Palace at Turkpgeitonia in Archanes
Time Spent on Sites: from ca. 8 am to ca.5:15 pm [approx. 9 hours]
Weather: Mostly sunny and mild
Our morning began early at 8 am when we boarded a bus and headed toward Knossos. We spent most of the morning at the Palace of Knossos, which was excavated by Sir Arthur Evans. We then walked west from the north portico of the Palace to reach the remains of the Little Palace and “Unexplored Mansion.” There was a short drive to our next destination, which was a royal burial known as the “Temple Tomb.” The next stop of the day was at the archaeological site of Vathypetro, which featured a stone villa of the Neopalatial period. The group then enjoyed a pleasant lunch on the hillside near the cemetery of Phourni. We had to board the bus once again in order to make the long drive up Mount Juktas. Apart from the amazing view, the group also saw a fine example of a Minoan peak sanctuary. Our last stop of the day was in Archanes where we saw the remnants of a large palatial complex, which is yet to be fully excavated.
Sir Arthur Evans is responsible for the excavation and restoration of most of the sites that our group visited today. While walking through the remains of the Palace of Knossos, I was most surprised by sheer amount of features that Evans’ restored and how these restorations have enhanced the overall effect of the site on visitors. In order to preserve the architectural elements of the site, Evans used cement and timber to reinforce a number of the Palace’s building walls and foundations. One of the larger restorations performed by Evans is that of the Palace’s West Façade. The original remains included part of the poros ashlar blocks used in the foundation and the gypsum orthostates placed above them. Evans used cement to replace the lost timbers above the orthostates and restored the west façade as a two-storey structure. Evans also rebuilt the ‘Tripartite Shrine’ and restored columns in many areas of the Palace that include the “Throne Room” and Lustral Basins. The line of the procession into the Palace is also restored along with the column and façade of the South Propylaeum. Other major restorations include the addition of wall paintings or paint in certain rooms and exterior facades of the Palace. However, it should be noted that some of the wall paintings were not found in the rooms they were restored like the famous “Procession Fresco,” which is restored on the façade of the South Propylaeum instead of the corridor of the West Porch.
Despite such liberties, Evans’ restorations seem to have made the site more appreciable to a general audience by providing a visual insight into both the workings of the Palace and Minoan culture. Without his restorations, it would more difficult to imagine what the Palace façade and inner rooms looked like. The numerous wall paintings also serve an important purpose as they provide viewers with a semblance of how the Minoans dressed and the type of cultural acts they performed. Evans’ restorations have aided viewers in recognizing recognize the function of particular areas in the Palace such as the “Tripartite Shrine,” which many individuals would not guessed the purpose of based on the original remains alone. I believe Evans’ restorations have been a key element in drawing tourists to the site since it allows them to use their imagination and see something more than rubble and foundations.
However, Evans’s restorations have suffered criticism from other archaeologists who believe that Evans gave preference to his own viewpoints while restoring the site. Nonetheless, Evans’ restorations and conservation of certain elements of the Palace have helped the site withstand the over 1 million tourists who visit the site each year. Beginning in the 1990s, the Greek Archaeological Service began a program to continue conservation of this important site. These changes involve closing access to certain areas of Palace from the public and using timber walkways round the site. These conservation efforts thus enable the site to continue receiving visitors and remain one of the most popular tourist sites in Crete.