Mallia (from Omalia) is located some 36 km east of Heraklion, near the coast where there used to be a small natural harbour. Some sources contend that the Minoan name for the area was Milatos and that the local king was Sarpedon, son of Zeus and Europa, and younger brother of Minos because it was the third-largest palace (7,500 sq.m) after Knossos and Phaistos, the seats – respectively – of Minos and Rhadamanthys.
