Crete
(Κρήτη), a daughter of Asterion, and wife of Minos. According to others, she was the mother of Pasiphae by Helios. (Apollod. iii . 1.2; Diod. 4.60.) There are two other mythical personages of this name. (Apollod. 3.3.1 ; Diod. 3.71.) [L.S]
Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, measuring 260 km from east to west and between 14 km and 60 km from north to south. The island is dominated by a high range which, in antiquity, was forested with cypress, cedar, pine and oak. At the west end of the island are the White Mountains with Mount Ida(2456 m), and to the east are the Lasithi Mountains, with the largest mountains being Mount Dikti(2148 m). This eastern range is scored with cave systems and gorges. In addition, there are a great many high upland plains on the island, such as the Lasithi plain, the Nidha plain on Mt Ida, and the Omalo plain in the White Mountains. Since the foothills on the north side of the island slope gently to the sea, habitation is concentrated on the north coast around and behind the great bays of Kastelli, Chania, Soudha, Rethymnon, Herakleion, and Mirabello.
In general, the climate of Crete is favorable; the northern end is Mediterranean and the south coast is sub-tropical. The island supports a great variety of flora and fauna with many species unique to the island. The richest arable land on Crete is found in the Mesara plain of Gortyn and Phaistos on the south coast, and is watered by the Ieropotamos stream. By contrast, the rest of the south coast cannot support a large population. Consequently,there is only one town there, Ieraptera. The diversity of its terrain and products have always allowed Crete the privelege of being self-sufficient. Throughout history, Crete has been an important influence in the Mediterranean both because of its strategic position and its self-sufficiency. Thus, Crete has a lengthy historical and mythological record.
The better ports are on the north side of the island, and although the north coast of Africa is only 333 km away, Crete faces the Aegean Archipelago rather than the open Libyan Sea. Crete has always been in an ideal position to trade throughout the Mediterranean. The upland plateaus of Crete, productive in cheese and cereals, make most overland communication difficult, but expand the amount of arable land on the island.
HistoryThe earliest inhabitants of Crete arrived in c. 7000 B.C., possibly from the coast of Turkey. This Neolithic culture was followed in c.3000 B.C. by a Bronze Age culture. The Middle and Late Bronze Age (c. 2000-1100 BC) Minoan civilization, named for the legendary King Minos, has been divided into three periods: Early Minoan (c. 3000-2000 B.C.); Middle Minoan (c.2000-1550 B.C.); and Late Minoan (c.1550-1100 B.C.). Each of these periods is further divided into three phases marked by changes in pottery styles. This same culture has also been divided into four periods according to the palace complexes found at Knossos, Mallia, Phaistos, Ayia Zakros, and Kato Zakros: Pre-Palatial (c. 3000-2000 B.C.); Proto-Palatial (c. 2000-1750 B.C.); Neo-Palatial (c. 1750-1450 B.C.); and Post-Palatial (c.1450-1100 B.C.). Although the exact date and circumstances of the disappearance of the Minoan civilization are not completely clear, there was a distinct decline in the arts of painted pottery and seal engraving after 1450 B.C., when most of the Minoan places were destroyed or abandoned. In ancient times Crete was predominantly Dorian. The transition from the Bronze Age was not abrupt. The island's position on sea routes to and from Cyprus, the Levant and Egypt secured it as an important place in the history of the development of Archaic Greek art. In the Classical period Crete remained aloof from the mainstream events and battles. For example, in the fifth century the island refused to aid in the defense of Greece against the Persians. Later, in the third century, Crete became a follower of Philip V of Macedon.
SitesHerakleion lies midway along the north coast of Crete. Its central position on the island allows it to maintain good communication with the mainland. While the city is primarily of interest for its extensive Venetian remains, it is the site of the island's archaeological museum.
Just south of Herakleion, about 5 km away, is the site of Knossos, the largest of the Minoan Palaces. Sir Arthur Evans, whose name is always associated with Knossos, acquired the land in 1900 and began excavating it at his own expense.
Further east, situated on the west side of the Gulf of Mirabello, is the little harbor town of Ayios Nikolaos. It is the chief town of the Lasithi district. The town also boasts a museum in which are housed objects dating from the Minoan to the Roman periods.
About 11 km south of Ayios Nikolaos is Kritsa, a hillside village, and 5 km further south lies Lato, a town founded in the Greek Archaic period. This Doric seventh century B.C. village was built on a series of four terraces, all that remains is an agora, in which is located a small rectangular temple, probably dedicated to the vegetation goddess, Lato, who gave her name to the city. The prytaneion on the north side of the agora is Hellenistic. Lato has a spectacular view of the Gulf of Mirabello. Also on the Gulf of Mirabello, lying 21 km southeast of Ayios Nikolaos is the Minoan site of Gournia.
Kato Zakros is a palace settlement of the Minoan period on the east coast of Crete. Its situation on the island allowed the port to conduct extensive trade in the eastern Mediterranean. The palace lies in a valley which runs down to the sea. The plan of the palace is typical of the Minoan period, containing rooms arranged around a rectangular central courtyard.
Rethymnon and Chania are two important cities which lie west of Herakleion on the north coast of Crete. Rethymnon is situated between Herakleion and Chania and is the capital of the district by the same name. Minoan occupation is attested by Late Minoan II tombs at Mastaba. In Classical times the city grew and was called Rithymna. Rethymnon flourished in the Venetian period during which time it was considered the intellectual capital of the island, but the city was pillaged and burnt in 1571 by Turkish corsairs. Modern Chania is the successor to a Minoan town which was re-founded by Dorian invaders under the name of Kydonia. In subsequent centuries Chania passed into Roman, Byzantine and Arab hands. In c. 1292 the town enjoyed a revival under Venetian rule.
West of Chania, on the next bay of significance in western Crete, lies the town of Souyia which stands on the ancient site of Syia. Souyia has a church containing an early Christian mosaic pavement. Southwest of Chania is Samaria Gorge, the most impressive of the many gorges which score the limestone mountains of Crete. It measures 18 km long and no more than 4 m wide at its narrowest point. The gorge extends between rock faces which reach 600 m and stretches from the Omalos plateau in the north to the sea in the south. The town of Samaria is the starting point of the gorge, and the village of Ayia Roumeli, called Tarrha in antiquity, is the ending point. Tarrha was a Dorian town with a temple to Apollo, however, only Hellenistic remains have been found there.
On the southwestern coast of Crete lies the town of Sphakion, whose people have been known throughout history as lovers of freedom. In earlier days Sphakion was a thriving seaport due to its heavy trade with north Africa. The size of the town has since dwindled. Further west, along the south coast of Crete, is the Mesara plain. Its size, fertility and favorable climate have encouraged settlement since Minoan times. Gortyn, situated in the middle of the plain, was not inhabited until c. 500 B.C., the date of the Code of Laws. This archaic inscription is the most important single document for the study of ancient law codes. The acropolis above the plain has remains from the Neolithic period, and from the end of the Bronze Age, and there existed a rectangular temple from the Geometric to Archaic periods. In the Hellenistic period, Gortyn was one of a group of allied cities in the Cretan Koinon, and after the Roman conquest, it was made capital of the Roman province of Crete and Cyrenaica.
West of Gortyn on the coast is the site of Phaistos, another palace complex of the Minoan period. The palace of Phaistos is smaller than the one at Knossos, but is similar to Knossos in that it is built around a central court and includes a west court. The palace is situated so it commands a view of Mount Ida and the Mesara plain. Just 2 km west of Phaistos is the royal villa of the Minoan period, Ayia Zakros. The site is named after the chapel of the Holy Trinity which is built into the western portion of the palace.
Curtis Runnels- Cretan origin of Lycurgus' Spartan laws: Hdt. 1.65
- beginning of Minos' rule: Hdt. 1.173
- Samian settlers in Crete: Hdt. 3.59
- connexion of Crete with the settlement of Cyrene: Hdt. 4.151, Hdt. 4.154, Hdt. 4.161
- Cretan reason for not joining the Greeks against Xerxes: Hdt. 7.169-171
- Lycians originally Cretan: Hdt. 7.92
- Zeus born in: Apollod. 1.1.4
- Zeus reared in: Paus. 8.38.2
- guarded by Talos: Apollod. 1.9.26
- Herakles goes to, to fetch the bull: Apollod. 2.5.6
- Europa brought by Zeus to: Apollod. 3.1.1
- Minos in: Apollod. 3.1.2
- Althaemenes sets out from: Apollod. 3.1.4
- visible from Rhodes: Apollod. 3.1.4
- Daedalus flees to: Paus. 1.21.4
- devastated by bull: Paus. 1.27.9
- laws of C. made by Minos: Paus. 3.2.4
- Theseus in: Paus. 1.17.3, 6, Apollod. E.1.6
- Menelaus goes to, to bury Catreus: Apollod. E.3.2
- revolt of Leucus in: Apollod. E.6.7
- Idomeneus lands in: Apollod. E.6.7
- Magnesians under Prothous settle in: Apollod. E.6.15
- the people of Tlepolemus touch at: Apollod. E.6.15, Apollod. E.6.15
- Menelaus driven to: Apollod. 2.8.1
- legislation of Lycurgus borrowed from: Paus. 3.2.4
- civil dissensions in: Paus. 3.2.7
- mission of Charmidas to: Paus. 3.2.7
- allied with Athens: Paus. 1.36.5
- distant view from east at Gournia
- view from northeast at Ayios Nikolaos
- distant view of mountain from west
- distant view from northeast
- east section of mountain from northeast,
- west section of mountain from northeast,
- prinias from east with Mount Ida in background
- view of plain from Psykhro
- The Iron Gates
- rocky view along the gorge
- head of the gorge
- view into the gorge
- view from south
- close up of gorge entrance from south
- entrance to the gorge from north
- wife of Minos: Apollod. 3.1.2
- Apollod. 3.2.2