Discover the Acropolis of Gortyna, a Byzantine-era stronghold on Crete. Explore its fortifications, churches, and remnants of a once-thriving community.
The Agia Anna basilica in Eleutherna offers insights into the city's transformation into a Christian center. Learn about its location, history, and significance.
The Episcopal Basilica of Gortyn in Crete was a major religious center during the Early Byzantine period. It features mosaic floors and marble elements.
The Acropolis of Onithe, a Hellenistic-era fortress potentially dating back to 1400 BC, occupies a strategic position on the Onithe plateau at 638 meters elevation. The site features a pseudo-isodomic wall enclosing a right-angled area with 12-meter sides and remnants of a defensive tower. A steep, natural cliff forms the southern boundary of the acropolis. The site's location provided control over key passages and access to the settlement, underscoring its strategic significance in ancient Crete. Pottery finds suggest the possibility of earlier settlement phases dating back to the Proto-Minoan and Late Minoan periods. The acropolis, referred to locally as 'Ntapia,' meaning fortification, likely played a role in Cretan revolts in 1821, 1878, and 1897.
The Agora, Odeon, and the Gortyn Law Code in Gortyna, Crete. Discover the heart of the ancient city's civic and legal life and its significance in Greek history.
The Amphitheater at Gortyn, a colossal Roman structure that once hosted gladiatorial combats and other spectacles and it transformed into an early Christian cemetery.
Explore the Nymphaeum Block in Gortyna, a microcosm of the city's evolution from Hellenistic to Byzantine times. Discover its temples, fountains, and workshops that tell the story of this vibrant urban center.