Gortyn was first inhabited at the end of the Neolithic period (3000 B.C.) and flourished much later, in the Late Minoan period (1600-1100 B.C.), when the villa with the shrine was founded at the site of Kannia, near Metropolis.

Remains of the Archaic habitation (7th century B.C.) were located in the area of the Acropolis, while the large inscription, the Gortyn Law Code, dated to the 5th century B.C., attests the prosperity of the city, which continued until the Hellenistic period (3rd-2nd century B.C.).

Gortyn became an ally of Rome and during the Roman period (1st-5th centuries A.D.) reached the peak of its prosperity as the capital of the province of Crete and Cyrene. Here, Apostle Titus preached Christianity and in A.D. 250 the Ten Saints martyred. In A.D. 824 the city, which had become the seat of an Archbishop, was destroyed by the Arabs.

The first investigations on the site were conducted in 1884 by the Italian archaeologist F. Halbherr. Since then, excavations have been carried out by the Italian Archaeological School and the 23rd Ephorate.

Some of the uncovered buildings were consolidated during the excavations. Only the famous Code of Gortyn was incorporated and sheltered within a small building in the north circular wall of the Odeion.

Text: www.culture.gr

Gortys or Gortyna

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Faflagos Beach by South Crete, between Psari Forada and Arvi

Keratokambos Beach by South Crete, Heraklion

Maridaki Beach by Tsoutsouros

Chrisostomos Beach, Kali Limenes, South Central Crete

Pahia Ammos Beach Tris Ekklisies in South Crete, Heraklion

Martsalo Beach, South Crete - Mesara. Beaches on Crete

Southern Crete beach article

Listis Beach by South Crete, between Keratokambos and Tsoutsouros

Kakopetros Beach by Asterousia, South Crete

Korakas Beach by Rethimno, south Crete

Dasaki Beach, Kalamaki, South Crete

Salamias Beach Asterousia, South Crete, Heraklion

Drimiskianos beach Rethimno, South Central Crete

Agiofarago Beach in south Crete

Agios Nikitas Beach by Tsoutsouros - Asterousia, South Crete

The Municipality of Heraklion or Iraklion, Crete

Chersonisos in Heraklion, Central Crete

Gouves in Heraklion, Central Crete

Kasteli in Heraklion, Central Crete

Kali Limenes Village in South Crete, Heraklion

Lentas Crete holidays coastal village

Adele village, Rethimno, Central Crete

Analipsi village in Heraklion, Central Crete

Tsoutsouros in Heraklion, South Central Crete

Kokkinos Pirgos coastal village by South Crete - Mesara

Heraklion City, Crete

Tylissos or Tilisos in Heraklion, Central Crete

Old Hersonisos in Heraklion, Central Crete

Stalis or Stalida by Malia in Heraklion, Central Crete

Gournes Village in Heraklion, Central Crete

Agios Vasilios gorge in Rethimno

Agiofarago in south Crete Matala - Lendas area

Mintris gorge in Tsoutsouros Crete

Kourtaliotiko Gorge in Plakias, south Crete

Kotsifou Gorge in Plakias, south Crete

Agios Antonios gorge by Asites

The gorge of Platania, Psiloritis mountain

Martsalo Gorge, Matala

Keratokambos or Portela Gorge in south Crete Heraklion

Kissano Gorge in Rethimno, Central Crete

Skaloti Gorge in Fragokastelo, South Crete

Arvi Gorge in south Crete Heraklion

Tripiti gorge in Lentas south Crete. Lendas area

Knosano gorge in Archanes Crete

Rouvas Gorge or Agios Nikolaos Gorge, Zaros

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Palace in Tourkogeitonia, Archanes

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