Royal Road, Heraklion

The Royal Road serves as the primary formal approach to the ancient site, leading in a straight line from the contemporary road to Heraklion up to the base of the steps of the Theatral Area-a span of approximately 170 meters. This well-defined pathway provides valuable insights into the infrastructure and urban planning of the Minoan civilization, revealing meticulous construction and strategic design.

Tracing the Royal Road reveals its connection to the modern road and its extension up to the Theatral Area. Notably, in a test trench along the same alignment, additional paving was uncovered about 60 meters farther, indicating the road's extension and continuity. The road intersects the modern route, and at this juncture, archaeologist Arthur Evans identified a "branch line" leading northwestward to a significant complex known as the Little Palace. This structure, categorized as a "mansion" or "villa," played a crucial role in the architectural landscape of Knossos.

The Royal Road itself exhibits superior craftsmanship and construction. It boasts a width of about 3.8 meters and rests on a foundation of rough stones approximately half a meter deep. The foundation incorporates a clay-based concrete, enriched with potsherds and small pebbles. The central strip, measuring around 1.4 meters in width, is composed of oblong stone slabs arranged two abreast. The surface of the road on either side consists of the same concrete material, compacted firmly on a layer of stone slabs.