Bull Rhyton or libation vase from Zakros
Lightwell
In the West Wing are most of the ceremonial and ritual rooms. They include a reception room leading into the traditional Minoan lightwell where the famous rhyton was found. This rhyton now displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Iraklion provided a great deal of information as to the functioning of these sanctuaries. In the lightwell there also remains the very unusual patterned red plaster flooring.
Lustral Basin
Immediately behind the lightwell is another lustral basin.
Main Hall and Banquet Room
This room had the traditional central columns of Minoan architecture and led through a triple door into the impressive banquet hall. So named because of the large number of drinking cups found in the debris, the banquet hall was lavishly decorated with frescoes.
Central Shrine
Behind the lustral basin was the most important room in the West Wing--the Shrine Room. In this room there was an idol niche and a bench opposite it. Although no idols were found in the niche, many rhyton pieces were found on the floor below it.
Archive Room
The traditional Minoan palace archive room was located behind the Shrine Room and evidence of what is thought to be record keeping on clay tablets engraved in Linear A were found.
Treasury Room
This room, found undisturbed, provided the greatest finds.
Clay chests (now restored) were found containing elegant vases. The magnificent rock crystal rhyton displayed in the Archaeology Museum of Iraklion was found here in pieces and was painstakingly restored. Also found here were three elephant tusks thought to have been stored in an upper room along with six copper ingots from Cyprus.
Rock crystal vase with a necklace threaded on bronze wire
Workshop and Storeroom
Also in the West Wing next to the Treasury Room there is a room showing evidence of a workman's bench and another room with fifteen storage pithari.
Photos of Zakros - West Wing:
The Central Court and West Wing of the palace, Zakros
The Central Court and West Wing of the palace, Zakros
The Main Hall of the West Wing, Zakros
Rock crystal vase with a necklace threaded on bronze wire
Bull Rhyton or libation vase from Zakros
Visit the area of the sight: Kato Zakros
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