Makry Gialos

Makry Gialos is a Late Minoan villa site on the southeast coast of Crete, near Ierapetra in the Lasithi prefecture. Excavated by Kostis Davaras from 1971 to 1977, the mansion dates to the Late Minoan IB period (c. 1480-1425 BC) and functioned as a miniature palace controlling local agriculture and the harbor. The villa featured a central courtyard, tiled floors, strong outer walls, multiple rooms, and a sanctuary with space for a sacred palm tree. It was ultimately destroyed by fire. Among the finds was a steatite seal-stone depicting a sacred ship, a priestess, and a palm tree -- the first clear evidence of sacred boats in Minoan religion.