Named after the legendary King Minos.

Crete was a center of trade – exchange with Egypt, the Middle East and other Aegean islands.

Frescoes, grain stores, water channels were found.

The palace was probably an administrative, religious and commercial center.

King Minos asked the god Poseidon for a sign that he was worthy of ruling Crete. Poseidon sent him a white bull, which Minos was to sacrifice. Minos, delighted with the bull, kept it and sacrificed another, which enraged

The Labyrinth:

Minos, to hide his shame and the monster, ordered Daedalus to build the labyrinth, a complex structure from which no one could escape.

As punishment for the death of Minos' son Androgeus, Athens was required to send human sacrifices (seven youths and seven virgins) to Crete every nine years (or every year, depending on the version of the myth).

Theseus, one of those sent to sacrifice, killed the Minotaur with the help of Ariadne, who gave him a thread so he could find his way out of the labyrinth.