The Ancient Port of Lissos

A Prominent Cretan Port and Healing Center

Lissos, the ancient port of the polis of Elyros, was situated on the southwestern coast of Crete, near the modern village of Sougia, in the Sfakia region of the Chania prefecture. This coastal city was known for its sanctuary of Asklepios, the god of medicine and healing, and its strategic location on the maritime routes of the Mediterranean Sea.

Historical Significance

Lissos was inhabited from the Early Iron Age until the Byzantine period, with its peak of prosperity occurring during the Hellenistic era. The city was a member of the League of the Oreioi, a federation of cities in the rugged and mountainous region of southwestern Crete. Lissos served as the chief city of the Oreioi and was an important center for trade and commerce, connecting Crete with mainland Greece, North Africa, and Southern Italy.

Role as a Port

The port of Lissos was vital to the city’s economic and cultural development. It provided access to the sea, facilitating trade and exchange with other Mediterranean cities. The port was also a gateway for pilgrims seeking healing at the sanctuary of Asklepios. The strategic location of Lissos on the maritime routes of the Mediterranean made it an important stopover for ships traveling between the eastern and western Mediterranean.

Inland Cities Served by the Port of Lissos

Lissos served as a port for the following inland cities:

• Elyros: A major city located in the White Mountains, known for its production of glass pyxides.

• Hyrtakina: A city located near the modern village of Temenia, known for its sanctuary of Pan and its strategic location overlooking the south coast of Crete.

• Tarra: A city located near the modern village of Agia Roumeli, known for its association with the myth of the birth of the founders of Elyros.

Healing Center

The sanctuary of Asklepios at Lissos was a renowned healing center in the ancient world. The sanctuary was dedicated to Asklepios, the god of medicine and healing, and his daughter Hygeia, the goddess of health. The sanctuary complex included a temple, an altar, and a sacred spring. Pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean flocked to Lissos to seek healing from various ailments. The healing rituals at the sanctuary involved incubation, a practice in which patients would sleep in the temple, hoping for divine intervention from Asklepios in their dreams.

Periods of Activity and Evolution of the City

Early Iron Age to Hellenistic Period: Lissos was inhabited from the Early Iron Age, but it rose to prominence during the Hellenistic period, when it became the chief city of the League of the Oreioi. The city’s economy thrived due to its strategic location on the maritime routes of the Mediterranean, which facilitated trade and exchange with other cities. The sanctuary of Asklepios also contributed to the city’s prosperity by attracting pilgrims seeking healing.

Roman Period: Lissos continued to prosper in the Roman period, but its importance declined in the early Christian era. The city’s religious significance diminished as Christianity became the dominant religion in the Roman Empire. However, Lissos remained an important economic center due to its strategic location on the maritime routes of the Mediterranean.

Byzantine Period: The city was eventually abandoned in the Byzantine period, possibly due to a combination of factors, including natural disasters, economic decline, and the changing political landscape of the region.

Site: Key Points

• Construction Period: Early Iron Age to Byzantine period

• Location: Southwestern coast of Crete, near the modern village of Sougia, in the Sfakia region of the Chania prefecture

• Dimensions: The city occupied an area of approximately 10 hectares.

• Historical Significance: An important center for trade and commerce, connecting Crete with mainland Greece, North Africa, and Southern Italy.

• Current Status: Archaeological site.

References

• Baldwin Bowsky, M. W. (1995). Eight inscriptions from Roman Crete. Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 108, 263–280.

• Baldwin Bowsky, M. W. (2016). Prolegomena to a Dossier: Inscriptions from the Asklepieion of Lissos (Crete). In E. Dabrowa (Ed.), Cyprus, Crete and the Aegean Islands in Antiquity (pp. 127–153). Krakow: Jagiellonian University Press.

• Blackman, D. J. (1976). Lisos. In R. Stillwell, W. L. MacDonald, & M. H. McAllister (Eds.), The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites (pp. 519–520). Princeton: Princeton University Press.

• Tzanakaki, K. (2016). The city-state of Kydonia: The urban planning of the public space. In N. Chr. Stampolidis (Ed.), Cretan Cities: The Testimony of Coins (pp. 19–24). Athens: Alpha Bank.