Heraklion Archaeological Site of Tylissos

Location: Tylissos

The rich and multilayered history of Crete truly begins in the Bronze Age, with the rise of the Minoan Civilization. Considered one of the most important civilizations of the world, it prospered on the island from 3000 BC to 1150 BC. The influence of the Minoans is still felt today throughout the island, with many archaeological sites serving as vestiges of the island’s historic past. One such site is the ancient town of Tylissos, located north of the present Tylissos Village, about 17 km southwest of Heraklion Town.

Tylissos was once a bustling Minoan town that flourished from 1650 BC to 1450 BC. Its advantageous location placed it on the road that connected Knossos to the western part of the island as well as the sanctuary of Pyrgos. It was destroyed around 1450 BC but was quickly rebuilt and continued to thrive up until 1200 BC. During Minoan times, the town controlled the strategic area between Central and Western Crete and possibly regulated economic activities. It is believed that Tylissos also had a great water supply and drain system and was even a center of coppersmithing.

Excavations at Tylissos started in 1912, led by archaeologist Joseph Chatzidakis. In 1940, Nikolaos Platonas carried out maintenance and restoration works, completed sometime in the 1950s. The most important finds that were unearthed in the area are undoubtedly the three palaces that have been named Megaron A, B, and C. Mansion A is the most well-preserved and largest of the three, featuring two floors, 24 rooms, warehouses, and a central courtyard. Various interesting antiquities were found inside the mansions, including clay vessels, bronze axes, copper boilers, ceramic barrels, and fragments of murals.

Among the many other finds, of note are the impressive miniature frescoes which are very similar to those found in Knossos. Equally interesting are the tombs that housed painted sarcophagi, vases, jewels, and clay seals. Bronze and clay figurines and tablets inscribed with Linear A, an ancient writing system, attest to the rich artistic and cultural development of the town. Most of the findings unearthed at the site of ancient Tylissos are now displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.