Zakros in CreteKOSTIS S. CHRISTAKIS

Zakros is situated in a bay sheltered from the

strong northerlies, at the easternmost end of

CRETE. Examined briefly by Hogarth in 1901, the

site was explored by N. Platon from 1961

onwards. The site, inhabited fromEarlyMinoan

times (2600–2100 BCE), grew into a center of

considerable importance in the New Palace

period (1630–1450). The town, only part of

which has been excavated, spread across the

slopes of three hills and the level, narrow valley

extending between them. On the lower level of

the town, a palace was built early in Late

Minoan IB (1500–1450), over the ruins of

a building that was probably the administrative

center of the town (Platon 2002).

The palace is constructed on the same gen-

eral lines as the other palaces. It was found with

its treasures intact: the famous Mountain

Shrine Rhyton, Egyptian stone vases modified

to look Minoan in style, COPPER oxhide-shaped

ingots, BRONZE saws and tools, an archive

of LINEAR A tablets, and over 10,000 pots. The

architectural similarities between the palaces

of Zakros and KNOSSOS, and the Knossian char-

acter of many finds, led N. Platon to believe

that the Palace of Zakros was founded by Knos-

sos to further its own economic development

(Platon 1971: 240–2).

The town seems more like a harbor town

than a palatial city. The houses were laid out in

blocks divided by a system of main streets with

side streets and narrow alleyways. The main

axis is the harbor road running from the

north harbor to the northeast gate of the pal-

ace. The houses have a simple architectural

layout and only a few buildings are more elab-

orate in plan. Rich artifactual assemblages pro-

vide crucial insights into domestic activities.

Zakros was an important economic center.

Although surrounded by poor arable lands,

the town controlled its wider hinterland

through a complex system of stations and

a well-developed road network. The mansion

at Epano Zakros was probably one station used

for the processing and STORAGE of locally pro-

duced staples before their shipment to the

town. The palatial authority played a crucial

part in the control of production and mobili-

zation of staples from outlying territories.

Tablets from the palace and some houses

record considerable quantities of agricultural

goods such as barley, wine, olive oil, and

figs. Wine was a commodity with which

the Zakrian administration was particularly

concerned. Many houses, especially those on

the southwest hill, had wine-press installa-

tions. Wealth also reached the town through

maritime trade. Elephant tusks and copper

oxhide-shaped ingots kept in the palace sug-

gest trade with the Orient. Industry was also

developed. Many spaces within the palace were

used as workshops for the production of high-

quality objects. The absence of workshops in

the town shows that such activities were under

the strict control of the palace.

Town and palace were destroyed and aban-

doned in LateMinoan IB. The picture of repairs

seen in certain parts of the palace shows that the

complex suffered earthquake damage before its

final destruction. Architectural alterations dated

to LateMinoan IBwere also carried out inmany

houses. Sporadic reoccupation occurred in the

southwest quarter of the town during Late

Minoan IIIA2 (1375–1300).

SEE ALSO: Fig; Olives and olive oil; Palaces,

Minoan/Mycenaean.

REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS

Platon, L. (2002) “The political and cultural

influence of the Zakros Palace on nearby sites

and in a wider context.” In J. Driessen,

I. Schoep, and R. Laffineur, eds., Monuments of

Minos: rethinking the Minoan palaces: 145–56.

Liege.

Platon, N. (1971) The discovery of a lost palace of

ancient Crete. New York.

The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, First Edition. Edited by Roger S. Bagnall, Kai Brodersen, Craige B. Champion, Andrew Erskine,

and Sabine R. Huebner, print pages 7161–7162.

© 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Published 2013 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

DOI: 10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah02193

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