In Greek mythology, Knossos is the Cretan palace traditionally associated with the Labyrinth. Knossos was a major Bronze Age settlement on Crete and is linked in myth with King Minos, his court, and the Minotaur.
The palace complex at Knossos was excavated and partly reconstructed in the modern era, most famously through the work of archaeologist Arthur Evans. Its complicated rooms, corridors, and multiple levels helped inspire the ancient association between Knossos and a maze.
Greek mythology does not provide a straightforward archaeological map of the Labyrinth. The story presents it as a purpose-built structure designed by Daedalus, while Knossos is the location most strongly connected with the tale in later tradition.
Knossos and the Labyrinth are therefore related but not identical terms: Knossos was a real palace complex, whereas the Labyrinth is the mythic prison of the Minotaur.