The Restored Light Well above the Throne Room in the Palace of Minos at Knossos

Typically, light wells were shafts located along the side of a room or running the whole width of the end of the room. They were separated from the room by a low, colonnaded wall which supported lintels or roof beams. The interior of the light well was usually paved with tarazza and was often provided with a drain. This suggests that the shaft was open at the top but drains are not always found and some sort of raised lantern is also possible.