Listed 68 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "RETHYMNO Province CRETE" .
AGIA TRIADA (Settlement) ARKADI
The village of Agia Triada is 12km from Rethimnon on a road south
of the Rethimnon - Iraklion highway towards Arkadi at 5km. There is the Byzantine
church of Agia Triada in the village.
Agios Konstantinos name is taken from the local church. It is testified in Venetian censuses of the 16th and 17th centuries, while in the Egyptian administration's 1834 census it comprised 50 families. In 1881 it formed part of the Municipality of Roustika and had 263 inhabitants; by 1900 this number had increased to 345. Since 1928 it has formed a community in its own right. Under Venetian rule it was a fief of the Barozzi family - to this day the village retains the overall appearance of that time. Several fine houses were built during the period Agios Konstantinos served as a summer retreat for the Venetian nobles of Rethymnon. The drinking fountain erected by the Barozzi family can still be seen one mile to the east of the village. The municipal ward of Agios Konstantinos includes the Venetian settlement of Agios Georgios, lying at an altitude of 390m.
AMNATOS (Village) ARKADI
The village of Amnatos is 18km from Rethimnon, on a road right at
6km along the Rethimnon - Iraklion highway. In Amnatos there are Venetian remains.
ARGYROUPOLI (Village) LAPPEI
Argiroupolis, 27km from Rethimnon on the exit at 21km of the old road
from Rethimnon to Chania, is located on a hill with an enjoyable view of the valley
below. Its past is evident everywhere in the buildings of the town. The village
has natural springs and lush vegetation which makes for a very pleasant stroll
through its streets.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
In the place that in the present days stands Argiroupolis was the ancient city of Lapa. As myths say, king Agamemnon, the hero of the Trojan war, created Lapa. Lapa was one of the most important cities of western Crete during Roman times. It controlled the area around it from the north to the south coast. It had two harbours, one on the north coast of Crete and another on the south. It is said that its harbour was Finix on the south coast of Crete in present-day Loutro. In the Greek wars they were allies of Knossos but when Knossos destroyed Lyttos the people of Lapa accepted the Lyttoans in their city. Lapa was also important during Byzantine times till it was destroyed by the Arabs in 828 A.D.
Today' s Argyroupolis is built on the ruins of the ancient city Lappa,
for the creation of which there are many versions the most dominant of which is
the one that supports that Lappa was founded by Lappas of Tarra (Tarra was a city
at the south coasts of western Crete, at the position of Agia Roumeli), and later
took part at the campaign of Greeks against Troy.
In 1050 B.C. it was conquered by the Doreans and then developed into
a separate country, which included the areas of Rethymno and Sfakia and part of
the areas of Agios Vasileios and Apokoronas, and had two harbors: Hydramia at
the northern and Phoinikas at the southern coasts of Crete. In 333 B.C. it took
part at the campaign of Alexander the Great against Persians.
During the war between Knossos and Lyttos (221-220 B.C.), that resulted
in the destruction of the latter, Lappa allied at first with Knossos and then
with Littos and after the destruction accepted the refugees Lytteans.
Lappa remained independent until 67 B.C., when it was conquered by
the Roman General Cointus Caecilius Metelus, known as the Cretan, after two years
of siege. Later, in 31 BC, during the conflict between Marcus Antonius with Octabianus,
Lappa allied with Octabianus, who, after becoming an emperor, rebuilt the city,
which went through a new era of glory and he gave Lappa special privileges, like
the right to have its own currency. During this period many buildings and an aqueduct
with 600 cubic meters capacity were made. Today the remains of these buildings
still exist.
During the post-christian period, Christianity was spread and the
persecutions started. While Gaius Messius Cuintus Traianus Decius was an emperor
at Rome, in 250 A.D., the five virgins from Lappa, Maria, Martha, Thecla, Mariamni
and Enatha, were executed.
In 350 AD a diocese, that belonged to the Church of Rome, was founded
in Lappa by the Apostle Titus, while in 600 AD the Church of Crete was subdued
to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Bishops of Lappa took part in many Ecumenical
Synods.
Lappa remained a city until the end of the first Byzantine period,
in 823 A.D., when the Sarakins conquered Crete and totally destroyed it.
In 980 A.D. the diocese was refounded at the village Episkopi (=diocese),
the capital of today's Municipality of Lappeans.
In 961 A.D., after the recovery of Crete by Nikiforos Fokas, Lappa
was given as a feud to the Hortatsis family until 1182, when it was, most likely,
given to the Byzantine family of Argyrostefanitis or Argyropoulos.
In 1211 Lappa entered the period of Venetocracy with the rest of Crete
and was inhabited by feudal lords, whose characteristics were the emblems and
coats of arms at the top of the gates. During this period the dominant name is
Polis instead of Lappa. At that period mineral deposits of silver were discovered
at the area, to which the name Argyroupolis might be attributed. Others attribute
the name Argyroupolis to the name of the Argyropoulos family.
In 1299 the Venetians gave the city to Alexios Callergis, with the
homonymous peace treaty.
The most important events from the modern history of Crete, that took
place at the area of Argyroupolis are the following:
- In 1867 the General assembly of the Cretans was transformed here.
- During September 1867, the leaders of the Cretan Revolution met here and decided
the continuation of the Revolution.
- At the 3rd of February 1878 the union of Crete with the rest of Greece was voted
in Argyroupolis.
ARMENI (Village) RETHYMNO
Leaving Rethimnon going south towards Preveli Monastery and Plakias,
the road goes through the village of Armeni. The village of Armeni is about 10km
south of Rethimnon in the middle of a green valley producing olives, oil, potatoes,
grapes and wine. Armeni has some coffee shops and simple restaurants. Just before
Armeni, a Postpalatial Minoan cemetery was discovered.
AROLITHI (Settlement) LAPPEI
Arolithos is a recently-built imitation of a traditional Cretan village.
The basic shops of a traditional village are there and produce or sell goods.
Some houses have been constructed and decorated in the traditional style. Coffee
shops and restaurants are also in the village. The visitor can spend some pleasant
hours there browsing through the village and sitting in the coffee shops and restaurants.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
CHROMONASTIRI (Village) RETHYMNO
In the village of Chromonastiri there are two fascinating Byzantine
churches: the church of the Panagia Kera and church of Agios Eftihios.
ELEFTHERNA (Village) ARKADI
The village of Eleftherna is 24km southeast from Rethimnon on a road
right at Viran Episkopi (14km) of the Rethimnon - Iraklion highway. Route: Rethimnon
- Viran Episkopi - Skouloufia - Eleftherna. Eleftherna is one of the most important
ancient locations in Crete and one of the largest sites, occupying a large area
across two hills. Inhabited from Minoan times, it reached its peak and flourished
during the Greek and Roman through to the Byzantine periods. Remains from all
those eras can be seen in the area. Recently archaeologists discovered traces
of human sacrifice dating from the late eighth century B.C. In the Archaeological
Museum of Rethimnon there is a display of articles from the excavation.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
EPISKOPI (Village) LAPPEI
Episkopi of Rethimnon is near the National Highway from Rethimnon
to Chania, 22km from Rethimnon. Episkopi was the bishopric of Rethimnon during
the second Byzantine period, but the bishopric church, Agios Nikolaos, a triple-aisled
basilica, is in ruins now. Episkopi is a local market centre on the edges of the
majestic Lefka Ori. It is an intriguing village with traditional houses and many
alleyways.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
Episkopi is a principal village of the prefecture and county of Rethimno. It is located at the old national road of Rethimno- Hania .It is 22.5 km near to the city of Rethimno. The village is built at 120 m a.s.l. overlooking the northern coast of Crete, and the green and fertile valley of Mousselas river. Here is the economical center of the area. The name Episcopi means bishopric, and is common to many villages in the island, that used to house in the past the bishop's offices. The religious past of the area is obvious now to the visitor.You can see churches everywhere, some of them with remarkable frescoes. The village of Episkopi is farly old, and is mentioned at the archives having 446 inhabitants before 1583. Because of its geographical location, between Apokoronas and Rethimno, it used to be in the past and especially during the turkish ocupation, the place of numerous battles.
ERFI (Village) ARKADI
The village of Erfi is 16km east of Rethimnon on a road right of the
Rethimnon - Iraklion highway at 10km. There is a Byzantine church there.
KATO VALSAMONERO (Village) NIKIFOROS FOKAS
The old village of Kato Varsamonero is 14km from Rethimnon on a road
right at 12km of the old road from Rethimnon to Chania. In Kato Varsamonero is
a single-roomed Byzantine church.
KYRIANNA (Village) ARKADI
The village of Kirianna is 15km from Rethimnon on a road right of
the Rethimnon - Iraklion highway at 5km. It is towards Adele and the Arkadi Monastery.
In the centre of the village of Kirianna is a Byzantine church.
LAPPA (Ancient city) LAPPEI
Argiroupolis is the site of the ancient city of Lapa. According to
the myths, Lapa was created by Agamemnon, the hero of the Trojan war. The older
coins of the city show the goddess Vritomartis Artemis, who was a Cretan goddess
influenced by the Minoan religion. In the Greek wars they were allies of Knossos
but when Knossos destroyed Lyttos the people of Lapa accepted the Lyttoans in
their city and their homes. Lapa was one of the most important cities of western
Crete during Roman times. It controlled the area around it from the north to the
south coast. It had two harbours, one on the north coast of Crete and another
on the south. It is said that its harbour was Finix on the south coast of Crete
in present-day Loutro. The coins of Lapa at this time had a representation of
Poseidon on them. Lapa was also important during Byzantine times but it was destroyed
by the Arabs in 828 A.D. Today many buildings and churches have been constructed
using stones and other building materials from the ancient cities and the more
recent Venetian buildings.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
MAROULAS (Village) RETHYMNO
Maroulas is a very small village near Rethymno. Although it’s small it’s very old with a very traditional architecture. In the remaining houses you can see how the villages looked when the Venetian and Turkish occupied the village . As you can partly see in the picture narrow paths, towers, and old doors are characteristics of the village.
The old village of Maroulas is 10km from Rethimnon, on a road to the right of the Rethimnon - Iraklion highway at 5km. Maroulas is a very old village of traditional architecture. In the remaining houses one can see how the villages looked during the Venetian and Turkish eras. Narrow paths, towers, and old doors are characteristics of the village.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
MYLI (Settlement) RETHYMNON
Mili is an old village southeast of Rethimnon (7km), now uninhabited.
Mili is within a small, very green gorge which has a river passing through it.
One can see the remains of a traditional village and explore the architecture
of the empty village houses, caves, and churches. Near Mili there is the Byzantine
church of Agios Antonios.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
MYRIOKEFALA (Village) RETHYMNO
From Argiroupolis the road continues and ends in the village of Miriokefala
37km from Rethimnon, 500 metres above sea level, and the base of the Lefka Ori.
PIGI (Village) ARKADI
The village of Pigi is 9km from Rethimnon on a road to the right (towards
Arkadi) at 6km of the Rethimnon - Iraklion highway. In the area of the village
of Pigi, is the large and beautiful Byzantine church of Agios Dimitrios.
PRASSIES (Village) RETHYMNO
Prasies is southeast of Rethimnon on the road from Rethimnon to Amari
(12km). Prasies is a town that retains many aspects from its Venetian past. Narrow
paths and ornate doors contribute to the old village's atmosphere.
PRINOS (Village) ARKADI
Prinos is 13km from Rethimnon, on a road right off the Rethimnon -
Iraklion highway at 10km. The Byzantine church of the Panagia in Drakonero is
here.
ROUSTIKA (Village) NIKIFOROS FOKAS
Roustika, 21km from Rethimnon, is a village in central Rethimnon on
a left branch (at 16km) of the old road to Chania. The village maintains some
aspects of traditional village architecture and traces of its Venetian past.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
Roustika is mentioned by Barozzi (1577), Kastrofilakas (1583) and Vasilikatas (1630), as well as in the Ottoman census of 1671 and the Egyptian one of 1834. In the 1881 census Roustika is given as the seat of a municipality of the same name, with approximately 440 inhabitants - thereafter it appears as the seat of a community. The village nestles among beautiful surroundings and resembles a miniature citadel when viewed from a distance.
SELI (Village) RETHYMNO
The village of Seli is south of Rethimnon on the left branch of the
road south of Armeni. It can also be reached from the eastern side (via Prasies
and Mirthios, 21km). The village of Seli contains a Byzantine church.
SKOULOUFIA (Village) ARKADI
The village of Skouloufia is 18km east of Rethimnon on a road right
of the Rethimnon - Iraklion highway at 10km. In Skouloufia there are remains of
several Byzantine churches.
VIRANEPISKOPI (Settlement) ARKADI
Viran Episkopi is 12km from Rethimnon on a road to the right off the
Rethimnon - Iraklion highway at 10km. In Viran Episkopi there are remains of very
old Byzantine churches.
ELEFTHERNA (Ancient city) ARKADI
A town of great importance in Crete, situated on the NW. slopes of
Mt. Ida, at a distance of 50 stadia from the harbour of Astale (Stadiasm.), and
8 M. P. from Sybritia (Peut. Tab.). Its origin was ascribed to the legendary Curetes
(Steph. B. s. v.), and it was here that Ametor or Amiton first accompanied his
lovesongs to the cithara. It was in alliance with Cnossus till the people of Polyrrhenium
and Lampe compelled it to break off from the confederacy. (Polyb. iv. 53, 55).
Dion Cassius (xxxvi. 1) has an odd story about a knot of traitors
within who gave up the city to Q. Metellus Creticus, making a breach through a
strong brick tower by means of vinegar. It was existing in the time of Hierocles;
and the number and beauty of its silver coins show it to have been a place of
great consideration. The Venetian MS. of the 16th century mentions the remains
of this city as being so enormous as to strike the eye with wonder at the power
and riches of a people that could afford to rear such stately monuments. Mr. Pashley
discovered vestiges of antiquity on the summit of a lofty hill near a place still
called Eletherna, about five miles S. of the great convent of Arkadhi, which possesses
a Metokhi on the site.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited May 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
LAPPA (Ancient city) LAPPEI
Lappa, Lampa (Lappa, Ptol. iii. 17. § 10; Lampa, Lampai, Hierocl.; Lampe, Steph.
B.: Eth. Lappaios, Lampaios), an inland town of Crete, with a district extending
from sea to sea (Scylax, p. 18), and possessing the port Phoenix. (Strab. x. p.
475.) Although the two forms of this city's name occur in ancient authors, yet
on coins and in inscriptions the word Lappa is alone found. Stephanus of Byzantium
shows plainly that the two names denote the same place, when he says that Xenion,
in his Cretica, wrote the word Lappa, and not Lampa. The same author (s. v. Lampe)
says that it was founded by Agamemnon, and was called after one Lampos, a Tarrhaean;
the interpretation of which seems to be that it was a colony of Tarrha.
When Lyctus had been destroyed by the Cnossians, its citizens found
refuge with the people of Lappa (Polyb. iv. 53). After the submission of Cydonia.
Cnossus, Lyctus, and Eleutherna, to the arms of Metellus, the Romans advanced
against Lappa, which was taken by storm, and appears to have been almost entirely
destroyed. (Dion Cass. xxxvi. 1.) Augustus, in consideration of the aid rendered
to him by the Lappaeans in his struggle with M. Antonius [p. 125] bestowed on
them their freedom, and also restored their city. (Dion Cass. li. 2.) When Christianity
was established, Lappa became an episcopal see; the name of its bishop is recorded
as present at the Synod of Ephesus, A.D. 431, and the Council of Chalcedon, A.D.
451, as well as on many other subsequent occasions. (Cornelius, Creta Sacra, vol.
i. pp. 251, 252.)
Lappa was 32 M.P. from Eleutherna and 9 M. P. from Cisamus, the port
of Aptera (Peut. Tab.); distances which agree very well with Polis, the modern
representative of this famous city, where Mr. Pashley (Travels, vol. i. p. 83)
found considerable remains of a massive brick edifice, with buttresses 15 feet
wide and of 9 feet projection ; a circular building, 60 feet diameter, with niches
round it 11 feet wide; a cistern, 76 ft. by 20 ft.; a Roman brick building, and
several tombs cut in the rock. (Comp. Mus. Class. Antiq. vol. ii. p. 293.) One
of the inscriptions relating to this city mentions a certain Marcus Aurelius Clesippus,
in whose honour the Lappaeans erected a statue. (Gruter, p. 1091; Chishull, Antiq.
Asiat. p. 122; Mabillon, Mus. Ital. p. 33; Bockh, Corp. Inscr. Gr. vol. ii. p.
428.)
The head of its benefactor Augustus is exhibited on the coins of Lappa:
one has the epigraph, THEOKAISANI SEBASTO; others of Domitian and Commodus are
found. (Hardouin, Num. Antiq. pp. 93, 94; Mionnet, vol. ii. p. 286; Supplem. vol.
iv. p. 326 ; Rasche, vol. ii. pl. ii. p. 1493.) On the autonomous coins of Lappa,
from which Spanheim supposed the city to have possessed the right of asylum, like
the Grecian cities enumerated in Tacitus, see Eckhel, vol. ii. p. 315. The maritime
symbols on the coins of Lappa are accounted for by the extension of its territory
to both shores, and the possession of the port of Phoenix.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited July 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
RITHYMNIA (Ancient city) RETHYMNON
Rhithumna. A town of Crete, which is mentioned by Ptolemy (iii. 17.
§ 7) and Pliny (iv. 20) as the first town on the N. coast to the E. of Amphimalla,
and is spoken of as a Cretan city by Steph. B., in whose text its name is written
Rhithymnia (Rhithumnia: Eth. Rhithumniates, Hpithumnios). It is also alluded to
by Lycophron. The modern Rhithymnos or Retimo retains the name of the ancient
city upon the site of which it stands. Eckhel (Numi Vet. Anecdoti, p. 155) first
assigned to Rhithymna its ancient coins; maritime emblems are found on them.
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
ELEFTHERNA (Ancient city) ARKADI
An important city of Crete on the northwestern slope of Mount
Ida, and traditionally founded by the Curetes. Dio Cassius (xxxvi. 1) tells a
story of how a breach was made in its towers by the use of vinegar, at the time
when the city was taken by Q. Metellus Creticus. In sixteenth century MSS. the
ancient ruins of the place are spoken of as enormous, but of them few vestiges
now remain.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
LAPPA (Ancient city) LAPPEI
During recent years the Supervising Central Committee of Classical and Prehistoric Antiquities has carried out excavations in the modern village of Argyroupoli, where parts of the ancient city of Lappa, considered to date back from the Geometric up until the Roman period, have been discovered in various places. However, most of the findings probably date back to the Hellenistic and early Roman period, a fact that proves that this area had flourished continuously during these particular periods of time. Furthermore, in philological testimonies the city of Lappa is describe as one of the most important cities of West Crete, which flourished during the Roman period.
In 68 BC Metello destroyed it. However, after 31 BC, a new, even more magnificent city was built, which boasted not only hot water springs but also its own currency. Recently, a large cemetery dating back to the Roman period has been discovered at the place of "Pente Parthenes". A large number of artefacts discovered during excavations, including two marble statues and a bronze statuette, which were found prior to the systematic search, are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno.
RITHYMNIA (Ancient city) RETHYMNON
Neolithic potsherds, which were found during surface research on the
rocky hill of Palaiokastro, reveal the existence of human life during this period.
The existence of a settlement here during the Late Minoan period is undoubted.
This was proved by the discovery of a chiselled tomb, complete with funeral gifts,
in the area of Mastabas, dating back to the last stage of the Late Minoan period
(LM III = 1350-1250 BC). However, the most convincing and distinct evidence for
the existence of the ancient town of Rethymno, or Rithimna, is given by the inscriptions
and coins dating back to the 4th and 3rd century BC; the latter displaying Apollo
or Athena on the one side and symbols of the sea such as two dolphins or a trident
on the reverse.
Furthermore the writers of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th century supply valuable
information about Rithimna. Plinios, for example (1st century), and Claudius Ptolemaeus
(2nd century) describe the town as being situated between Panormo and Georgioupoli,
whilst Claudius Aelianos (3rd century) was the first to mention the existence
of the temple of Rokkaia Artemis. The carvings, which were discovered on the natural
rock on the Palaiokastro hill, give evidence of the existence of a sanctuary on
the hill. Furthermore, there is undoubted evidence that part of the constructions
and buildings the sanctuary consisted of was demolished during the building of
the Venetian fortress. The Venetians called the hill "Palaiokastro" (= Old Fortress)
which proves that remains of an earlier, fortified building had existed.
As to the exact position of ancient Rithimna, nothing can be said
with absolute certainty. However, based on a few Venetian written testimonies
in combination with archaeological findings in the area of Arkadiou Street and
the Customs, it may be concluded that at least during the Hellenistic and Roman
period the settlement was situated in the same place as is the town of Rethymno
of today. Possibly this also applied to the settlement of the ancient Rithimna,
the name of which has been kept alive up until today.
This text is cited Nov 2003 from the Tourism Promotion Committee of Rethymno Prefecture URL below, which contains images.
A titular see in Crete,
suffragan of Gortyna, was
probably a colony of Tarrha.
It was taken by storm and almost entirely destroyed by the Romans. Augustus restored
it and in consideration of the aid rendered him in his struggle with M. Antonius,
he bestowed on the citizens their freedom, and with it the right of coinage. It
has been identified with the modern small village of Polis.
It was re-established by the Greeks about the end of the nineteenth
century.
S. Petrides, ed.
Transcribed by: Joseph E. O'Connor
This extract is cited June 2003 from The Catholic Encyclopedia, New Advent online edition URL below.
RITHYMNIA (Ancient city) RETHYMNON
A titular see of Crete,
suffragan of Gortyna. Nothing
is known of its ancient history but some of its coins are extant. It still exists
under the Greek name of Rhethymnon.
During the occupation of Crete
by the Venetians it became a Latin see. According to Corner, this see is identical
with Calamona. The Turks who had already ravaged the city in 1572, captured it
again in 1646. At present the Greeks have a bishop there who bears the combined
titles of Rhethymnon and Aulopotamos. The date of the foundation of the see is
unknown.
S. Petrides, ed.
Transcribed by: Douglas J. Potter
This extract is cited June 2003 from The Catholic Encyclopedia, New Advent online edition URL below.
AMNATOS (Village) ARKADI
A small Graeco-Roman town 14 km E of Rethymno. The settlement stands
on a flat-topped hill and covers approximately 2 hectares. Walls of domestic dwellings
can be traced on the settlement site, while several rock-cut tombs can be seen
in the face of the cliff bounding the settlement on the E. At least one of these
appears to be of Roman date, but sherds from the settlement site indicate occupation
from the Classical period onward.
K. Branigan, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
RITHYMNIA (Ancient city) RETHYMNON
An ancient city in W central Crete ca. 40 km E-SE from Khania. Little
is known of its history. It is mentioned mainly by geographers (Plin. HN 4.12.59;
Ptol. 3.15.5; cf. also Lycoph. Alex. 76; Steph. Byz. s.v.). If the emendation
‘Rhithymna’ is correct in Aelian (NA 14.20), there was a temple of Artemis Rhokkaia
at or near the site, at that time (early 3d c. A.D.) a mere village. It is not
mentioned in Hierokles or the Notitiae. The city itself is not mentioned in inscriptions
(e.g. the mid 3d c. agreements with Miletos or the treaty with Eumenes, 183),
but only individual citizens. It probably developed links with the Ptolemies in
the 3d c., and seems to have been refounded as Arsinoe, probably in the late 3d
c.; the old name was in use again by the early 2d c. (Le Rider). Coinage started
in the 4th c. Athena seems to have been the chief deity. Inscriptions in Rhethymno
Museum (mostly gravestones of the Roman and Early Christian periods) are from
Rhethymno province, and few of them certainly from Rhethymno.
The site was settled before the end of the Bronze Age (LM III tombs
from SE suburb of Mastaba). Very iew remains of the ancient city have been found:
part of a Late Roman house with columns was found under Kiouloubasi Square; mosaics
found during construction of the Customs House (1931) were lost without study.
The acropolis must have been on the high promontory (Fortetsa) where the Venetian
fort was later built; here Belli (late 16th c.) claims he saw remains of a temple.
The city and harbor lay below to the SE; SW of Fortetsa on the shore are remains
of rock-cut slipways, probably ancient, and a fish-tank now barely awash (only
a slight change in sea level is apparent here).
D. J. Blackman, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
VIRANEPISKOPI (Settlement) ARKADI
Six km W of Perama, remains of a Hellenistic and Roman settlement,
with Minoan remains to the E. Below the modern church are the remains of a Hellenistic
hieron, and on the summit of the hill on which the site stands is a large rectangular
building with several rooms of probable Roman date. Traces of house walls are
found on the slopes of the hill, and the site may have extended onto the level
ground to the S.
K. Branigan, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Receive our daily Newsletter with all the latest updates on the Greek Travel industry.
Subscribe now!
