Archeological Sites, Crete Island

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MALEME IS SOME 16 KM FROM CHANIA,IT IS FAMOUS FOR THE BATTLE OF CRETE,AND IT HAS NOW BECOME A LARGE HOLIDAY RESORT.
WHAT IS A LESSER KNOWN IS THAT THERE IS A TOMB OF GREAT ARCHEOLOGICAL INTEREST.
THE TOMB OF THOLOS,IS A LATE MINOAN TOMB,IT HAS AN ENTERANCE CORRIDOR WITH CONSTRUCTED WALL OF 13.80 MTS LONG.

The late Minoian Cemetery in Armeni you can see during the road trip to the south of Crete Island.

There are about 200 tombs in the rocks there.

You can see really small graves but there are also few really big ones, you can easily go to the tomb, it is very interesting place for people who are interested in archaeology. I recommend it to you especially the entry is free , you don't have to pay for visiting it.

The objects and offerings from the tombs you can see itn the museum in Rethimno.

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Phaistos (Öáéóôüò, Phaestos, Festos), was an ancient city on the island of Crete.

Phaistos is located in the south-central portion of the island, about 50 kilometres south of Heraklion.
It was inhabited from about 4000 BC. A palace, dating from the Middle Bronze Age, was destroyed by an earthquake during the Late Bronze Age. Knossos along with other Minoan sites was destroyed at that time. The palace was later rebuilt toward the end of the Late Bronze Age.

We came across Phaistos on the way from Matala to Agia Galini. You have to be careful not to miss a sign, just pull over each time you see parked rental cars or a parking with nice overlook (view point). Phaistos is exposed to sun so it is not a good idea to go in the middle of that day when sun is really strong. There is also small convenience store with gifts, ice-cream, water etc.

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Gortyn (Gortys/Gortuna) is an archaeological site on Crete, 45 km south from the capital Heraklion. Gortyn, the Roman capital of Crete, was first inhabited around 3000 B.C., and was a flourishing Minoan town between 1600-1100 B.C.

Among archaeologists, ancient historians, and classicists Gortyn is known today primarily because of the 1884 discovery of the Gortyn Code which is both the oldest and most complete known example of a code of ancient Greek law.

Classical Greek mythology has it that Gortyn was the site of one of Zeus' many affairs. This myth features the princess Europa, whose name has been applied to the continent, Europe. Disguised as a bull, Zeus abducted Europa from Lebanon and they had an affair under a tree that may be seen today in Gortys. Following this affair three children were born, who became the kings of the three Minoan Palaces in Crete. The identification of Europa in this myth gives weight to the claim that the civilization of the European continent was born on the island of Crete.