This paper examines the role of religious and secular ritual at pre and proto-palatial Knossos and Phaistos. The patterning of archaeological material at Phaistos suggests that there is very little evidence of areas reserved for ritual activity, secular or otherwise. In contrast there are several deposits at Knossos that could be used for evidence of ritual activity. I draw attention to the evidence for one-off large diagnostic events and contrast them with rituals that are repeated over long periods of time. I explore the potential socio-economic impact of these types rituals and events and attempt to explain them in relation to the differences between these two growing palatial economies.