Crete-Discover the Unknown Crete

The landscape appears increasingly
parched and desolate as we continue along
the road towards the bay of Grandes,
passing semi-abandoned farmhouses, great
swathes of shrubs toughened by the sun
and the sea salt, enclosed pastures for the
herds of long-haired goats, and fields
cultivated with melons, grapes and bananas
which belong to the monastic community
of Toplou. On a promontory overhanging
the sea one can make out the ruins of
ancient Itanos, later called Erimoupolis,
the deserted city. Legend tells that
Itanos belonged to the Kouretes, the young
warriors who danced and beat their arms
hard on their shields to cover the noise of
the whimpering baby Zeus, born in the
grotto of Mount Dikti (or perhaps on Mount
Ida).
The ruins of
Itanos - later
called
Erimoupolis, the
deserted city -
are spread wide
over the coastal
area, with traces
of Minoan,
Hellenistic and
Roman
constructions
and also early
Christian
remains
Inhabited by the Minoans and later
becoming a Phoenician trading post, Itanos
was considered one of the most powerful
city states of the Graeco-Roman era, it held
the right to mint coins and controlled the
maritime trade between the Orient, Egypt
and the Mediterranean. The only dangerous
rival was Hierapytna which had
demonstrated its bellicose intentions in
destroying the city-state of Pressos, ally of
Itanos. The relationship with Egypt was so
strong that in the third century B.C. the
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