The ruler's quarters are in the north-west corner of the complex and comprise of the main hall, a portico and light-well, a room with a 'bench' and a revetment of gypsum slabs and a peristyle courtyard with fine views.
The Minoan settlement, the 'village' of the New Palace (17th-15th c. BC) and Post-Palace (14th-13th c. BC) periods lies to the north of the villa. The 'agora' was erected in the square on the east side of it and was a large complex of eight storerooms or shops, fronted by a long rectangular portico with columns and pilasters.
Later, sanctuaries were built in the Protogeometric and Geometric periods and the sanctuary of Zeus Velchanos functioned in the Hellenistic period. There are also sporadic finds from Roman and Venetian-Turkish times.
Whilst there I chatted with the Italian director of the small dig taking place this year and he showed me around the site and some of the finds.
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| Tools of the trade |
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| Artefacts |
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| Some fine stonework |
Special mention should be made of the unique stone sarcophagus, painted with composite scenes showing the cult of the dead.
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