Explore Cretan

History

Crete’s strategic location at the crossroads of the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean is the main reason for the continuous claim of the island by many occupants.

Crete managed to keep its unique and strong character till today. Religion, glorious history and the wild Cretan terrain formed the personality of Cretans, who held their Greek soul after many centuries of slavery. Apart from the scattered archaeological sites and monuments of spiritual wealth, the visitor has the chance to see the rare and priceless findings of excavations at the various museums and collections throughout the island.

Crete is the birthplace of Zeus, the ruler of the gods, people and hospitality. Even today the hospitality of the Cretans is more than a ritual. The first European civilization, the Minoans, emerged here between 2800 BC and 1400 BC. Even today, the palaces of Knossos, Phaestus, Malia and Zakros reflect the splendor of the Minoan civilization through the masterpieces of architecture, pottery, gold, silversmithing and painting. The most powerful fleet in the then known world, as evidenced by the different findings across the Mediterranean, brought wealth to Crete from trading the famous Cretan cypress and its agricultural products. This brilliant course was terminated in 1400 BC when the Achaeans and the Dorians made their presence on the island, founding new towns (eg Lato, Polyrhenea) and gave the baton to the Classical Greek civilization.

After the conquest of Crete by the Romans, the capital moved to Gortys, which subsequently became the capital of the Roman province of Crete and Cyrene. During his journey to Rome, Saint Paul stopped in Crete and proclaimed Christianity, beginning a century-old monastic tradition in more remote areas. The island became an important Christian center as depicted in hundreds of religious monuments, scattered everywhere.

In 824AD Crete was conquered by the Arabs, who turned Candia (today’s Iraklion) to a base for pirate attacks in the Mediterranean Sea. After many failed attempts, the Byzantines managed to release Crete in 961, under the commands of the later emperor Nikiforos Fokas, giving a new impetus in Christian tradition on Crete.

After the conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204, the Venetians became the new rulers of Crete until 1669. During this period Crete experienced a great economic and spiritual wellbeing. The big cities were rebuilt, decorated with amazing monuments and fortified with massive walls. Moreover, the art reached its apogee with great personalities from the field of hagiography, as El Greco (Dominikos Theotokopoulos) and Michael Damaskinos. Moreover, literature, music and theater thrived and produced masterpieces, like Erotokritos and Erofili. All these were abruptly interrupted in 1669 when Candia, Crete’s last stronghold, surrendered after the longest siege in history by the Ottomans.

Successive revolutions and bloody battles led to the autonomy of Crete in 1897. In 1913 Crete became part of the Greek territory, honoring the longed dream of all Cretans for the Union with Greece. During the Union of Crete, the politician Eleftherios Venizelos came into foreground, who would later become the greatest leader that ever ruled Greece. The struggles, however, of the Cretans did not end here, as the Cretan glory emerged in the Battle of Crete in 1941 and from the ashes of the dozens of villages burnt by the Germans. Thousands of Cretans were executed with their fearless gaze towards the barrel of the German guns, helping to turn the scales in favor of the Allies.

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.00 (5 Votes)
Heraklion Museum of Visual Arts

The Museum of Visual Arts in Heraklion is a private art museum. It was founded in May 2000 by Kostas Schizakis. Its activities include organizing educational seminars and lectures on artistic creation.

Read more ...
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.50 (2 Votes)
Agios Thomas Roman Tombs

Agios Thomas (Saint Thomas) is one of the most impressive mountain villages of Crete. This is mainly due to the rocks of the region that are easy to carve. Excellent monuments of carved architecture travel us to ancient times with carved Minoan presses, Roman tombs and cavernous temples.

Read more ...
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.70 (10 Votes)
The antiquities of Koufonissi

Koufonissi was an economic and cultural center from the Minoan until the Greco-Roman Times and was claimed by all major cities of the region. As recorded on the inscription of the Magnites currently embeded on the facade of the Toplou monastery church, there was a great dispute between Itanos and Ierapytna about Lefki island. In 132BAD the island was owned by Itanos.

 

Read more ...
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.00 (4 Votes)
Makrigialos Minoan Villa at Plakakia

The very quiet area of Makrigialos with the plain and the sheltered beach could not be ignored by the Minoans, who left important traces of habitation. The main finding is a rural mansion, a miniature Minoan palace in position Plakakia, found in 1971 by Kostas Davaras.

Read more ...
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.80 (5 Votes)
Kastro settlement at Kavousi

The Late Minoan settlement of Kastro is located on a steep hill, 3km south of Kavoussi, which is accessed via an ancient trail. The view of the bay of Mirabello, the wild gorge of Mesonas, Malavra mounts and the island of Psira are unique.

Read more ...
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.86 (42 Votes)
Wood Carving Museum at Axos

At Axos village, at the foot of Psiloritis mount we meet the two storey exhibition with more than a hundred sculptures, handmade works of art, all made from a hammer and a chisel.

Read more ...
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.00 (2 Votes)
Vrysinas Peak Sanctuary

At the position that is currently the chapel of Agio Pnevma (Holy Spirit) at the summit of Mount Vrysinas (altitude 858m) the archaeologists have identified probably the most important Minoan Peak Sanctuary of West Crete. From this point one can overlook the northern coast and the province of Agios Vasilios.

Read more ...
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 5.00 (3 Votes)
Spilia Aqueduct

At the area of Agia Irini, Spilia, there is the largest of the aqueduct bridges built in Crete. The aqueduct was built in 1830-40 by the Egyptians after the discovery of the ancient aqueduct of Knossos that had a tunnel of 1150m. Therefore, tunnel was cleaned and reused.

Read more ...

Also read:

Download Free Premium Joomla Templates • FREE High-quality Joomla! Designs BIGtheme.net