Minoan engineers built elaborate water and drainage systems at Knossos, including channels, terracotta pipes and latrines linked to drains. The video argues that around 1700 BC Knossos matched the sanitation of European cities in 1700 AD and that its latrines may be the world’s earliest flushing toilets; those claims are not established archaeological conclusions. Huge pithoi stored oil, wine and grain, and some Minoans were buried in pithoi. 🚿🏺
Minoan drainage, pithoi and the video’s toilet claim at Knossos
GreeceGeneral
Site mentioned
Key facts
- Knossos had an elaborate drainage and water system featuring stone drains and channels, terracotta pipes, wells and cisterns; some drains were large enough for a person to enter.
- The New Palace period at Knossos began around 1700 BC, but the evidence does not establish that its sanitation was equivalent to that of European cities in 1700 AD. That comparison is the video’s claim.
- Latrine installations were connected with drainage channels. Describing them as the world’s earliest flushing toilets is the video’s interpretation, not an established archaeological conclusion.
- The palace featured monumental staircases with broad steps and intermediate landings, along with light wells that supplied natural illumination.
- Large pithoi could hold hundreds of gallons and were stored in long magazines for olive oil, wine, grain and other products, commonly interpreted as palace-controlled storage and redistribution.
- Minoan burials included people placed inside pithoi, as well as tholos tombs, chamber tombs, cave burials and larnakes.
Sources
Knossosen.wikipedia.org
The palace was reconstructed with its central court, drainage systems and richly decorated wall paintings. making Knossos the largest known Minoan centre.
Minoan Water Systems on Crete | ancient water technologiesancientwatertechnologies.com
Water technologies included running water within the palaces and s, drainage systems, Knossos is the most known and largest of the palaces, ...
Water Systemsancientengrtech.wisc.edu
Knossos, had an efficient water system to bring in clean water, remove sewage and storm sewer channels so that they overflowed when it rained heavily.
10 Facts About Knossos Palace | Minoan Mythology & Cultureknossospalacetickets.com
Advanced drainage and plumbing system ... Knossos Palace had a highly sophisticated plumbing system, including flushing toilets and stone aqueducts. What's truly ...
(PDF) The Drainage system in the East Wing at Knossosacademia.edu
The drainage system at Knossos exceeds 150 meters in total extent, featuring complex channeling methods. Mason's Marks found in the drains likely indicate ...
The Drainage and Water System of Knossos - Greece Toursmygreecetours.org
The drainage system at Knossos was a network of terracotta pipes, stone channels and drains that supplied fresh water, removed waste and sewage, ...
THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF THE DOMESTIC QUARTER ...cambridge.org
by CF MacDonald · 1988 · Cited by 36 — 'IN the whole structure of the Palace, nothing is more remarkable than the elaborate drainage system that runs throughout the Domestic Quarter, ...
Minoan & Mycenaean water infrastructureinfraculture.org
Minoan palaces: their famous, four-thousand-year-old drainage systems. These are stone structures with running water used to flush the ...
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