More On Zakros
Zakros, as the smallest of the Minoan palaces, might not attract the same attention as the larger centers at Knossos and Phaistos, but it doesn't lack for mystery or presence.
In Minoan times, this is the view that the palace would have commanded of its natural harbor.
And from the harbor, this is what incoming sailors, merchants, and travelers would have seen.
The cliffs behind the palace form part of the evocatively named Ravine of the Dead. In some places, the Minoans practiced cave burial. Whole families might be buried in a single cave tomb over a period of many generations.
One noticeable difference in Zakros's plan is the large, round lustral basin. A number of lustral basins have been found at the site. The bottom picture shows the sloping entrance into one of these. In ancient times, the basin was probably roofed over to protect the fragile gypsum with which these basins are often floored, so descending into the bath might have been a very claustrophobic experience; as you can see, the space isn't very large.
