AGIA TRIA�DA Crete, Greece

The ancient Minoan site of Agia Triada, on the Greek island of Crete, owes its name to a nearby church that dates back to the 14th century. In many ways, the settlement is quite unique, as its architecture does not conform to traditional Minoan design. In contrast to the much larger structure of the Phaistos Palace, that is situated only a few kilometres away, the site has revealed an abundance of fascinating treasures. Agia Triada's famous objects and works of art are contained in the Egypt Museum in Cairo. Around 1400 BC, the Minoan culture came to an end and the exact reason for the decline of this advanced civilization will probably never be known. The Minoan culture reached its peak between 1700 and 1350 BC, when palaces, country houses and settlements were established throughout the length and breadth of the island. Due to the completion of a well thought out road system and the further development of existing harbors, the foundation of an extremely successful trading system was created. For thousands of years, the Minoan ruins lay covered by the sands of time and it was only as a result of excavations around the neighboring Phaistos Palace that brought about their discovery. The Mycenean civilization replaced that of the Minoans and they subsequently constructed their own buildings above the walls of the once splendid and flourishing settlement of Agia Triada.