Ancient Tylissos
The archaeological site of Tylisos is located at the village Tylissos, 16km west of Heraklion, in a strategic location near the east slopes of range Psiloritis. Tylissos was a Minoan city that was flourished in 1650-1450 mainly because it was amid the road that led from Knossos to the Minoan centers of West Crete and Ida Mount. In 1450 it was destroyed, but was rebuilt and prospered until 1200.
Tylisos has three small palaces (mansions) that have been named Mansion A, B and C. Their architecture is one of the most impressive in Minoan Crete, matching that of other major palaces of the era. The most well-preserved mansion is Mansion A that had two floors with a central courtyard, apartments and warehouses with jars. The Mansion B contains very old ruins, while the Mansion C housed a central chamber and system for water supply and sanitation.
The excavations at Tylisos began in 1912 by Iosif Hatzidakis, after the accidental discovery of three large bronze cauldrons - boilers. Later, in 1940, Nikolaos Platon carried out extended restoration and maintenance works. Due to the discovery of the boilers and one impressive bronze figurine of outmost art, Tylisos is believed that was a great center of bronze. Moreover, in Tylisos the archaeologists found several plaques and jars inscribed with Linear A, which is the “language of the palaces”, as it has been detected only in palaces and luxurious Minoan mansions. Other impressive items include the murals, which are compared in fine art only with those of Knossos. Moreover, many tombs have been found in the area (many of them already plundered) dating back in 1400-1200BC with painted clay sarcophagi, jewelry, stamps, etc.
