Throne Room


Behind an antechamber, this beautifully proportioned room is separated by a pillar from a sunken basin that may have been used for purification rituals preceding ceremonies held in the presence of the king. The ruler may have been seated on the alabaster chair ('throne') to the right, with followers squatting on the stone benches lining the walls, which are decorated with frescoes of plants and griffins (mythical beasts regarded by the Minoans as sacred).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Fresco Gallery

Replicas of the ancient site's most famous artworks are displayed here.

2. Piano Nobile

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From the Piano Nobile you can get a view of the clay storage vessels in the west magazines.

3. Charging Bull Fresco

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This famous fresco adorns Sir Arthur Evans’ restored elevated, colonnaded west bastion of the north entrance of the palace.

4. Central Court

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At the heart of the palace, the Central Court was hemmed in by high walls during Minoan times. Rooms facing the western side of the courtyard had official…

5. West Magazines

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Storerooms, and site of the giant pithoi (clay jars) that once held oil, wine and other staples.

6. Grand Staircase

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The impressive grand staircase leads down to the royal apartments.

7. Lustral Basin

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In the northwestern corner, this reconstructed columned structure shelters a below-ground basin that archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans believed was where…

8. Drainage System

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Remnants of a drainage channel and underground clay pipes show that the Minoans had developed a sophisticated water-supply and sewage system.