The Ideon Andron cave lies next to the Nida Plateau, 22km from Anogia village and 55km from Heraklion city. A good tarmac road leads you there, providing you keep between the orange lines. We park our car at a big parking area with a taverna. From here we have a nice view of the Nida Plateau. We walk up on an unpaved road.

A few hairpin turns quickly get us on the altitude of the cave. About halfway there is a little church, from where you have an even better view of the Nida Plateau.

Once we arrive at the Ideon Andron cave, construction workers are busy building a parking area, a wall and a taverna. Looks like they want more tourists here also. We walk towards the cave and se two rail tracks going towards the entrance. We walk down some stairs into the first large chamber. The rest of the chambers is closed because of excavations. The cave lies at about 1500 meters above sea level. During winter the cave is full of snow.

According to a myth Zeus was raised in the Ideon Andron cave with sheep herders of the Nida Plateau. According to this myth Zeus was born in the Dikti cave by the Lassithi mountains and brought to Ideon Andron by his mother.
Another myth on the other hand says Zeus was born and raised in this cave.

The cave is worth while to have a look, certainly keeping the myths in mind. The boards in the cave itself are not solid everywhere and there is not much to see in the cave itself. Most of the cave is not accessible to tourists. We didn't have to pay an entrance fee, but that might change in the future.

The Ideon Andron has been excavated by Giannis and Efi Sakellarakis, respected Cretan archaeologists. Mr Sakellarakis is the former director of the Archaeological Museum of Iraklion and has authored the books on Cretan archaeology; Digging for the Past and Archanes: Minoan Crete in a New Light.

Precious artefacts have been uncovered. Discoveries of bronze statuettes, seal stones, tools and metal objects, copper shields, ivory and gold jewellery, ceramics, and figurines have been made in Zeus cave. Some of the artefacts are stored in the museum in Iraklion, including gold jewellery (see below).

Ideon Andron cave Ideon Andron cave Ideon Andron cave Ideon Andron cave Ideon Andron cave Ideon Andron cave Ideon Andron cave Ideon Andron cave Ideon Andron cave Ideon Andron cave Nida Plateau by Psiloritis Nida Plateau by Psiloritis Nida Plateau by Psiloritis Nida Plateau by Psiloritis

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The Traditional routes