Minoan settlement in Crete featuring a Royal Villa, workshops, and burial sites. Artifacts include the Hagia Triada sarcophagus and the Chieftain’s Cup.

Lato, an ancient city in Crete, reached its peak after the Dorian arrival. Named after the goddess Leto, Lato was strategically located on a hilltop overlooking the Mirabello Gulf. The city was heavily fortified, with strong walls, gates, and towers. Lato was one of the most powerful city-states in ancient Crete, with a well-organized political structure and a thriving economy. The city's port, Lato pros Kamara, facilitated trade and contributed to its growth. The archaeological site of Lato features well-preserved remains, including the agora, prytaneion, theater, temples, and private houses. Lato was eventually abandoned in the Roman era but was rediscovered in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it is a popular tourist destination, offering visitors a glimpse into the life of an ancient Cretan city. Lato was the birthplace of Nearchus, a famous admiral who served under Alexander the Great.

Oleros was an ancient Cretan city inhabited from the Early Iron Age until the Roman period. It was known for its olive oil production and political involvement in Crete.

The Minoan Tholos Tombs at Apesokari, Crete, offer insights into the unique burial practices and rituals of the Early Minoan period.

Explore the remarkable Aqueduct of Lyttos, a testament to Roman engineering ingenuity in ancient Crete. Discover how this impressive structure supplied water to the elevated city of Lyttos, ensuring its prosperity.

Elyros was a Cretan city that was part of the League of the Oreioi. It was inhabited from the early Iron Age until Late Antiquity.

Phaistos, a significant Minoan city in Crete, second in importance to Knossos, located in the Messara Plain. It dates back to 4000 BCE with a palace built in 1900-1700 BCE. The city was destroyed by an earthquake around 1700 BCE and rebuilt with a larger palace. Phaistos had connections with Knossos, Hagia Triada, and Gortyn. Important findings include the Phaistos Disk, Kamares Ware, and architectural remains. After a decline, Phaistos was reoccupied in the Hellenistic period (c. 323-67 BCE) until conquered by Gortyn.

Fournou Korifi, an Early Minoan settlement near Myrtos village in Crete, dating back to the mid-3rd millennium BCE, provides valuable insights into the Minoan civilization. The settlement, with approximately 90 rooms during its peak, features the "Myrtos Goddess" figurine and evidence of workshops and diverse economic activities. Archaeologists, including Peter Warren, have studied the site's social structures, with interpretations ranging from communal living to a more complex hierarchy. The South House offers a glimpse into domestic life with its weaving room and kitchen. Fournou Korifi's well-preserved remains contribute to our understanding of Early Minoan architecture, social organization, and daily life.

Gaidourophas, a Minoan archaeological site in Crete, features a two-story building with evidence of large-scale storage and administration. It's a significant node in the network of Minoan mountain sites.

Hierapytna, located on the southern coast of Crete, was founded in the Geometric period (c. 9th century BC). The city was a major hub for trade and commerce in ancient times and played a significant role in the island's political and military affairs. Hierapytna flourished during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. It became part of the Byzantine Empire after the division of the Roman Empire. Following the Arab conquest of Crete in the 9th century, Hierapytna was abandoned. Modern archaeological investigations have revealed a wealth of information about the city, including its city walls, agora, temple, theater, and private houses.

Hyrtakina was a Cretan city that was part of the League of the Oreioi. It was inhabited from the early Iron Age until Roman times.

The Roman Tombs of Kamilari in Crete offer insights into Roman burial practices. Estimated to be around 50 AD, the tombs are located at the foot of Evgora Hill.

The Palace of Knossos, located on the Kephala hill south of Heraklion, Crete, is an important site of the ancient Minoan civilization. Occupied since around 7000 BCE during the Aceramic Neolithic period. The First Palace, built during the Middle Minoan IB-IIA period, represents a significant shift in Minoan society from a clan-based structure to a hierarchical one. This monumental building, covering nearly 10,000 square meters on the ground floor alone, served as a hub for administrative, storage, and cult activities. The First Palace also introduced innovative features like storage magazines, showcasing the society's wealth and resources. The New Palace emerged after a massive earthquake that occurred at the end of the Middle Minoan IIIA period, the palace underwent major reconstruction in the Middle Minoan IIIB period. Around 1450 BCE, widespread destruction occurred across Crete, affecting palaces and settlements. While Knossos suffered damage, it wasn't destroyed like other palaces. This period saw the introduction of Linear B, an early form of Greek script used by the Mycenaeans, suggesting their presence at Knossos. The final destruction of the palace, possibly in Late Minoan IIIA2 (1325-1300 BCE), left it deserted, but the town continued to exist. Knossos continued to be inhabited during the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Two basilicas from the First Byzantine period indicate that the city was still active during this time. Knossos appears to have followed the fate of other urban centers in Crete and declined early.

Kommos archaeological site on Crete's southern coast reveals a Minoan port town central to trade and maritime activities.

Lasaia, an ancient coastal town in Crete, was a vital port with a rich history spanning from the Minoan to Roman periods. Its well-preserved harbor complex played a crucial role in maritime trade and cultural exchange.

The Minoan Palace of Epano Archanes in Crete, Greece dates to 1700-1450 BC. This archaeological site offers insights into the political, social, and economic life of the Minoans.

The Minoan Tholos Tomb at Porti, a significant archaeological site in Crete, offers a glimpse into Minoan burial practices and cultural traditions during the Bronze Age.

Minoan villa at Kalamaki, Crete, near the Sfakoryako stream. Archaeological findings from the 1978 & 1979 surveys suggest a thriving Minoan settlement in the region.

Minoan settlement in Crete with remains from 1900-1700 BCE. Buildings, pathways, and artifacts reveal daily life and trade.

The Mycenaean Acropolis of Orne in south Crete offers a glimpse into the Late Bronze Age. Discover its fortifications, buildings, and artifacts, and learn about its historical significance.

The Myrtos-Pyrgos archaeological site, also known as Pyrgos, is a significant Minoan Bronze Age settlement located on the southern coast of Crete, near Ierapetra. Occupied from the Early Minoan II to the Late Minoan IB period, it provides valuable insights into the development of the Minoan civilization. The site's strategic location and long occupation history make it a key resource for understanding the social, economic, and political dynamics of this ancient society. Excavations have revealed a variety of artifacts, including seals, seal impressions, Linear A tablets, and inscriptions on clay vessels, shedding light on the evolution of communication, administrative practices, and trade networks in Minoan Crete. The site's chronological phases, from Pyrgos I to Pyrgos IV, show a growing cultural sophistication and connections with other parts of Crete, including Malia and Knossos. The final phase, Pyrgos IV, ended with a catastrophic fire that destroyed much of the settlement, marking the end of its prominence.

Olous, an ancient Cretan harbor city, now largely submerged off the coast of Elounda, was inhabited from the Early Minoan period through the Hellenistic period. Its strategic location in the Mirabello Gulf made it a significant maritime hub, connecting the Eastern and Western Mediterranean. Archaeological investigations, including underwater surveys, have revealed remnants of Minoan cemeteries, fortifications, and possible public buildings. The city's history is intertwined with that of other Cretan powers like Knossos and Lato. Olous was known for its temple to Britomartis and its connections with Ptolemaic Egypt. Today, the site offers a glimpse into Crete's rich maritime past.

Minoan villa ruins near Pitsidia, Crete, dating back to 1700-1450 BC. Insights into Minoan daily life, architecture, and earthquake response.

Roman-era burial site in Crete with three chambers, featuring burial niches and a possible sanctuary. Local lore links it to blacksmiths and ghostly apparitions.

Skaniari Lakkos, a Minoan cemetery complex in Crete's Asterousia Mountains, features tholos tombs & rectangular buildings spanning the Final Neolithic to Middle Minoan IB periods.

Ancient quarry used to build the Minoan palace of Phaistos, the Minoan villa of Agia Triada, & the Roman city of Gortys. 120 meters deep.

Lissos, an ancient Cretan port city, was a vital healing center and trade hub. It served the inland cities of Elyros, Hyrtakina, and Tarra. The sanctuary of Asklepios attracted pilgrims seeking cures.

Discover the ancient aqueduct of Chersonesos in Crete, a marvel of Roman engineering that supplied water to the city for centuries. Learn about its construction, significance, and connection to the broader Roman presence on the island.

Onithe, an archaeological site near Goulediana in Rethymno, Crete, offers a glimpse into the island's history from the Neolithic period to the Venetian and Ottoman eras. Its strategic location on a plateau provided control over key passages and natural defenses. The site features ruins like the Acropolis with its pseudo-isodomic walls and tower, House A with its abundance of pottery and pithoi, an ancient spring and possible sanctuary, and a Paleochristian Basilica with well-preserved mosaics. The ancient name of the city remains uncertain, with scholarly attempts to identify it as Osmida or Phalanna remaining inconclusive. It may have been an early settlement center for ancient Rhithymna. The site has yielded artifacts like pottery shards, a bronze zodiac, exquisite metalwork, and sculptures, providing evidence of its prosperity and cultural vibrancy throughout the Minoan, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.

Koumasa, a significant Minoan site in southern Crete, features a Prepalatial cemetery and a settlement.

Explore the Minoan villa at Vathypetro, a well-preserved site revealing elite life, economic activities, and architectural wonders in ancient Crete.

The Tholos Tomb of Kamilari in Crete offers insights into Minoan funerary practices and potential connections to the elites of Agia Triada and Phaistos.