Spa250

Central Court

Ceremonial

Unroofed space

The Central Court of the palace is oriented NE-SW and measures approximately 30 x 12 m. The main access to the Central Court was from the monumental NE gate of the palace via the NE inner court (space LXIII), but it was also accessible from the South via the corridor XLIX. The facades of the Central Court were interrupted by opening doors providing access the four wings of the palace. The walls of the NW and SW facades of the Central Court (consisting parts of the West and South Wing respectively) are of ashlar masonry, constructed with cut poros blocks on a limestone base. The mortises on the upper course indicate the existence of a row of windows in these parts of the walls. There are totally three entrances to the West Wing from the Central Court. On the north part of the Central Court, immediately outside the entrance that gave access to space XXX, there is a square-shaped stone construction that was interpreted by the excavator as an altar. Part of the north façade of the Central Court was occupied by a two-column portico. There is also a kind of portico on the northern part of the east façade of the Central Court leading directly to the so-called “royal apartments” of the palace.

Plan_Zak_Spa250_001
Photo_Zak_Spa250_001

Platon, Nikolaos. 1964. «Ανασκαφαί Ζάκρου», Πρακτικά της Εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας, 142-168 (at pp. 154-158).

Platon, Nikolaos. 1965. «Ανασκαφαί Ζάκρου», Πρακτικά της Εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας, 187-224 (at pp. 192-193, 201).

Platon, Nikolaos. 1966. «Ανασκαφαί Ζάκρου», Πρακτικά της Εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας, 139-173 (at pp. 140-141).

Platon, Nikolaos. 1967. «Ανασκαφαί Ζάκρου», Πρακτικά της Εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας, 162-194 (at pp. 172-174).

Platon, Nikolaos. 1974. Ζάκρος. Το Νέον Μινωικόν Ανάκτορον, Athens (at pp. 82-84).