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You are here: Home Sights Caves Psichro-Psychro Cave in Lassithi Pllateau, East Crete
Psichro-Psychro Cave in Lassithi Pllateau, East Crete

Psichro Cave in LassithiPsichro or Psychro Cave, associated with the Diktaean Cave credited as the site of Zeus' birth, is an ancient Minoan sacred cave in the Lasithi district of eastern Crete. According to Hesiod, Theogony 477, Rhea gave birth to Zeus in a cave of Mount Aegaeon, near Lyttos; since the late nineteenth century the cave above the modern village of Psychro has been identified with this sanctuary.


Psychro is 1,025 meters above sea level. The cave is located in the prefecture of Lasithi.

Myth

The Dictaean cave is famous in Greek mythology as the place where Amalthea, perhaps known in Crete as Dikte, nurtured the infant Zeus with her goat's milk, the mythic connection to the long use as a site of cult attested here by archaeology. The nurse of Zeus, who was charged by Rhea to raise the infant Zeus in secret here, to protect him from his father Cronus (Krónos) is also called the nymph Adrasteia in some contexts.

Psichro Cave in Lassithi Psichro Cave in Lassithi Psichro Cave in Lassithi Psichro Cave in Lassithi Psichro Cave in Lassithi Psichro Cave in Lassithi

Archaeology

The cave was first excavated in 1886 by Joseph Hatzidakis, President of the Syllogos at Candia, and F. Halbherr. In 1896, Sir Arthur Evans investigated the site. In 1899, J. Demargne and David George Hogarth of the British School at Athens conducted further investigations; Hogarth's brief report published in 1900 gives a picture of the destruction wrought by primitive archaeological methods: immense fallen blocks from the upper cave roof were blasted before removal; the rich black earth had been previously ransacked.

The stuccoed altar in the upper cave was discovered in 1900, surrounded by strata of ashes, pottery and "other refuse", among which were votive objects in bronze, terracotta, iron and bone, with fragments of some thirty libation tables and countless ceramic conical cups for food offerings. Bones among the ash layer attest to sacrifice of bulls, sheep and goats, deer and a boar.

The undisturbed lowest strata of the upper cave represented the transition between Late Minoan Kamares ware to earliest Mycenaean levels; finds represented the Geometric Style of the ninth century BCE, but few later than that. More recent excavation has revealed the use of the cave reached back to Early Minoan times, and votive objects attest to the cave's being the most frequented shrine by Middle Minoan times.

The lower grotto falls steeply with traces of a rock-cut stair to a pool, out of which stalactites rise. "Much earth had been thrown down by diggers of the Upper Grotto," Hogarth reported, "and this was found full of small bronze objects." In the vertical chinks of the lowest stalactites, Hogarth's team found "toy double- xes, knife-blades, needles, and other objects in bronze, placed there by dedicators, as in niches. The mud also at the edge of the subterranean pool was rich in similar things, and in statuettes of two types, male and female and engraved gems."

In 1961, John Boardman published the finds uncovered by these and other, illegal, excavations.

While clay human figurines are normally found in peak sanctuaries, Psychro and the sanctuary on Mount Ida stand out as the only sacred caves that have yielded human figurines. Psychro is also a unique sacred cave for a bronze leg, also known as a votive body part, which is the only votive body part to be found in a sacred cave. More common sacred cave finds at Psychro include stone and ceramic lamps.

Psychro yielded an uncommon number of semi-precious stones, including carnelian, steatite, amethyst, jasper and hematite.

Psychro's artefacts are now on display at the Heraklion Museum and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

Psichro Cave in Lassithi Psichro Cave in Lassithi

 

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Last Updated on Sunday, 27 December 2009 10:15
 

Comments  

 
0 #15 Fun fun fun — Noa 2012-08-16 06:30
Great day trip we had with the rental car. The climb through the mountains until you reach the valley is full of little villages and small tavernas. The cave was a nice tiny hike up and a cool walk down in the cave which is pretty and exotic.
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0 #14 Worth going to.. — L99OO 2012-08-16 06:29
The Dikteon cave is worth going to as part of a trip to the Lassithi plateau. The roads wind through the hills, lots of hairpin bends and wheeling birds of prey - beautiful. The cave itself is a climb - wear trainers not flip flops - lots of bus loads of tourists, so very busy. My children were quite upset by the treatment if the donkeys, there to give rids up and down the hill - we opted to walk.

The cave itself is beautiful and worth reading about before you go - the walk through it can be slow but we did go in August. Given the distance and the drive I would not go just to see thus, but you can understand how the myth arose when you see it. The walk down is much easier!
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0 #13 Worth the drive wish I had seen more... — Laisala 2012-08-16 06:28
The drive to this place was quite far with winding roads moving up into the mountains. Just keep the winding part in mind if anyone in your group is prone to car/motion sickness. My wife and oldest son didn’t handle it very well but luckily they kept their lunch down.

We drove to this place in the morning using our GPS but didn’t have very precise coordinates. Once we arrived I saved the location in my Garmin and this is what I have for GPS coordinates: N 35°09.893’ E025°26.843’

Unfortunately we arrived on June 17 which was the Sunday they were having “new” elections during their current economic crisis and all public attractions like this were closed. We did however take some time to explore the tourist shops nearby and had a snack at a local café/restaurant with a fantastic view.

The cost to park for this attraction is 2 euro upon arrival. We didn’t have to pay since it was closed and it was a government “administrative day”.

Even though we didn’t get to see the inside of the cave, I found the drive well worth the effort and the landscape up in the mountains is a great contrast to the warm sandy beaches.
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0 #12 Worht seeing — Barbara 2012-08-16 06:27
Very good place to see if you want a one day trip. We had rented car and the trip was worht every penny. not only the moutain roads were fantastic but the cave it self was amazing. :)
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0 #11 Must be on your list — Sadere 2012-08-16 06:26
It is worth making a visit. The drive through Lassithi Plateau is just beautiful. You must climb a steep hill to the cave, but when you get there, you will not be dissapointed. The cave is small and rather clouded (in July), but very beautiful. We enjoyed our trip.
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0 #10 What an Adventure! — SM88 2012-08-16 06:26
It's an adventure just driving to this cave! You drive up and down through the mountains of Crete and suddenly hit a beautiful plateau. You must be there, right? Nope, you still have a ways to go. After an hours drive through the mountains, you finally arrive at the caves. You must walk up a steep hill to get to the cave, or you can take a donkey ride. It's a long walk, and don't forget your wallet because you pay at the top. Suddenly there it is, and you walk into the cave and down some stairs. And down some stairs. And down some stairs. At the bottom is a little pool with rock formations jutting out and lots of blackness against the walls. It's clear how people could believe Zeus was born and hidden here! It's beautiful and a fun place to say you've been. Be prepared this is not handicap accessible and you need to be able to walk back up the stairs to get out. But man, is it worth it!
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0 #9 AMAZING!! — Krista 2012-08-16 06:25
This was SUCH an amazing experience, i would so highly recommend it! It is a bit of a steep climb for 20 mins up the winding path, and then down into the cave and up, but SO SO worth it! Magical / spooky and beautiful! For 6,000 years our ancestors have been making the same journey, and you can almost feel it :)
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0 #8 Dikteon Cave — Dublina 2012-08-16 06:24
Enormous womb-like cave whose magic is further enhanced by the necklace of candle holding visitors walking single file down the stone steps to the center. Within the high walls you descend, as it becomes increasingly deep, dark and full of cool moisture dripping from the stalactites.The stone steps are slippery from the moisture and people are warned to wear rubber-soled shoes. There is a nook in the wall where the baby Zeus is supposedly to have slept. Don't miss it.
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0 #7 A must see — Hiouston 2012-08-16 06:24
One of the highlights of our trip to Crete! The birthplace of Zeus and a site of ancient cults, Dikteon Andron is well worth the visit.
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0 #6 Small but beautiful — Cillot 2012-08-16 06:23
Well signed posted from Lasithiou Plateau beautiful scenery getting there. Car park is 2 euros by the restaurant or park on the roadside. It is quite a climb up to the caves or there are donkeys but these were15 euros. The cave is small but beautiful with the stalactites and stalagmites. Worth a visit.
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