Prinias ancient acropolis - Periods: Late Bronze Age - Dark Age - Geometric - Archaic - Classical - Hellenistic

Near the modern village of Prinias in central Crete, Heraklion Prefecture is a site possibly to be identified with ancient Rhyzenia.

The small, unwalled settlement was established on the plateau (called Petela) of a steep and almost inaccessible mountain. In addition to Archaic house remains, 2 small temples of the 7th to 6th century B.C. are located near the center of the plateau. There is also evidence for a later cult to Athena at the E end of the plateau and on the W end are the walls of a small Hellenistic fortress with corner towers.

Description:

The settlement is one of several Dark Age Cretan refuge sites established at natural strong holds in the mountains. Its importance is attested to by the Archaic temples and their sculptures, early inscriptions and other finds. Religious activity at the site may have outlasted actual settlement which had ceased by the 2nd century B.C. at the latest.

Exploration:

Halbherr and J. Alden explored the site in 1894. Excavations, 1907-1908, and since 1969 by the Italian School.

Sources Used:

PECS, 739-740; Leekley and Noyes 1975, 94; Cameron 1988, 137-138

Other Bibliography:

F. Halbherr, AJA 11 (1st series, 1896) 530-31; AJA 5 (1901) 399ff. L. Pernier, "Templi arcaici sulla patàla di Priniàs," ASAtene 1 (1914) 18-111 (map & plans: final report). L. Pernier, "New elements for the study of the Archaic Temple of Prinias," AJA 38 (1934) 171-77. E. Kirsten, "Rhizenia," RE Suppl. 7 (1940) 1138-53. G. Rizza, "Nuove ricerche sulla Patela e nel territorio di Prinias," Chronache di Arch. e di Storia dell'Arte 8 (1969) 7-32. reports in BCH 84 (1960) 840; 94 (1970) 1161; 95 (1971)1055-56; ArchDelt 24 (1969) Chr.2, 414; 25 (1970) Chr.2, 454.

• Map
• Beaches
• Villages
• Gorges
• Sites
• Other

Platia Peramata Beach, Lendas, South Central Crete

Kali Limenes beach and area in south Crete

Vatos Beach by Mirtos, Ierapetra area

Agios Panteleimonas Beach, Agios Nikolaos, east Crete

Tsoutsouros Beach, South Heraklion

Tholos Beach By Kavoussi. East Crete Agios Nikolaos sights

Agios Pavlos beach Rethimno, South Central Crete

Matala Beach, South Crete - Mesara. Beaches on Crete

Schinaria beach Rethimno, South Central Crete

Malia Beach in Heraklion, north Crete

Damnoni beach in Plakias Rethimno, South Central Crete

Drimiskianos beach Rethimno, South Central Crete

Karavostasi Beach, Agios Nikolaos, east Crete

Malia Tropical Beach in Heraklion, north Crete

Agia Marina Beach by Rethimno, south Crete

Keratokambos village by South Crete, Heraklion

Gournes Village in Heraklion, Central Crete

Heraklion City, Crete

Lentas Crete holidays coastal village

Timbaki, Messara South Central Crete

Moires or Mires, south Crete. Messara

Tsoutsouros in Heraklion, South Central Crete

The Municipality of Heraklion or Iraklion, Crete

Matala, south Crete. Holidays in Crete

Kalamaki coastal village by South Crete - Mesara

Old Hersonisos in Heraklion, Central Crete

Kasteli in Heraklion, Central Crete

Malia in Heraklion, Central Crete

Sissi in Malia, Heraklion, Central Crete

Anogia or Anogeia, Rethimno, Central Crete

Agios Antonios gorge by Asites

Martsalo Gorge, Matala

The gorge of Platania, Psiloritis mountain

Skaloti Gorge in Fragokastelo, South Crete

Preveli Gorge in Rethimno, South Crete

Petres Gorge in Rethimno

Rouvas Gorge or Agios Nikolaos Gorge, Zaros

Kourtaliotiko Gorge in Plakias, south Crete

Selinari gorge in Heraklion Crete

Agios Vasilios gorge in Rethimno

Kotsifou Gorge in Plakias, south Crete

Aposelemis gorge in Heraklion Crete

Kounaviano gorge in Heraklion Crete

The gorge of Vorizia

Arvi Gorge in south Crete Heraklion

Kamilari vaulted tomb archaeological site in south Crete

The Phaistos Disc, archaeological site in Crete

The Hermitages of Agios Efthimios and of Agios Methodios in Zaros - Nivritos

The Fortress of Monopari, Rethimno, Crete

Oaxos archaeological site in Axos, Rethimno

The Arkalochori Cave

The Fortress Fortezza, Rethimno

Ancient Inatos, Tsoutsouros

Underwater archaeology in Crete: Hunt for the ancient mariner

Vathipetro archaeological site in Archanes on Crete, Heraklion

STEGA: The Archaeology of Houses and Households in Ancient Crete

Minoan cemetery of Armeni. Necropolis archaeological site in Rethimno, Crete

Sklavokampos archaeological site in Tilisos

Mansion of Niros in Gouves, archaeological site

Juchtas Psili Korfi archaeological site in Archanes on Crete, Heraklion

Weather in West and East Crete

A tour in the Villages and Sights on the road from Heraklion to Messara

Inland Water in the Island of Crete

Family Hotels Union of Makri Gialos

Chania: History. Hania West Crete

Cretan Wines Awarded in International Contest

Towns For Your Crete Sightseeing

Greece and Crete and the Dept Crisis

Crete Prefectures

Exceptional wine by Agia Triada of Tzagarolon

Arkadi, the Holocaust. Rethimno and Cretan history

Holidays on Crete: Visit the East of Crete

Pottery art on Crete, historical data, Thrapsano Village

The musical instruments in the Cretan tradition

Chania municipality: 3 sights to visit