Gournia,
Archanes and Ayia Triada: Palaces or Not?
by Ioannis Georganas
Original Text
Copyright © 2000 Ioannis
Georganas
INTRODUCTION
In order for a building complex
to qualify as a "palace" it must be able to serve certain
functions. First of all, it should play an economic role. This
includes the storage and redistribution of various commodities
and raw materials, and the manufacture of some more "industrial"
products, such as bronzes, textiles, and so forth. At the same
time it must provide an administrative centre for its surrounding
territory. Second, it should be the residence of the ruling élite,
and therefore should contain relatively spacious areas such as
banquet halls and some secondary facilities such as "bathrooms."
Third, it must serve a religious function. For that reason it
is necessary to incorporate various shrines and other cult areas,
both internal and external, the latter capable of accommodating
large numbers of worshippers. Finally, it must exhibit a general
monumentality in its construction. Therefore, the presence of
ashlar masonry, wall paintings, and paved courts is necessary.
Begg (1987:179, note
2) has argued that the term "palace" has "an
architectural precise usage." It is a term that should apply
only to structures with a west court, storerooms behind a recessed
west facade, central court and a residential area.
It is therefore necessary for
our three cases, to exhibit the majority, if not all, of the
above characteristics. For that reason, we are going to examine
the architectural remains first, and then move to their interpretation.
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