Listed 73 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "PEDIADA Province HERAKLIO" .
AGIES PARASKIES (Village) NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS
The village of Agies Paraskies is 20km south of Iraklion, on the road
Iraklion - Kounavi - Agies Paraskies, and has a good view of the valley of Peza.
AGIOS VASSILIOS (Village) NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS
The village of Agios Vasilios is 21km south of Iraklion on the Iraklion
- Knossos - Kounavi - Agios Vasilios road and the area includes several Byzantine
churches.
ALAGNI (Village) NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS
The village of Alagni is 25km from Iraklion on the road Iraklion -
Arkalohori. The area has several Byzantine churches.
AVDOU (Village) CHERSONISSOS
The village of Avdou is 39km southeast of Iraklion on the road from
Hersonisos to Lassithi Plateau. There are six Byzantine churches in this village.
Archaic objects have been found in the cave of Agia Fotini and Faneromeni southeast
above the village at 1,100 metres above sea level.
DIA (Island) HERAKLIO
Small island off Iraklion, Crete, just beyond the harbor of ancient Knossos. When Theseus abandoned Ariadne after she saved him from the Labyrinth, some say that he left her on the island of Naxos. But others claim he was so anxious to be rid of her that he left her on Dia, within sight of her father's domain.
EPISKOPI (Small town) HERAKLIO
The village of Episkopi, Pediada is 18km southeast of Iraklion off
an exit at 8 km on the south fork of the Iraklion - Agios Nikolaos highway. Many
interesting Byzantine churches are located in the area of Episkopi. Within the
village are the Byzantine churches of Michael Archangelos, Agia Paraskevi, and
Agios Ioannis which contains frescoes. In particular, Agios Ioannis has very striking
frescoes, especially the one of Christ ascending into heaven. Giuseppe Gerola
considered it to be among the best in Crete.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
KASTELI (Village) HERAKLIO
Kastelli, Pediada is 36km southeast of Iraklion, south of Hersonisos.
This town has more shops and facilities than the surrounding villages and many
Byzantine churches nearby. At one time there was a Venetian castle here although
no trace of it remains now.
KOKKINI CHANI (Settlement) HERAKLIO
The location of Hani Kokkini is 13km east of Iraklion in the area
known as Armirides, before Gouves. On the south side of the road there is a Minoan
villa.
KOUNAVI (Village) NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS
The village of Kounavi is 15km south of Iraklion on the Iraklion -
Knossos - Kounavi road. The village contains Byzantine churches.
LIMENAS CHERSONISSOU (Small town) HERAKLIO
Hersonisos is 26km (30 minutes) east of Iraklion on the National Road.
The seaside resort of Limin Hersonisou is a busy town all year round. Half of
the shops and hotels are open throughout the year, in contrast to the rest of
Crete where many hotels and restaurants are open only during the tourist season
of April-October. Tourist offices book most of the hotels, which makes it very
difficult to find a room if not booked in advance. Hersonisos is easily reached
from Iraklion and Agios Nikolaos by frequent bus service. Limin Hersonisou stands
on the western edge of the bay of Malia. It is a summer resort with large hotels
and tourist shops. In ancient times it was an important trading centre. Originally
Hersonisos, which means peninsula in Greek, was the harbour of the city of Lyttos
(near Kastelli, Pediada). The city later became independent and the inhabitants
minted their own coins which depicted the head of Artemis on one side and Apollo
with a lyre on the opposite side. Archaeologists believe that Hersonisos was the
site of a temple dedicated to Vritomartis, "the sweet virgin", an ancient Minoan
deity later identified with Artemis.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
Hersonisos was an important Byzantine area and the seat of an archbishop from the first Byzantine period. A triple-aisled fifth century basilica has been excavated in Kastri--one of the largest on Crete. The floors of the church are covered with mosaic. East of the town there is another basilica dating from the sixth century and its floors are also covered with mosaic.
LYKTOS (Ancient city) KASTELI
The ancient city of Lyttos is located near Xidas, a short distance
from Kastelli, Pediada. The site is recognized by the two churches on the top
of the hill to the right of the road.
Various WebPages
MYRTIA (Village) HERAKLIO
Mirtia is southeast of Iraklion on the Iraklion - Skalani - Mirtia
road. There is a turnoff about 2km north of Agies Paraskies that leads to Mirtia.
The Kazantzakis Museum and interesting Byzantine churches are located in and near
the village.
PIGI (Settlement) KASTELI
The village of Pigi or Bizariano is near Kastelli, Pediada, 37km southeast
of Iraklion. Near the village is an exceptional Byzantine church.
POTAMIES (Village) CHERSONISSOS
The village of Potamies is 37km southeast of Iraklion on a south turn
from Hersonisos, towards the Lassithi Plateau. Just before you enter the village
a small road to the left leads to the Byzantine monastery of the Panagia Gouverniotissa
and the Byzantine church of Afentis Christos.
THRAPSANO (Village) HERAKLIO
The town of Thrapsano is 6km southwest of Kastelli, Pediada, 32km
southeast from Iraklion. This town is known as the traditional village of jar
(pithos) makers. The pithari can be seen drying in the yards.
This town is known as the traditional village of jar (pithos) makers. The pithari can be seen drying in the yards.
LIMENAS CHERSONISSOU (Small town) HERAKLIO
AMNISSOS (Ancient city) HERAKLIO
A town in the N. of Crete, and the harbour of Cnossus in the time of Minos, was
situated at the mouth of a river of the same name (the modern Aposelemi). It possessed
a sanctuary of Eileithyia, and the nymphs of the river, called Amnisiabes and
Amnisides, were sacred to this goddess.
ARSINOE (Ancient city) CHERSONISSOS
A town of Crete assigned to Lyctus. (Steph. B.) Berkelius (ad loc.) supposes that
an error had crept into the text, and that for Auktou we should read Aukias. Its
existence has been confirmed by some coins with the types and emblems peculiar
to the Cretan mints. (Eckhel, vol. ii. p. 304.)
CHERRONISSOS (Ancient city) CHERSONISSOS
The haven of Lyctus, with a temple of Britomartis (Strab. x. p. 479),
16 M P. from Cnossus. Mr. Pashley (Trav. vol. i. p. 268) found ruins close to
a little port on the shore, and the actual names of the villages Khersonesos and
Episcopiano, indicate that here is to be found what was once the ancient port
of Lyctus, and afterwards became an Episcopal city.
DIA (Island) HERAKLIO
Dia (Dia), a small island which lies 40 stadia (Stadiasm.) from the
Heracleium of Cnossus in Crete (Strab. x. p. 484; Plin. iv. 20); the modern Standia.
(Map of Crete, Mus. Class. Antiq. vol. ii. p. 308.)
LYKTOS (Ancient city) KASTELI
Luktos, Luttos: Eth. Luktios, Luttios. One of the most considerable
cities in Crete, which appears in the Homeric catalogue. (Il. ii. 647, xvii. 611.)
According to the Hesiodic Theogony (Theog. 477), Rhea gave birth to Zeus in a
cave of Mt. Aegaeon, near Lyctus. The inhabitants of this ancient Doric city called
themselves colonists of Sparta (Arist. Pol. ii. 7), and the worship of Apollo
appears to have prevailed there. (Callim. Hymn. Apoll. 33; comp. Muller, Dorians,
vol. i. pp. 141, 227, trans.) In B.C. 344, Phalaecus the Phocian assisted the
Cnossians against their neighbours the Lyctians, and took the city of Lyctus,
from which he was driven out by Archidamus, king of Sparta. (Diod. xvi. 62.) The
Lyctians, at a still later period, were engaged in frequent hostilities with Cnossus,
and succeeded in creating a formidable party in the island against that city.
The Cnossians, taking advantage of their absence on a distant expedition, surprised
Lyctus, and utterly destroyed it. The citizens, on their return, abandoned it,
and found refuge at Lampa. Polybius (iv. 53, 54), on this occasion, bears testimony
to the high character of the Lyctians, as compared with their countrymen. They
afterwards recovered their city by the aid of the Gortynians, who gave them a
place called Diatonium, which they had taken from the Cnossians. (Polyb. xxiii.
15, xxiv. 53.) Lyctus was sacked by Metellus at the Roman conquest (Liv. Epit.
xcix.; Flor. iii. 7), but was existing in the time of Strabo (x. p. 479) at a
distance of 80 stadia from the Libyan sea. (Strab. p. 476; comp. Steph. B. s.
v.; Scyl. p. 18; Plin. iv. 12; Hesych. s. v. Karnessopolis; Hierocl.) The site
still bears the name of Lytto, where ancient remains are now found. (Pashley,
Trav. vol. i. p. 269.) In the 16th century, the Venetian MS. (Mus. Class. Ant.
vol. ii. p. 274) describes the walls of the ancient city, with circular bastions,
and other fortifications, as existing upon a lofty mountain, nearly in the centre
of the island. Numerous vestiges of ancient structures, tombs, and broken marbles,
are seen, as well as an immense arch of an aqueduct, by which the water was carried
across a deep valley by means of a large marble channel. The town of Arsinoe and
the harbour of Chersonesus are assigned to Lyctus. The type on its coins is usually
an eagle flying, with the epigraph LUTTION.
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
THENES (Ancient city) HERAKLIO
Thenai. A town of Crete close on the Omphalian plain, and near Cnossus. If not
on the very site it must have been close to the Castello Temenos of the Venetians,
which was built A. D. 961, when the Cretans, under their Saracenic leaders, were
vanquished by Nicephorus Phocas and the forces of the Byzantine emperor.
LYKTOS (Ancient city) KASTELI
(Luktos) or Lyttus (Luttos). An important town in the east of Crete, situated on a height, eighty stadia from the coast. It is said to have been a Spartan colony.
TRITA (Ancient city) NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS
The ancient site is presumed to be located in the Astritsi village.
CHERRONISSOS (Ancient city) CHERSONISSOS
A titular see of Crete.
The city stood on a little peninsula of the northeast coast, between Cnossus
and Olous, and was the seaport
of Lyttos. In the fourth
century B.C. it struck coins, and was known for its temple of Britomartis. Its
ruins are near the modern village of Khersonisi.
A. Petrides, ed.
Transcribed by: Thomas M. Barrett
This extract is cited June 2003 from The Catholic Encyclopedia, New Advent online edition URL below.
AMNISSOS (Ancient city) HERAKLIO
Ancient site on N coast 7.5 km E. of Iraklion. Homer (Od. 19.188-89)
refers to its difficult harbor and to the Cave of Eileithyia; a later tradition
made it the port of Knossos under Minos (Strab. 10.4.8, probably a deduction from
Homer rather than a genuine surviving Minoan tradition, despite the considerable
Minoan remains now revealed). Ancient sources (see Guarducci) refer only to the
Amnisos river (now Karteros), the harbor, the plain, and the cave and sanctuary
of Eileithyia. There is no clear evidence that a city called Amnisos ever existed:
no coins or public inscriptions of Amnisos are known, and the main coastal settlement
(Palaiochora) may have been called Thenai.
A sandy beach runs E for 2.5 km from the mouth of the Karteros. Half
way along it is a rocky hill (Palaiochora), on which there was a fortified village
(Mesovouni) in the Venetian period, probably abandoned during the Turkish attacks
of the mid 17th c.; Minoan remains have been found beneath the ruined houses of
this period.
At the E and N foot of the hill and W of the hill are Minoan remains,
and traces of occupation on the W in the early post-Minoan period also, though
the evidence is confused. In the archaic Greek period an open-air sanctuary was
built over and into the Minoan ruins, which were at least partly visible: in front
of a long wall fronted by steps was an altar, over and around which were found
large numbers of archaic votives, and faience objects imported from Egypt. A coastal
recession deposited a deep layer of sand over the site, probably in the Classical
period. The sanctuary was rebuilt with roofed buildings over the sand layer by
the end of the 2d c. B.C. A dedication to Zeus Thenatas indicates the identity
of the cult practiced here (or one of them), which lasted until the 2d c. A.D.
at least.
Farther W, towards the river, lay the impoverished settlement of LM
IIIB, with traces of post-Minoan occupation. The Minoan harbor must have lain
in the river mouth, then much less silted, but still rather exposed to the NW
wind.
The Cave of Eileithyia (Neraidospilios or Koutsouras) lies 1 km inland,
in the ridge on the E side of the Karteros valley. First identified and briefly
excavated in the 1880s, it was fully excavated, with the coastal site, in the
1930s. The cave (62 m long, 9-12 m wide and 3-4 m high) was entered from the E.
Roughly in the center of the cave are a large and small stalagmite (clearly objects
of cult) and a simple altar, surrounded by a low wall (probably Minoan or Geometric);
water dripping at the back of the cave may have been connected with the (probably
kourotrophic) cult, which seems to have flourished in LM III-Archaic and Hellenistic-Roman
times. The remains are mostly of pottery, ranging in date from Neolithic to 5th
c. A.D.
Regarded in antiquity as the birthplace of Eileithyia, the cave was
her chief cult place. Her cult may also have been later practiced in the coastal
settlement, whose origin may have been due to the cult rather than the harbor.
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.
CHERRONISSOS (Ancient city) CHERSONISSOS
On the W side of the Bay of Mallia 26 km E of Herakleion. The ancient
site derives its name from the prominent peninsula, Kastri, which shelters the
harbor from the N. It served as out-port of the city of Lyttos, 15 km inland (Strab.
10.4.14); but in the 4th-3d c. issued its own coinage, an indication of autonomy.
Its harbor was the best on the N coast of Crete between Herakleion and Olous,
and in the Roman and first Byzantine periods it became much more important than
Lyttos.
Plutarch (De mul. vir. 247D) narrates its foundation legend; the colonists
arrived with a statue of Artemis. Strabo (10.4.14) mentions the temple of Britomartis,
one of the chief Cretan deities, and the site of the temple is indicated by the
find of an inscription to her of the late 2d c. B.C. on a small headland ca. 1
km E of Chersonesos, where a church of Hag. Nikolnos stands on the ruins of a
Roman building with a mosaic; remains of another building lie nearby, submerged
in shallow water. Britomartis is depicted on many coins of Chersonesos.
In a 3d c. inscription Chersonesos appears as a subordinate ally of
Knossos; in 183 B.C. it was one of the Cretan cities which made an alliance with
Eumenes II of Pergamum. In the 2d and 1st c. B.C. it seems again to have been
more closely linked with Lyttos, being described in inscriptions as "Lyttos
on the sea"; but this may indicate not subordination to Lyttos but the transfer
of real power to the coastal city. Bishops of Chersonesos are mentioned in the
5th to 8th c.
The peninsula N of the harbor has traces of Minoan settlement: sherds
appear in the NE cliff face at the bottom of a deep occupation deposit. The peninsula
was probably the city's acropolis in the Classical period; it was surrounded with
defense walls in Late Roman or Byzantine times, and a fine Christian basilica
was built on top in the 5th or 6th c. On the NE side of the peninsula a row of
three fish-tanks, now totally submerged, was cut into the E end of a rock shelf
in the Roman period.
The remains of the Roman city cover an extensive area S and W of the
peninsula. The theater, of the Roman period, is now almost completely destroyed,
but was still well preserved in 1583 (as was an amphitheater), and was visible
until 1897.
The most significant ancient remains are those of the Roman harbor
works, showing the city's importance and prosperity as a seaport. The harbor was
protected on the E and S by massive breakwaters of large boulders, along the inner
side of which run concrete moles which served as quays. These alone provided 330
m of berthing space, and there was a shoreline quay at least in the SW corner
of the harbor. The stumps of stone bollards survive in the surface of the E mole
and SW quay. On the W shore of the harbor remains are visible of house walls of
the Roman period. Just inland is a fountain-house with mosaics.
Inland near Potamies have been found stretches of the aqueduct which
brought water to the site from Lasithi.
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.
LYKTOS (Ancient city) KASTELI
An important Classical and Roman city ca. 25 km SE of Herakleion.
Although said by Polybios to be the most ancient (Dorian) town of Crete, the earliest
material from the site is of the archaic period. The city rose to prominence in
the 4th c. and was occupied by Knossos in 343 B.C. When Lyttos resisted the Knossian
conquest of the rest of the island in 221-219 B.C. it was captured and razed.
Subsequently rebuilt, the city was again overwhelmed when it resisted the Roman
occupation. The city is situated on a hill with three small peaks, the largest
of which seems to have formed the acropolis. At the foot of this acropolis hill
the theater probably stood, built into the slope of the hill. Fragmentary remains
of houses have been noted on the S slopes of the remaining two hills, and on the
peak of the W hill are traces of a substantial structure which might have been
a temple. Traces of the aqueduct which brought its water supply from Kournia can
still be found. The port for Lyttos was Chersonisos. Two marble statues from the
site (of Marcus Aurelius and Trajan) are in the Herakleion museum.
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.
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