Crete is the Greek island traditionally linked with the palace and Labyrinth of Minos.
In the myth, Minos ruled Crete from Knossos, where he kept the Minotaur in the Labyrinth designed by Daedalus. The story made Crete the central geographical setting for the encounter between Theseus and the monster.
Archaeological excavations at Knossos uncovered a large Bronze Age palace complex with many rooms, corridors, stairways, and storage areas. Its complexity helped later visitors connect the site with the legendary Labyrinth, although archaeology has not proven that a literal Minotaur prison existed there.
Crete is distinct from Naxos, the island associated with Ariadne after Theseus left her. It is also distinct from Delos, an important religious island in the Aegean. The myth’s Cretan setting is why the Minotaur is so strongly associated with Knossos and Minoan civilization.