The palace of Minos, called Knossos, was more than just an abode to the Cretan monarchs. A whole city with a population of eighty thousand people lived inside the extended residence. It was also a core of belief, business and commerce on the island. Assembled on a hillside, the palace had hundreds of rooms and divers levels connected by colossal staircases. The construction also held a habitant's market, a depot for shipping goods to other lands, and ateliers for artificers. Chambers at Knossos were decorated with bright wall paintings call frescos. Beasts and scenes of daily life were the most popular subjects.
That he could just walk in was surprising to Gann. Never could he have conceived a palace and city being one and the same. The first thing Gann did was look for Minos. He wanted to see this Lord of Crete, Emperor of Knossos and Ruler of the seas between Greece and Egypt. Throughout the palace he searched but he never got as far the throne room until a one-eyed guard placed a hand on his shoulder.
The guard was about forty-seven twelvemonths old, brown haired with a beard and a black right eye. The left eye, whatever color it had once been, was covered by an eye-patch. He was dressed like all the other Cretans save for the addition of a helmet.
"And just why are you skulking around, lad?" asked the guard.
"I'm not skulking! I want to see King Minos!" replied Gann. "I wish to see of this monarch that is spoken of as far as Scythia!"
"Minos is an old man, son." Stated the guard. "Monarch or not an old man is still an old man. If you've seen old men in Scythia then seeing an old man in Crete sitting on a throne isn't worth your time."
"Would that be your opinion of Ramses the Great as well?" inquired Gann.
"Even with a title like 'the Great' an old man is still an old man." Replied the guard. "Go to the habitant's market, go to one of the ateliers, just do something better than wanting to see an old man when there are old men all over." And with that the guard walked away.
Gann stuck out his tongue. A childish thing but it was what he did. Minos, Ramses, even if they were old men they were still kings and great ones too. Minos had three titles: Lord of Crete, Emperor of Knossos and Ruler of all the seas between Greece and Egypt. Ramses on the other hand had ruled his nation longer than any monarch Gann knew off. So what if they were old? If they were old then surely they were wise and he could learn from them!
Ramses the Great... King of Egypt! How had he managed it? How had he outlived many of his wives and children? During his long reign he had built cities, temples, monuments, established the city of Pi-Ramses, founded by his grandfather Ramses I, as Egypt's capital.
Minos first and then Ramses! He had come to Crete because a journey on the mainland had seemed boring to Gann but a journey to an island seemed like a great adventure! There was no knowing what awaited Gann in the strange place that was both palace and city! Such a place could have had enough adventures to last a single lifetime!