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Concept
Phaistos
Summary
Phaistos (Φαιστός, feˈstos; Ancient Greek: Φαιστός, phai̯stós, Linear B: 𐀞𐀂𐀵 Pa-i-to; Linear A: 𐘂𐘚𐘄 Pa-i-to)), also transliterated as Phaestos, Festos and Latin Phaestus, is a Bronze Age archaeological site at modern Faistos, a municipality in south central Crete. Ancient Phaistos was located about east of the Mediterranean Sea and south of Heraklion, the second largest city of Minoan Crete. The name Phaistos survives from ancient Greek references to a city in Crete of that name at or near the current ruins.
Phaistos was inhabited by about 3600 BC, slightly later than other early sites such as Knossos. During the Early Minoan period, the site's hills were terraced and monumental buildings constructed on them. The first palace was built in the Middle Minoan IB period, around 1900 BC. Like other palaces, it was built in an area that had been used earlier for communal feasting. This initial palace was destroyed and rebuilt three times in period of about three centuries. After the first and second disaster, reconstruction and repairs were made, so its history is divided into three construction phases.
Several artifacts with Linear A inscriptions were excavated at this site. The name of the site also appears in partially deciphered Linear A texts, and is probably similar to Mycenaean 'PA-I-TO' as written in Linear B. Several kouloura structures (subsurface pits) have been found at Phaistos. Pottery has been recovered at Phaistos from in the Middle and Late Minoan periods, including polychrome items and embossing in imitation of metal work. Bronze Age works from Phaistos include bridge spouted bowls, eggshell cups, tall jars and large pithoi.
The levels of the theater area, in conjunction with two splendid staircases, gave a grand access to the main hall of the propylaea through high doors. A twin gate led directly to the central courtyard through a wide street. The floors and walls of the interior rooms were decorated with plates of sand and white gypsum stone. Upper floors of the west sector had spacious ceremonial rooms, although their exact restoration was not possible.
Official source
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