The chief city of Minoan Crete, near
present-day Iraklion, 6 km/4 mi SE of Candia.
The archaeological site excavated by Arthur
Evans 1899-1935, dates from about 2000 BC,
and includes the palace throne room and a
labyrinth, legendary home of the Minotaur.
Excavation of the palace of the legendary
King Minos showed that the story of Theseus's
encounter with the Minotaur in a labyrinth
was possibly derived from the ritual
`bull-leaping' by youths and girls depicted
in the palace frescoes and from the mazelike
layout of the palace.