Knossos Games - Greek Temple Index

A mysterious set of ruins has been found along the western edge of Crete. Follow Dr. Jacinda Hadzidakis and her team as they try and unlock the secrets of this ancient structure.

The puzzles posted here are the first in a series based on a very unique set of Greek buildings. In each, tiles on the floor control sets of gateways that open and close (from the floor vertically, not like a swinging door) according to your movements. For example, here is a small hallway from one of the ruins:

You are standing on the alpha tile on the left, and need to get to the alpha tile on the right. The black bar crossing the hallway represents a gateway. When closed, the gateway makes the hallway impassable.

Each building has its own set of rules which govern how the tiles control the gateways. A passageway that was easily passable with one set of rules could become a complete dead end with another set.

Let's see what happens when we apply one possible set of rules for this hallway:

Start on left tile.

Gateways start closed.

Move to middle tile.

Moving from alpha to beta, gateways open.

Move through open gateway to right tile.

Moving from beta to alpha, gateways change position. Since the gateway was open, it closes behind you.

Here you can move to the middle tile, which opens the gateway. This allows you to proceed to the right tile. Even though the gateway will close when you move from the beta tile to the alpha tile, the gateway will close after you have completed the move (and made it to the end of the hallway).

Now let's see what happens when we apply another possible set of rules for this hallway:

Start on left tile.

Gateways start closed.

Move to middle tile.

Moving from alpha to beta, gateways stay the same. Since the gateway was closed, it remains closed.

Uh oh. Now moving to the middle tile no longer opens the gateway. However, there is still hope. Notice that moving from a beta tile to an alpha tile will open the gateways. You can't move to the right alpha tile, since it is blocked by the closed gateway. However, you could go back to the left alpha tile:

Start on left tile.

Gateways start closed.

Move to middle tile.

Moving from alpha to beta, gateways stay the same. Since the gateway was closed, it remains closed.

Move back to left tile.

Moving from beta to alpha, gateways open.

Now you can start again, but this time with the gateways open:

Start on left tile.

Gateways now start open.

Move to middle tile.

Moving from alpha to beta, gateways stay the same. Since the gateway was open, it remains open.

Move through open gateway to right tile.

Moving from beta to alpha, gateways open. Since the gateway was already open, it remains open.

So even though you were blocked by the closed gateway at first, by going back to the starting tile, the gateways could start off being open instead of closed.

Ok, let's apply one last possible set of rules for this hallway:

Start on left tile.

Gateways start closed.

Move to middle tile.

Moving from alpha to beta, gateways close. Since the gateway was closed, it remains closed.

Again, you have the problem of a closed gateway getting in your way, so you try moving back to the starting tile:

Start on left tile.

Gateways start closed.

Move to middle tile.

Moving from alpha to beta, gateways close. Since the gateway was closed, it remains closed.

Move back to left tile.

Moving from beta to alpha, gateways change. Since the gateway was closed, it now opens.

Success! The gateway has opened! Now you can proceed through the hallway:

Start on left tile.

Gateways now start open.

Move to middle tile.

Moving from alpha to beta, gateways close.

Oops. Under this set of rules, moving from an alpha tile to a beta tile always closes the gateways, no matter what. With this set of rules, this passage is simply impassable.

So, from the examples above, hopefully you have picked up that you need to pay close attention to the rules for the structure, and to keep careful track of the gateways. Good luck navigating the first unearthed ruins.