The archaeological site of Phaistos is one of the most important archaeological sites of the island, located on a hill in the valley of Messara, 62 kilometers south of Heraklion. It is close to the archaeological site of Gortys and Matala.

Phaistos was the second largest city, after Knossos, of the Minoan era and was the economic, administrative and religious center of south-central Crete. Kommos and Matala was the two ports of the city. The excavations on the area suggest at was inhabited from 6000 BC to the 1st century BC. The findings of the ancient city, included the famous Phaistos Disk, are on display at the archaeological museum of Heraklion.

King of the city was Rodamanthos, brother of King Minos. The palace was built, around 2000 BC, on the hill, in an altitude of 100 meters, providing surveillance around the valley. It was destroyed two times by earthquake in 1730 BC and 1450 BC but it was rebuilt immediately. In the end, it was destroyed in war with the neighbor city of Gortys. 

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