The excellently constructed building complex, with a total area of approximately 1500 sq.m., is the second largest in Knossos.
Fixing operations are underway in the “Staircase” and the “Cleaning Tank” of the “Little Palace” complex in the archaeological site of Knossos, informs a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The “Little Palace” is located to the north-west of the palace of Knossos, with which it seems to have been connected by the so-called “Royal Road”.
“The Palace of Knossos is the greatest of the centers of Minoan power. The interventions launched are part of the preliminary plan for the management of the Minoan Palace Centers, implemented by the Ministry of Culture in the context of the candidacy for their serial registration in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The “Little Palace” of Knossos is an important monument, organically united with the main palace. Based on the recording of the pathology of the monuments, the specific interventions are part of the immediate actions as they are reflected in the overall plan for the protection of the monuments of the archaeological site. At the same time, operations are being launched to upgrade the operation of the archaeological site and consequently the experience of the visitor”, said the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni.
The load-bearing body of the “Klimakostasi” includes perimeter stone structures-pesses on three sides and an intermediate pesso in the north-south direction, while the building is open on the north side. As part of the fixing and strengthening operations, the closing of the existing openings on the north and south sides (except the entrance), stitching of the existing cracks, construction of a new roof are included, among others. For the “Cleaning Tank” it is necessary to restore the damage caused by wind erosion and rainfall.
The excellently constructed building complex, with a total area of approximately 1500 sq.m., is the second largest in Knossos. Built on three different levels, the lowest of which is 3m. deeper than the floor of the main structure, it is developed in three main areas and presents typical architectural types of Minoan palaces (sub-pillar crypts, porticoes, staircases and cistern).
After the first excavations in the area of the “Little Palace” by A. Evans and D. Mackenzie (1905-1910), restoration work was carried out on the “Climax” with completion of the walls and installation of a roof by Piet de Jong in 1931. Important restoration operations were carried out by the prefects Nikolaos Platonas (1956-1957) and Stylianos Alexiou (1971-1974).
In the western sector of the “Little Palace” complex is the “Catharmon Reservoir”, which is a representative example of neo-palatial architecture and throughout the life of the complex had important religious and ritual uses. In the Minoan clay mortar, the traces of the ribbed wooden columns are preserved, of unique archaeological and architectural value. The main concern of A. Evans himself, already from the revelation of the “Reservoir”, was to protect these prints. Thus, in 1910 a wooden roof with tiles and three skylights was built.
In 1956, this construction was replaced with a roof by the then ‘Eforos N. Platonas. Due to the reverse slope of the roof that allowed the inflow of rain, as well as its poor state of preservation, its replacement was deemed necessary. Thus, in 2011, it was replaced with a new one made of wooden beams with purlins, on which polycarbonate sheets were fixed, as the announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs.
