185-192

Articles

• Blomberg, Mary
• Henriksson, Goran

The primary onentation of the Phaistos palace, like that of the great majority of Minoan buildingsand graves, is to the east within the limits of sunrise. There were two main building phases: near theend of the Middle Minoan IA period, ca 1900 BC (the Old Palace) and in the Middle Minoan ΠΙΑ period,ca 1750 BC (the New Palace). The two phases are unique in showing a difference in orientation ofthe west façade of the central court from the earlier to the later building. Surprisingly, we cannot detecta systematic change in the alignment of other parts of the New Palace. Its walls seem largely to havethe same orientation as the visible walls of the Old Palace.Our study concentrates on three orientations of the palace: 1) The western side of the earlier centralcourt is aligned to the westernmost peak ofPsiloriti, the ancient Mt Ida; 2) The east-west orientationof the Old Palace is close to sunrise at the equinoxes; 3) The western side of the later central courtis oriented to the highest peak in the south, behind which the bright star Canopus rose and set nearthe equinoxes when that side was re-oriented. We conclude that the new appearance of the star is theprobable reason for the change in orientation when the New Palace was built. We conclude, further,that this re-orientation at Phaistos provides information concerning the formative period of Minoanastronomy.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία

Archaeoastronomy, Aegean Bronze Age, Crete, Canopus, Minoan palaces, Phaistos