EASTERN CRETE

Decidedly more interesting is the
ancient Minoan complex of Hamezi, dating
back to 2000 B.C., which occupies the entire
crest of a bare hill called Souvloti Mouri
("pointed hill"). Built of a rosy stone, and in a
strange elliptical form (the only one of its kind
on Crete) it was long believed to be a peak
sanctuary,
but was more
probably a
rural villa
housing
several
families who
found
themselves
forced to
adapt the
shape of the
house to that
of the hillside
terrain. The
rooms are
arranged in
a circle around a deep cistern which served
to collect rainwater because the hill has no
springs or wells.
The view from the
top of the hill of
Hamezi looks over
large olive groves
and vineyards right
down to the sea's
edge
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