Lissos and Temple of Asclepius - Beautiful place in Crete
- Duration: 2:35
- Updated: 08 Oct 2014
Lissos has been an autonomous ancient town in Crete constituted since at least the classica era, but with certified surface traces of habitation (pottery fragments) already since the Minoan times. Its peak goes with the one of most Cretan towns of the Hellenistic era (323 - 46 B.C.). It is then reported as a member and seat (with a special gold coinage) of the Oreioi (a political coalition of federation of ancient towns at the geographic unityof modern East Selinon district). This federation was allied to Gortyna and played an important role in state relations of the time. Between 279 - 274 B.C. Lissos signed an alliance treaty with Magas, the deputy of Cyrene, brother of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, an inscription kept safe at Lissos. From the conditions of this treaty and the presence of cyrenaic didrachma in coin treasures of the area it is ensued that the federation sent mercenary troops to help Magas' operations.
According to the coins, the divinity mainly adored was Dictynna, though its temple has not yet been recovered. The spring of healing water, as well as the foundation of the sanctuary of Asklepios (3rd c. B.C.) brought to light by the excavation of N. Platon in 1957 - 1960, made it a reputed sanctuary of the Greek world. Habitation at Lissos ceased during the late antiquity (the early Christian era). In the 7th or 9th c. A.D. though it seems completely destroyed, never to be inhabited again. Still the religious character of the site has been preserved until the Byzantine period (churches of the Virgin Mary, of Haghios Kerekos) and to day (fete of H. Kerekos).
Except from the excavated sanctuary, plenty of ruins of public buildings, mainly of the Roman period are sown all over the valley.
http://wn.com/Lissos_and_Temple_of_Asclepius_-_Beautiful_place_in_Crete
Lissos has been an autonomous ancient town in Crete constituted since at least the classica era, but with certified surface traces of habitation (pottery fragments) already since the Minoan times. Its peak goes with the one of most Cretan towns of the Hellenistic era (323 - 46 B.C.). It is then reported as a member and seat (with a special gold coinage) of the Oreioi (a political coalition of federation of ancient towns at the geographic unityof modern East Selinon district). This federation was allied to Gortyna and played an important role in state relations of the time. Between 279 - 274 B.C. Lissos signed an alliance treaty with Magas, the deputy of Cyrene, brother of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, an inscription kept safe at Lissos. From the conditions of this treaty and the presence of cyrenaic didrachma in coin treasures of the area it is ensued that the federation sent mercenary troops to help Magas' operations.
According to the coins, the divinity mainly adored was Dictynna, though its temple has not yet been recovered. The spring of healing water, as well as the foundation of the sanctuary of Asklepios (3rd c. B.C.) brought to light by the excavation of N. Platon in 1957 - 1960, made it a reputed sanctuary of the Greek world. Habitation at Lissos ceased during the late antiquity (the early Christian era). In the 7th or 9th c. A.D. though it seems completely destroyed, never to be inhabited again. Still the religious character of the site has been preserved until the Byzantine period (churches of the Virgin Mary, of Haghios Kerekos) and to day (fete of H. Kerekos).
Except from the excavated sanctuary, plenty of ruins of public buildings, mainly of the Roman period are sown all over the valley.
- published: 08 Oct 2014
- views: 7