From what we can observe and interpret of the ruins of King Minos’ Palace, the architects and builders of the time shared many ideas and basic concepts with that of other ancient cultures. On a broad level, it encompasses the 3 different elements of architecture once spoken of by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio in his writings. There is a certain level of firmness, its size and scale offers a unique form of utility, and we can even find a desire for beauty and artistic expression within the palace as well. It relates to other ancient structures through these things in its very own way, and creates a unique site that I believe is something worth looking at today.
Beginning with the firmness of the structure, the palace appears to have been constructed entirely from stone. This was, like with the pyramids and palaces of Egypt, probably one of the more plentiful materials to work with during the time. Additionally, the stacked stones and the use of columns gives us an idea of the sort of cooperation necessary to bring the building together in such a well devised manner. I would say that its materiality and precision make it something of an evolution of the stone fortification and the step pyramid concepts from the early cities of Jericho and Egypt respectively. I find that the very basic form of the building is similar, with a rectangular square base that surrounds the palace, and stones figures being piled to create a structure that rises up. However, things like the edges and steps within the building are more defined and sharp. That lets us know that the builders must have had some kind of cutting materials that other cultures didn’t. The building may also be building upon the concept of hillforts, given the manner in which it rests upon its site.
In terms of utility, this structure seems to have been capable of housing dozens of citizens. There are many rooms, there’s plenty of wide open space to walk about, and from above, I think that these traits give it the look and feel of a large community center. Due to this, the fact that it was at one point a larger palace, and the paintings that decorate it, I believe that may have also been a place of worship and celebration on a large scale. This could be another similarity that the structure shares with those found in the rest of the ancient world. The Egyptians have a great deal of reverence for those who have passed on in their cultures, as they were driven to dedicate their own paintings, sculptures and of course the pyramids to their Pharaohs and deceased loved ones.
We can find a clear desire for beauty and expression in the building’s fresco paintings and use of vibrant color. This is perhaps another element of the building’s celebratory and honorary nature. In particular, the paintings which depict bulls tell us directly that denizens of this building had close interaction with this. Drawing further comparison to the Egyptians, many of the paintings found here are intended to be descriptive and stylized. The human renderings are notably similar in style to what we can see in Egyptian artwork. Columns are also colored with a striking red color that complements the rest of the building. Ever so slightly, they provide the structure with a bit more vibrancy.
I think that we can see glimpses of Greek architecture, but not to the extent of other structures found in other cultures due to its scale. Notable Greek architecture was very grand and almost regal in design, whereas this feels more simplistic and modest by comparison. I think it’s reasonable to assume that the modern day hotel would be capitalizing on the building’s historical value, but I also think that there are features of the architecture still relevant today. When I look at it from an overhead view, I’m reminded of communities which feature living spaces and shopping outlets in close proximity. It’s very compact and built for a variety of people to live and thrive in. Given that more people in modern times want things closer and more readily accessible to them, I think that this type of design is somewhat relevant to today. Whether or not the Hotel makes use of that specifically, I can’t say.
The Palace of King Minos carries similarities to the proto-Greek structures of old, and to me its design bears a bit of relevance and intrigue worth looking at today. On a basic level, it has firmness in its overall structure and choice of materials, the latter of which is a reflection of its time. Its utility can be determined by its grandeur and artistry, allowing a great space within which to congregate and pay homage to some great figure. The fresco paintings and use of vibrant color express a desire for beauty in addition to the building’s utility, and furthermore enhance that utility. Finally, I believe that it’s capacity to house the amount of people that it can for a common purpose is a big draw, and perhaps relevant to a world where people want to be closer to the things that they need.
Image Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/temple-palace-columns-landmark-6790007/
