About 600 metres due north of the prehistoric Palace of Knossos begins the rise of a flat-topped hill, here traversed by a long line of Roman walling, from which the neighbouring hamlet, sole survivor of the ancient city, gains its name of Makryteichos. The hill itself is known as Zafer Papoura (Τοῠ ΖαΦέρ ή παποῠρα) and on its lower slope there had already been brought to light remains of houses belonging to the extensive Minoan town, the “Wide Knossos” of Homeric tradition, which seems to have extended on every side of the Palace.