---
title: Zakros
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Zakros/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Zakros
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
Ideally situated in a sheltered gulf surrounded by mountains, Zakros (or Kato Zakros) in south-eastern [Crete](https://www.worldhistory.org/crete/), was the fourth largest [Minoan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Minoan/) settlement after [Knossos](https://www.worldhistory.org/knossos/), [Phaistos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Phaistos/) and [Malia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Malia/). The ancient name has been lost and the present one derives from the nearest local town. Inhabited since [Neolithic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Neolithic/) times, the settlement achieved its greatest influence in the palatial period c. 2000 BCE to c. 1450 BCE. The fertile land brought prosperity indicated by large [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/)-like buildings, hundreds of food storage jats and [Linear A](https://www.worldhistory.org/Linear_A_Script/) tablets. used for administration. The palace of Kato Zakors was destroyed, possibly by the eruption of the [Thera](https://www.worldhistory.org/thera/) volcano, although the date of this is much disputed, and abandoned c. 1450 BCE with the surrounding settlement also being abandoned c. 1330 BCE.
The site was first excavated in 1901 CE by D. Hogarth of the British School of [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/) and once again from 1961 CE under the supervision of N. Platon, Ephor of Cretan Antiquities. The excavations discovered a large palace complex and surrounding settlement displaying many typical Minoan architectural features. These include a large central court (30x12m), secondary courts, colonnades, light-wells, a monumental stepped entrance, lustral basins (sunken rooms), storage magazines, archive rooms, stairs to a second floor, and paving with large flagstones and red plaster interstices. Some rooms were also covered in [fresco](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Fresco/) similar to (but fewer in quantity than) those at Knossos, depicting spirals, double axes and bull horns of consecration. Unique to the Zakros site is a large circular cistern (5m in diameter) with seven steps leading down into it and originally surrounded by columns. An interesting and unique find in the extensive settlement around the palace complex is a large furnace with four exhaust ducts, perhaps used for metallurgy.
[  Zakros Minoan Site Jenny Hemming (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3043/zakros-minoan-site/ "Zakros Minoan Site")The presence of more than 500 large storage jars (*pithoi*), over 50 fine stone vases, seals and Linear A tablets, quantities of ivory and [bronze](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/bronze/) ingots, fine libation vases and rhyton all suggest the palace, as in the other towns of Minoan Crete, was a prosperous administrative and commercial centre, not only locally but with [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) links to the Cycladic islands, [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/) and the [Peloponnese](https://www.worldhistory.org/Peloponnese/) on mainland [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/). Other archaeological finds of note are fine [gold](https://www.worldhistory.org/gold/) jewellery pieces, Marine style [pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/pottery/) and gold objects such as a bull's head and engraved bowl.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- [Cline, E.H. *The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean.* Oxford University Press, USA, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199873607/)
- Davaras, C. *East Crete.* Hannibal, Athens
- [Higgins, R. *Minoan and Mycenaean Art.* Thames & Hudson, 1997.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500203032/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **c. 2000 BCE - c. 1450 BCE**: [Minoan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Minoan/) Palatial period at [Zakros](https://www.worldhistory.org/Zakros/).
- **c. 1450 BCE**: Destruction of [Minoan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Minoan/) [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/) at [Zakros](https://www.worldhistory.org/Zakros/).
- **c. 1330 BCE**: Abandonment of [Zakros](https://www.worldhistory.org/Zakros/) settlement.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2012, June 14). Zakros. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Zakros." *World History Encyclopedia*, June 14, 2012. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Zakros." *World History Encyclopedia*, 14 Jun 2012, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 14 June 2012. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.