Listed 100 (total found 152) sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "LASSITHI Prefecture CRETE" .
AGIA TRIADA (Village) LEFKI
The Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) Community is 35 km from the town of
Sitia at the end of the plateau of Ziros, with a population of 156. Long ago,
the village was called Tso and today it is named after the Cathedral. Despite
the 8 km distance from the sea, its residents are very good fishermen. The Agia
Triada Community includes the smaller communities of Dasonari, Livari, Achladi,
Stalos and Amigdali. The archaeological search gave many indications of ancient
features especially in Stalos where a Minoan settlement and some vaulted tombs
were brought to light. In the area of Livari there is a Minoan cave the Alogara.
This text is cited September 2004 from the Interkriti URL below.
AGIOS IOANNIS (Village) IERAPETRA
The municipality of Agios Ioannis covers the area east of the municipality
of Ierapetra, from the southern slope of the mountain "Thripti" or "Aori" as the
locals call it, to the coast and it is the easternmost part of the county of Ierapetra.
Most of the 1,069 permanent residents, live at the coastal villages and occupy
with farming and tourism. The municipality conisits of the villages:
Koutsounari, a coastal village of 437 inhabitants, 10.5 km east
of Ierapetra, is the seat of the municipality. At Koutsounari there is one of
the longest and prettiest beaches of Ierapetra, with all the tourist facilities.
Agios Ioannis, a small traditional village located at the slope
of the hill "Katalimata" 500m a.s.l. 17.7km away from Ierapetra, with 38 inhabitants.
Ferma, a village close to Koutsounari with 579 inhabitants, also
a popular tourist resort.
Agia Fotia a small settlement, located in a picturesque cove,
within a few distance from Ferma to the east. It has 15 permanent residents and
quite a few hotels and taverns.
Sights
The gorge of "Milonas" with small water falls, not easily accessible.
Many chapels of architectural and historical interrest.
Tourist facilities
There are a lot of hotels of all classes, bars, and taverns especially
at the beach of Koutsounari and Ferma. The place attracts a lot of visitors every
year due to the clear sea, awarded with the blue flag by the EEC.
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AGIOS NIKOLAOS (Town) LASSITHI
Agios Nikolaos, the capital of the prefecture of Lassithi, is a picturesque
and popular resort town on the bay of Mirabelo with a harbour area pulsating with
activity and restaurants and cafes providing a cosmopolitan atmosphere, though
the town itself has maintained its traditional style.
Agios Nikolaos is easily reached in an hour (65km) from Iraklion, 1 1/2 hours
from Sitia (70km), and 45 minutes from Ierapetra (36km).
There is no airport, although Iraklion airport is less then one hour away. There
are boats to Piraeus (Athens) and to Rhodes during the summer. The islands of
the Cyclades are accessible from Agios Nikolaos, as are Kasos, Karpathos, and
Kos of the Dodecanese.
The municipality of Agios Nikolaos organizes "Lato" during the tourist season.
This festival consists of a number of music and dance groups including ethnic
and foreign, folkloric, and modern. There are also theatrical performances and
water sports competitions. In addition, every two years, during Naval Week in
July, special events are organized.
All types of tourist facilities may be found in Agios Nikolaos. Since it is a
very popular resort, there may be some difficulty finding accommodation. The National
Tourist Office (EOT) is very helpful and is found on the main street, on the west
side of the bridge at the harbour.
Tours may be arranged in Agios Nikolaos to Spinalonga Islet, to Lassithi Plateau,
the town of Kritsa and its Byzantine churches. The best beaches are on the east
side of the town, in the small protected bays, and may be reached by local bus
service. Ask for details at the Tourist Office.
Agios Nikolaos is the most touristically developed town in Crete. The area has
a great deal to offer to everyone.
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ANATOLI (Village) IERAPETRA
The village of Anatoli is 10km northwest of Ierapetra and it contains
some remains of a Venetian fort as well, as of a Byzantine church.
CHAMEZI (Village) SITIA
The Minoan site of Hamezi is 10km west of Sitia. The archaeological
site is southwest of the village.
CHANDRAS (Village) LEFKI
The village of Handras is 29.5km south of Sitia on the Sitia - Piskokefalo
- Epano Episkopi - Handras road, and in the area are various Venetian, Turkish,
and Byzantine remains.
CHOUMERIAKOS (Village) NEAPOLI
Houmeriako is 12km northwest of Agios Nikolaos on a south exit on
the Neapolis - Agios Nikolaos road. Houmeriako is a very pleasant village with
interesting Byzantine, Venetian, and Turkish remains as it was once the capital
of the area before Neapolis and Agios Nikolaos.
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DIKTI (Mountain) LASSITHI
The mountain range in the Lassithi prefecture is the Dikte. Its tallest
peak is Mount Dikte, 2,148 metres above sea level. On the north side of Mount
Dikte, in the Lassithi Plateau is the Dikteon Cave where legend says Zeus was
hidden from his father, Kronos. The Lassithi Plateau with its distinctive windmills
is surrounded by the peaks of Dikte and it lies at a height of 850 metres above
sea level.
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DRIROS (Ancient city) NEAPOLI
Driros is the site of an ancient city, 2km up a dirt track on the
hill of Agios Antonios northeast of Neapolis. The area of Driros has remains of
the ancient Greek city of Driros and the temple of Apollo Delfinos dating from
the eight century B.C.
The city of Driros was important during the early Greek years, about the eighth
century B.C., but declined later after the second century B.C. The retaining walls
of the city, the public buildings and the agora remain, but they are not well-preserved.
An inscription in Doric dialect was found in which the young men from Driros swore
to the gods to be forever the enemies of Lyktians and Milatians, then in another
later inscription, the people of Driros declared friendship with the Lyktians
and Milatians.
In Driros archaeologists discovered a temple to Apollo Delfinos, one of the
oldest Greek period temples in Greece, dating from the seventh century B.C.
A column in the centre, a central hearth (Estia) and an offering table make
it resemble a Minoan building. The temple has a stone house protecting it. Three
copper statuettes, found there, among the earliest of their kind, are displayed
now in the Iraklion Museum. Some important inscriptions revealed interesting
aspects of the ancient society.
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ELOUNDA (Small town) LASSITHI
Elounda, a growing resort area 11km north of Agios Nikolaos, is noted
for its coves and rocky coastlines as well as for the beautiful village of Elounda
itself, the fishing harbour, the sunken city of Olous and the remains of a Byzantine
basilica.
The village of Elounda is beside the sea and has a view of peaceful Elounda Bay
and Spinalonga. The village has a number of restaurants and tavernas and many
quality hotels are near by.
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EPISKOPI (Settlement) IERAPETRA
The village of Episkopi is 7km north from Ierapetra. There is an architecturally
interesting Byzantine church in Episkopi--the church of Agios Georgios, on the
east side of the village square. The new church of the Panagia has a doorway and
columns taken from an older Byzantine church. Behind the church there are some
marble remains of the older church. The church of the Panagia was a bishopric
church during the second Byzantine period. Tradition says that it was named the
Panagia of Seven Domes because of its seven domes.
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ETIA (Settlement) LASSITHI
The village of Etia is 31km south of Sitia on the Sitia - Piskokefalo
- Epano Episkopi - Papagiannades - Etia road. In the area of Etia there are some
important Venetian remains and Byzantine churches.
Etia is a small settlement situated in the Municipality of Lefki.
It's 2 klm away from the village of Papagianades driving to the village of Armeni.
In a Venetian census was recorded with a population of 564. The village
of Etia was at peak of its power around the Venetian occupation and from the presence
of the St. John and St. Aikaterini churches one assumes that the village also
existed through the Byzantine period as well.
The village used to be private property of the De Mezzo family, a
venetian family, where they built their three-storeyed house, the Seragio Serai
House, which used to host Turkish officers as well during the Turkish occupation
and can be seen nowadays. This House is considered to be one of the most important
samples of the Venetian architecture in Crete.
The church of St. Aikaterini used to be occupied by the Turks as a
mosque until the Cretan revolution in 1897.
At the south of village of Etia there is the hill of Etiani Kefala
at an altitude of 715 m. where it used to be a sacred place but unfortunately
nowadays looted.
This text is cited September 2004 from the Interkriti URL below.
EXO MOULIANA (Village) SITIA
The village of Exo Mouliana is 13km west of Sitia on the Sitia - Agios
Nikolaos road. The fourteenth century Byzantine church of Afentis Christos (Metamorphosis)
is here.
FOURNI (Village) NEAPOLI
From the Aretiou Monastery the road goes through two pleasant mountain
villages, Kastelli and Fourni. Fourni has a Byzantine church dedicated to Agios
Ioannis Theologos dating from the fourteenth century and which contains frescoes.
There are three other churches in the area although the frescoes in them are in
a poor condition. The village of Fourni is about 17km from Agios Nikolaos through
Elounda. In the wider area there are several Byzantine churches.
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IERAPETRA (Town) LASSITHI
Ierapetra, the largest city in southern Crete, is located at the narrowest
crossing of the island, and is easily reached from Agios Nikolaos. There are daily
buses from Iraklion, Agios Nikolaos, and Sitia to Ierapetra. There are local buses
to the villages west of Ierapetra.
Ierapetra has many hotels, rooms for rent and tavernas and the area around the
harbour has many restaurants. There are also tours by boat to the island of Gaidouronisi
(Donkey Island).
This extract is cited Feb 2003 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
KALAMAFKA (Village) IERAPETRA
The village of Kalamafka is 11km northwest of Ierapetra and 25km south
of Agios Nikolaos on the road Agios Nikolaos - Kalo Horio - Kalamafka. The village
of Kalamafka is impressively situated on the edge of a mountainside. From Kalamafka
you can see both coastlines (north and south Crete) and forested hills. The chapel
of the Panagia is located on the side of the west mountain above the village.
Kalamafka was probably the site of an ancient Greek city called Larissa which
was occupied by Ierapytna and its habitants forced to leave for Ierapytna. Later
some of them were allowed to return. In the hill of Kastellos there is a cave
and within it the church of Stavros, reached by an ascent of 242 steps, after
which one may enjoy the view from the top.
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KALO CHORIO (Village) AGIOS NIKOLAOS
The village of Kalo Horio is 7km south of Agios Nikolaos, above Istro.
To the southeast of Kalo Horio in the place called Vrocastro 300 metres above
the sea and the remains of an old Minoan site from the Prepalatial Period (2200
B.C.).
KARPHI (Prehistoric settlement) OROPEDIO LASSITHIOU
KAVOUSSI (Village) IERAPETRA
This is the last village before you reach the turn off for Ierapetra.
The village of Kavousi is 25km east of Agios Nikolaos and 45km west of Sitia.
There are many Byzantine churches in the area of Kavousi and in the mountain above
Kavousi there are important Late Minoan geometric settlements.
KOUFONISSI (Island) LEFKI
KRITSA (Small town) AGIOS NIKOLAOS
The village of Kritsa is 8km southwest of Agios Nikolaos. The area
near the village of Kritsa has many attractions to offer. It combines a traditional
village setting with several Byzantine churches which rank among the best in the
island.
Kritsa is one of the most frequently visited villages in Crete due to its fame
as a movie set for several films and the availability of fine quality weavings,
but is still pleasant to visit. Behind Kritsa is a road that leads to the Dikte
Mountains and offers very interesting views of the landscape. The road reaches
the Katharo Plain at 1,100 metres height, and there is a path reaching the Lassithi
Plateau. In the spring there are many rare flowers here.
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KROUSTAS (Village) AGIOS NIKOLAOS
The village of Kroustas is 11km southwest of Agios Nikolaos on the
Agios Nikolaos - Kritsa - Kroustas road. It is a more typical village than Kritsa
and contains the beautiful Byzantine church of Agios Ioannis Theologos.
LATO ETERA (Ancient city) AGIOS NIKOLAOS
The ancient city of Lato is 3km from the village of Kritsa. The Dorians
built the city in the seventh century B.C. The walls and buildings visible today,
however, date mainly from the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. Towers and two acropolis
fortified Lato. It was one of the strongest cities on Crete. Lato was destroyed
about 200 B.C. During the Roman times its port, Lato Etera at the side of Agios
Nikolaos, became an important city.
The main gate is to the west of the site where a stepped road leads to the agora,
or market. On the right were workshops and shops. On the left, the road leads
to a ground entrance leading to the main part of the city. The centre of the town
is at the top of the hill and from here the view down to Lato's ancient port,
Agios Nikolaos, is magnificent. The agora is a pentagonal building at the top
of the road between two hills. It was not only used for trade but for political
and cultural activities as well. Southwest of the agora are the remains of a large
temple and seats of a theatre. Near the temple is an altar where a fire burned
continuously as a sign of the continuity of the city with its past. The prytaneum
(administrative building) and the nobles' dining hall is behind the theatre area.
Lato is one of the best excavated Greek cities in the island. Although the variety
and extent of the ruins at Lato are impressive, the site is visited infrequently.
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LITHINA (Village) MAKRYS GIALOS
The village of Lithines is 25km south of Sitia on the road Sitia -
Piskokefalo - Epano Episkopi - Lithines, and 37km east of Ierapetra on the road
Ierapetra - Makrigialos - Lithines. The area near Lithines has some interesting
Byzantine churches.
MESSELERI (Village) IERAPETRA
The village of Meseleri is north of Ierapetra, and is 20km south of
Agios Nikolaos on the road Agios Nikolaos - Kalo Horio - Meseleri. It is the site
of the ancient city of Oleros.
MILATOS (Village) NEAPOLI
The historical village of Milatos is near the north coast of Crete,
about 11km north of Neapolis or 26km from Agios Nikolaos. Milatos is a quiet village
with a maze of streets which reveal its lengthy history. Some Minoan tombs and
the remains of an ancient Greek city have been found in the area. According to
myths, the Cretans from Milatos built the city Milatos in Asia Minor. According
to Homer in The Iliad, ancient Milatos was one of the seven cities of Crete that
sent forces to Troy. In mythology, Milatos was a boy brought up by a she-wolf.
Later he killed the tyrant of the city and fled to Asia Minor where he established
the city of Milatos.
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MILATOS (Port) MIRAMBELOU
There is a small fishing harbour in Milatos as well as a sandy beach
in front of the village of Milatos.
MOCHLOS (Village) LASSITHI
Mochlos is a small fishing village between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia.
It is one of the few parts of the coast accessible in this region, but even then
only after travelling over 6km of dirt roads. The easiest entrance is from Sfaka
30km from Sitia and 40km from Agios Nikolaos on the main road. Mochlos has extensive
Minoan remains.
MYRTOS (Village) IERAPETRA
Mirtos is 16km from Ierapetra and in the area of Mirtos and Nea Mirtos
there are important Minoan remains. Mirtos is a seaside village with a long beach.
There are tavernas and small hotels along the beach.
NEAPOLI (Small town) LASSITHI
Neapolis is a beautiful city, 15km from Agios Nikolaos on the highway
from Agios Nikolaos to Iraklion. Neapolis is the former capital of the prefecture
of Lassithi (currently Agios Nikolaos), still has the provincial courts and is
the seat of local government. One of its most renowned citizens was Petros Filargos
or Pope Alexander V.
This extract is cited Feb 2003 from the Crete TOURnet URL below.
Neapolis was the capital of Lasithi before Agios Nikolaos.The most knowed resident of Neapolis is Pope Alexander V (Petros Filargos),raised by monks. He studied in Heraklion and then in San Francesco at the Venetian monastery. After a lot of studies all over Europe he was declared Pope in 1409.He died in Bologna. Neapolis was under the Turks and Adhosidis Kostis Pasha. Many monasteries and churches are located near Neapolis. The Byzantine church of Agia Ekaterini or the Panagia Kera Goniotisa or the monastery of Agios Georgios Vrahatsiotis are some of them.
NEES MALES (Village) IERAPETRA
The village of Males is located 40km southwest from Agios Nikolaos
on the road Agios Nikolaos - Kalo Horio - Anatoli - Males, and 22km northwest
of Ierapetra on the road Ierapetra - Ligia - Anatoli - Males.
It is the site of the ancient town of Malla. Malla was an independent town, and
an inscription discovered information about a treaty between Malla and Lyttos
in the third century B.C. During the Venetian occupation Males was the largest
village in Ierapetra province. The area near Males contains some interesting Byzantine
churches and monasteries.
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OLOUS (Ancient city) ELOUNDA
From Elounda a causeway leads to the island of Spinalonga and the
sunken city of Olous. Olous was built on the neck of the land that joins Crete
with the peninsula of Spinalonga. Olous was an ancient Greek town in which the
statue of Vritomartis once stood. When the weather is calm the remains of Olous
can be seen on the sea bottom. Archaeologists have done very little excavating
here but an inscription from the second century B.C. was found referring to an
alliance between Olous, Lato, and Knossos indicating the importance of this ancient
city. Another inscription of the same era refers to a treaty of Olous with Rhodes.
Other finds in the area include rock tombs with funerary objects which are on
display in the Agios Nikolaos Museum.
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OROPEDIO LASSITHIOU (Municipality) LASSITHI
The plateau is 850 metres above sea level. It is 12km from east to
west and 6km north to south and surrounded by high peaks, the highest is Spathi
at 2,418 metres above sea level. These peaks protected the inhabitants of the
plateau from attack. There are two entrances to the plateau: one is from the side
of Agios Nikolaos and the other is a pass into the plateau coming from the Iraklion
side through Kera. The Seli Ambelos Pass, at 900 metres, is dotted with abandoned
windmills on either side. There is an impressive view of the plateau from here.
The fertile soil of the Lassithi Plateau is due to alluvial run-off from the mountains
when the snow melts in the spring. The ditches on the plateau were installed by
the Venetians in 1631 when they wanted to insure a good harvest. The irrigation
was handled by the many visible windmills seen in the plateau. Most of these have
been abandoned for the more efficient electrical pumps.
The main crops of the plateau are potatoes and apples. There are also many almond
trees which blossom in late January (the Brides of Winter) giving the plateau
a wonderful appearance.
People have inhabited Lassithi since Neolithic times (6000 B.C.) except for a
period of 200 years during Venetian rule. The Venetians could not control the
inhabitants of Lassithi because of its position in the mountains, so, once the
people were relocated, they forbade the plateau to be inhabited under penalty
of death. You may circle the plateau, visiting its villages along a paved road.
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PALEKASTRO (Small town) ITANOS
PANO EPISKOPI (Settlement) SITIA
The village of Epano Episkopi is 12km south of Sitia, on the Sitia
- Piskokefalo - Epano Episkopi road. In Epano Episkopi is the Byzantine church
of Panagia, Agios Georgios, and Agios Ioannis.
PISKOKEFALO (Village) SITIA
Piskokefalo is 4km south from Sitia. The wider area includes the villages
of Kato Episkopi and Zou, in which there are Byzantine churches and minor Minoan
sites. Before the village, on the west side of the road, there is a Minoan villa.
PLAKA (Settlement) ELOUNDA
The road from Elounda continues following the coastline to the north
to the small village at the end of the peninsula, Plaka. Plaka has good quality
fish restaurants near the sea and small hotels and tavernas. The beaches are small
but uncrowded and much more pleasant than those at Elounda. Plaka has the islet
of Spinalonga directly in front. There is a small pier here where fishermen are
willing to ferry you across to see the ruins. There are also organized boat trips
from Elounda and Agios Nikolaos.
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SELINARI (Settlement) NEAPOLI
In the location Selinari, 42km from Iraklion on the highway from Iraklion
to Agios Nikolaos is an interesting gorge and a church.
SITIA (Town) LASSITHI
In Sitia there was a Neolithic and a Minoan site. In the location
Petras, near the town, excavations that started in 1985 under the Greek archaeologist,
Tsipopoulou, have so far revealed a major Minoan settlement with Palatial-style
buildings, fortification walls, and many artefacts including a Linear A tablet.
The site was destroyed by an earthquake, abandoned in the New Palace Period, and
reoccupied later.
In Greek times, Itia was the harbour of Praisos. References to the city in the
third century B.C. refer to its citizens as Setians. When Praisos was destroyed
by Ierapytna, Itia became the capital of the Praisian state.
There were fortifying walls around the city of Sitia from the Byzantine period.
These fortifications were restored by the Genoese and by the Venetians but were
never very strong. In 1539, the pirate Barbarosa conquered the city and levelled
the forts and the town. When the Turks invaded the island the Venetians destroyed
the fort so that it would not fall into the hands of Turks. The ruins of a Venetian
castle are still visible today. A tower of three storeys has survived. North of
the fort there is a little chapel built from the ruins of a Venetian monastery
destroyed by the Turks.
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SPINALONGA (Island) CRETE
The small islet of Spinalonga is a short boat trip from Elounda. It
is the site of one of the most important and best fortresses the Venetians built
on Crete and was constructed in 1579 to protect the harbour, entrance to the bay
and anchorage of Elounda.
Spinalonga remained Venetian for half a century after the Turkish conquest of
Crete and became a refuge for Christians fleeing from the Turks. Finally, in 1715,
the Venetians handed over the island to the Turks by a special treaty.
In 1903, the Cretan Republic made Spinalonga a colony for the lepers of Crete,
that subsequently closed in 1957.
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VAI (Beach) LASSITHI
Vai is 25km east of Sitia, on the east coast of Crete, and is the site of Europe's only indigenous wild date palm grove.
VASSILIKI (Settlement) IERAPETRA
ZAKROS (Village) ITANOS
Continue south from Palaikastro to Zakros, 20km away. You will travel
through some very delightful low mountains. The village of Zakros is 40km from
Sitia near the middle of the east coast of Crete. There are Byzantine churches
in the area and the wider area of Zakros has a major Minoan site in a beautiful
setting around a gorge.
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ZIROS (Village) LEFKI
The village of Ziros is 30km south of Sitia on the Sitia - Piskokefalo
- Epano Episkopi - Handras - Ziros road. There are a number of Byzantine churches
in the area. Agios Nikolaos, another church in the village, is full of frescoes
and was one of the last churches painted in this manner. As the painting of icons
became more popular, the art of fresco painting disappeared. Ziros is a very pleasant
village situated among some of the richest vineyards and olives groves in Crete.
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This small village is about 30 km south of Sitia and has very poor history. It was occupied by Turks and a plot killed a number of local men in the church of Agia Paraskevi. The bones of these men are on display in the same church. In Agia Paraskevi is also a fresco on the arch above the door dated 1565.
AGIOS NIKOLAOS (Municipality) LASSITHI
DIKTI (Mountain) LASSITHI
Dicte (Dikte, Strab. x. p. 478 Diod. v. 70: Steph. B.; Dikton, Arat.
Phaen. 33; Diktaion oros, Etym. M. s. v.; Dictaeus M., Plin. iv. 12: Juktas),
the well-known Cretan mountain where; according to story, Zeus rested from his
labours on earth and in heaven. Here the lying Cretan dared to show the tomb of
the Father of gods and men, which remained an object of veneration or curiosity
from an early period to the age of Constantine. (Cic. de N. D. iii. 2. 1; Diod.
iii. 61; Lucian, de Sacrif. 10, vol. i. p. 634, de Jov. Tragoed. 45, vol. ii.
p. 693, ed. Hemst.; Origen. c. Cels. ii. 143, p. 475, ed. Par.) The stony slopes
of the mountain rose to the SE. of Cnossus, ou the E. side. Mr. Pashley found
considerable remains of ancient walls at about 100 paces from the summit. The
fragments offered good specimens of the polygonal construction. (Trav. vol. i.
p. 220.) These, no doubt, are the remains of that ancient city described by the
Venetian writer (Descrizione dell' Isola di Candia) as lying on the E. or opposite
side of the mountain to Lyctus, of which Ariosto (Orland. Fur. xx. 15) makes mention:
Fra cento alme citta ch‘ eano in Creta,
Dictea piu ricca, e piu piacevol era.
On the lower slopes was the fountain, on the wonders of which the
Venetian writer gives a glowing description (Mus. Class. Antiq. vol. ii. p. 270),
and which must, therefore, have existed at an earlier date than that recorded
by the inscription as given by Mr. Pashley (Trav. vol. i. p. 211.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited September 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
DIONISSADES (Island complex) LASSITHI
Dionysiades (Dionusiades, Diod. v. 75), small islands which lie off
the coast of Crete to the NE. The position is fixed by the Coast-describer at
120 stadia from Sammonium (Stadiasm.) The Peutinger Table places at the E. of
the N. extremity of Crete, an island with the unfinished name of Dion. . . This
must be one of this group of islands, which now are called Dhionysiadhes. See
the map in Pashley's Travels. (Hock, Kreta, vol. i. pp. 428, 439.)
ETIS (Ancient city) SITIA
Eteia (Eteia), a town of Crete. Pliny (iv. 20) places a town of this
name (some of the MSS. and the old text have Elea or Eleae), between Phalasarna
and Cisamus.
IERAPYTNA (Ancient city) IERAPETRA
Hieraputna, Hiera Putna, Hiera Petra, Hierapudna, Hiera Pudns. A town
of Crete, of which Strabo says that it stood in the narrowest part of the island,
opposite Minoa. Hierapytna, according to the Coast-describer, was 180 stadia from
Biennus, which agrees with the distance of 20 M. P. assigned to it by the Peutinger
Table. It was a town of great antiquity, and its foundation was ascribed to the
Corybantes; it bore the successive names of Cyrba, Pytna, Camirus, and Hierapytna.
From an inscription preserved among the Oxford marbles, it appears that the Hierapytnians
were at one time allied with the neighbouring city of Priansus. Traces of this
city have been found at the Kastele of Hierapetra. There are both autonomous and
imperial coins belonging to Hierapytna; the symbol on the former is generally
a palm tree.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ISTROS (Ancient city) AGIOS NIKOLAOS
Istrus (Istros), a Cretan town which Artemidorus also called Istrona.
(Steph. B. s. v.) The latter form of the name is found in an inscription (ap.
Chishull, Antiq. Asiat. p. 110). The site is placed near Minoa: Among the ruined
edifices and columns of this ancient city are two immense marble blocks, half
buried in the earth, and measuring 54 by 15 feet. (Cornelius, Creta Sacra, vol.
i. p. 11; ap. Mus. Class. Antiq. vol. ii. p. 273 comp. Hock, Kreta, vol. i. pp.
17, 421.)
ITANOS (Ancient city) ITANOS
Itanus (Itanos, Ptol. iii. 17. § 4; Steph. B.: Eth. Itanios), a town
on the E. coast of Crete, near the promontory which bore the name of Itanum. (Plin.
iv. 12.) In Coronelli's map there is a place called Itagnia, with a Paleokastron
in the neighbourhood, which is probably the site of Itanus; the position of the
headland must be looked for near Xacro flume (Hock, Kreta, vol. i. p. 426), unless
it be placed further N. at Capo Salomon, in which case the Grandes islands would
correspond with the Onisia and Lfugge of Pliny (l. c.; comp. Mus. Class. Antiq.
vol. ii. p. 303). According to Herodotus (iv. 151), the Theraeans, when founding
Cyrene, were indebted for their knowledge of the Libyan coast to Corobius, a seller
of purple at Itanus. Some of the coins of this city present the type of a woman
terminating in the tail of a fish. (Eckhel, vol. ii. p. 314.) This type, recalling
the figure of the Syrian goddess, coupled with the trade in purple, suggests a
Phoenician origin.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited September 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
KADISTOS (Mountain) LASSITHI
Cadistus, a mountain of Crete, belonging to the ridge of the White
Mountains. Its position has been fixed by Hoeck (Kreta, vol. i. p. 380) at Cape
Spadha, the most northerly point of the whole island. In Ptolemy (iii. 17. § 8)
this promontory bears the name of Psakon akron; while Strabo (x. p. 484) calls
it Diktunnaion akroterion, and his remark that Melos lay at nearly the same distance
from it as from the Scyllaeanpromontory, shows that he indicated this as the most
northerly point of the island. The mass of mountain of which the cape was composed
bore the double name of Cadistus and Dictynnaeus. (Plin. iv. 12. s. 20; Solin.
16.) It would seem that Pliny and Solinus were in error when they described Cadistus
and Dictynnaeus as two separate peaks. Psakon akron and Cadistus were the original
and proper names of the promontory and mountain, while Diktunnaion akroterion
and oros were epithets afterwards given, and derived from the worship and temple
of Dictynna.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited August 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
KAMARA (Settlement) ITANOS
Camara (Kamara: Eth. Kamaraios, Steph. B.), a city of Crete, situated
to the E. of Olus (Ptol. iii. 17. § 5), at a distance of 15 stadia according to
the Maritime Itinerary. Xenion, a Cretan historian quoted by Steph. B. (s. v.)
says that it was once called Lato. (Hoeck, Kreta, vol. i. pp. 10, 394, 116.)
LATO KAMARA (Ancient city) AGIOS NIKOLAOS
Kamara: Eth. Kamaraios. A city of Crete, situated to the E. of Olus (Ptol. iii.
17. § 5), at a distance of 15 stadia according to the Maritime Itinerary. Xenion,
a Cretan historian quoted by Steph. B. says that it was once called Lato.
MILATOS (Ancient city) NEAPOLI
A town of Crete, mentioned in the Homeric catalogue. (il. ii. 647.)
This town, which no longer existed in the time of Strabo, was looked upon by some
writers as the mother-city of the Ionian colony of the same name. (Ephorus, ap.
Strab. xii. p. 573, xiv. p. 634; Schol. Apoll. Rhod. i. 186; Apollod. iii. 1,
2, 3; Plin. iv. 12.) Mr. Pasbley (Trav. vol. i. p, 269) explored the site of this
Homeric city not far from Episkopiano, at which, considerable remains of walls
of polygonal masonry, both of the acropolis and city are still to be seen. (Hock,
Kreta, vol. i. pp. 15, 418.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
NAXIA (Ancient city) ELOUNDA
or Naxus (Nachos, Suid. s. v.), a town of Crete, according to the
Scholiast (ad Pind. Isth. vi. 107) celebrated for its whetstones. Hock (Kreta,
vol. i. p. 417) considers the existence of this city very problematical. The islands
Crete and Naxos were famed for their whetstones (Plin. xxxvi. 22; comp. xviii.
28), and hence the confusion. In Mr. Pashley's map the site of Naxos is marked
near Spna Longa.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
OLEROS (Ancient city) IERAPETRA
Oleros, Eth. Olerios. A town of Crete, situated on a hill, with a
temple to Athene. In the struggle between Cnossus and Lyctus, the people of Olerus
sided with the latter. (Polyb. iv. 53, where the reading Orioi appears to be a
mistake.) In the Descrizione dell' Isola di Candia, A.D. 1538 (ap. Mus. Class.
Antiq. vol. ii. p. 271), the site is occupied by a place called Castel Messelerius.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
OLOUS (Ancient city) ELOUNDA
Olous, Oloulis, Eth. Oloutioi, Olouti. A town of Crete, the citizens
of which had entered into a treaty with those of Lato. (Bockh, Inscr. vol. ii.
No. 2554.) There was a temple to Britomartis in this city, a wooden statue of
whom was erected by Daedalus, the mythical ancestor of the Daedalidae, and father
of Cretan art. (Pausan. ix. 40. § 3.) Her effigy is represented on the coins of
Olus. (Eckhel, vol. ii. p. 316; Mionnet, Descr. vol. ii. p. 289; Combe, Mus. Hunter.)
There is considerable difficulty in making out the position of this town; but
the site may probably be represented by Aliedha near Spina Longa, where there
are ruins. Mr. Pashley's map erroneously identifies these with Naxos.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
PRESSOS (Ancient city) SITIA
Prasus (Praisos; in the MSS. of Strabo Prasos, but in inscriptions
Praisos, Bockh, Inscr. vol. ii. p. 1102: Eth. Praisios, more rarely Praisieus,
Steph. B. s. v.). A town in Crete, belonging to the Eteocretes, and containing
the temple of the Dictaean Zeus, for Mt. Dicte was in the territory of Praesus.
(Strab. x. pp. 475, 478.) There is a difficulty in the passage of Strabo, describing
the position of this town. He first says that Praesus bordered upon the territory
of Leben, and was distant 70 stadia from the sea, and 180 from Gortyn; and he
next speaks of Praesus as lying between the promontories Samonium and Chersonesus,
at the distance of 60 stadia from the sea. It is evident that these are two different
places, as a town, whose territory was contiguous to that of Leben, must have
been situated in the southern part of the island; while the other town, between
the promontories of Samonium and Chersonesus, must have been at the eastern end.
The latter is the town of the Eteocretes, possessing the temple of the Dictaean
Zeus, and the Praesus usually known in history : the former is supposed by Mr.
Pashley (Crete, vol. i. p. 289, seq.) to be a false reading for Priansus, a town
mentioned in coins and inscriptions, which he accordingly places on the southern
coast between Bienna and Leben. In this he is followed by Kiepert. But Bockh thinks
(Inscr. vol. ii. p. 405) that Pransos, or Priansos was the primitive form of the
name, from which Praisos, or Priaisos (a form in Steph. B. s. v.), and subsequently
Prasos, were derived, just as in the Aeolic dialect pansa became paisa, and in
the Attic dialect pasa. Kramer (ad Strab. l. c.) adopts the opinion of Bockh.
Upon the whole we must leave uncertain what town was intended by Strabo in the
former of the above-mentioned passages. The territory of Praesus extended across
the island to either sea. (Scylax, p. 18, Huds.) It is said to have been the only
place in Crete, with the exception of Polichna, that did not take part in the
expedition against Camicus in Sicily, in order to avenge the death of Minos (Herod.
vii. 170). It was destroyed by the inhabitants of Hierapytna. (Strab. x. p. 479.)
Agathocles, the Babylonian, related that the Praesii were accustomed to sacrifice
swine before marriage. (Athen. ix. p. 376.) The ruins of Praesus are still called
Praesus. (Pashley, Crete, vol. i. p. 290, seq.; Hock, Kreta, vol. i. p. 413, seq.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
PRESSOS (Ancient city) NEAPOLI
Praesus or Prasus (Praisos; in the MSS. of Strabo Prasos, but in inscriptions
Praisos, Bockh, Inscr. vol. ii. p. 1102: Eth. Praisios, more rarely Praisieus,
Steph. B. s. v.), a town in Crete, belonging to the Eteocretes, and containing
the temple of the Dictaean Zeus, for Mt. Dicte was in the territory of Praesus.
(Strab. x. pp. 475, 478.) There is a difficulty in the passage of Strabo, describing
the position of this town. He first says (p. 478) that Praesus bordered upon the
territory of Leben, and was distant 70 stadia from the sea, and 180 from Gortyn;
and he next speaks of Praesus as lying between the promontories Samonium and Chersonesus,
at the distance of 60 stadia from the sea. It is evident that these are two different
places, as a town, whose territory was contiguous to that of Leben, must have
been situated in the southern part of the island; while the other town, between
the promontories of Samonium and Chersonesus, must have been at the eastern end.
The latter is the town of the Eteocretes, possessing the temple of the Dictaean
Zeus, and the Praesus usually known in history : the former is supposed by Mr.
Pashley (Crete, vol. i. p. 289, seq.) to be a false reading for Priansus, a town
mentioned in coins and inscriptions, which he accordingly places on the southern
coast between Bienna and Leben. In this he is followed by Kiepert. But Bockh thinks
(Inscr. vol. ii. p. 405) that Pransos, or Priansos was the primitive form of the
name, from which Praisos, or Priaisos (a form in Steph. B. s. v.), and subsequently
Prasos, were derived, just as in the Aeolic dialect pansa became paisa, and in
the Attic dialect pasa. Kramer (ad Strab. l. c.) adopts the opinion of Bockh.
Upon the whole we must leave uncertain what town was intended by Strabo in the
former of the above-mentioned passages.
The territory of Praesus extended across the island to either sea.
(Scylax, p. 18, Huds.) It is said to have been the only place in Crete, with the
exception of Polichna, that did not take part in the expedition against Camicus
in Sicily, in order to avenge the death of Minos (Herod. vii. 170). It was destroyed
by the inhabitants of Hierapytna. (Strab. x. p. 479.) Agathocles, the Babylonian,
related that the Praesii were accustomed to sacrifice swine before marriage. (Athen.
ix. p. 376.) The ruins of Praesus are still called Praesus. (Pashley, Crete, vol.
i. p. 290, seq.; Hock, Kreta, vol. i. p. 413, seq.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited August 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ITANOS (Ancient city) ITANOS
Itanos. A town on the eastern coast of Crete, of Phoenician origin.
MAKRYS GIALOS (Municipality) LASSITHI
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