Abstract

The first aqueducts in Greece were constructed in Crete for the water supply from springs of the Minoan Palace at Knossos by means of stone-built surface conduits, in the second millennium BC. Minoans were also familiar with groundwater harvesting at springs, where they used to excavate spring chambers not only for improved water capturing but also for the construction of fountains and the performance of ritual functions. Such a typical combination occurred at the so-called cara-vanserai near the Knossos Palace, impressive for its frescos and the elaborate water management system. Therefore, the Minoan Crete is considered the cradle of the hydraulic tradition in Greece.