My travels in Turkey and Greece reminded me that I had NOT continued my series on toilets and bathrooms around the world! So I paid special attention to these attractions this time around. Surprisingly sophisticated facilities were found wherever I went. The earliest (historically speaking) site was the “palace” of Knossos, in Heraklion, Crete. The palace dates back to about 1700 BC and was inhabited by King Minos – of the minotaur fame. When Minos refused to sacrifice the white bull given to him by Poseidon, Aphrodite punished him by making his wife fall in love and mate with a bull, resulting in a half bull half human offspring, the Minotaur! This ferocious being was kept in a labyrinth built under the palace at Knossos by Daedalus. The excavations are massive, the renovations and reconstructions mercifully limited.
One thing is apparent – there was an elaborate system to get water to the palace using aqueducts, and great drainage system with clay pipes. Pride of place is occupied by a large, and surprisingly modern looking clay tub that the queen used for her ablutions.
