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Arkadi - Garazo

Archaia Eleftherna

At the northwestern foothills of Mountain Idi, at an altitude of approximately 380 m and at a distance of 30 klm south of Rethymno, there is the ancient city of Eleftherna. Today, ruins from different historic periods of ancient Eleftherna are rescued. According to tradition, it took its name from Eleftherea, one of the Kourites or from the surname of Dimitros Elefthous. At Nisi hill that consisted one of the main centers of the ancient city along with Pirgi hill, there is a village that bloomed during the Hellenistic era.

During the 3^rd century B.C., Eleftherna fought against the Rodian people, allies of Knossos people. When the Cretan cities fought with each other during the 220 B.C. Eleftherna fought with Knossos. However, due to the siege of the opponents, it was forced to withdraw from war. At 68 B.C., when Metellos attacked Eleftherna, the city managed to resist for a long time to the siege of the Romans due to its position, but it was invaded after treason eventually.

The poet Linos, the philosopher Diogenis, the poet Amitor and the sculptor Timocharis, came from Eleftherna.

An excavation research took place in the archeological site in 1929 from the English School of Archeology, under the supervision of H.Payne which lasted for a very limited amount of time.

In 1985, the University of Crete embarked on a more systematic excavation research in the area of the modern villages of Eleftherna and Archaia Eleftherna that brought to light great parts of the ancient city. The archeological interest focuses on a hill in between two converging streams. At "Orthi Petra" site (west side of the hill), professor N. Stambolidis revealed a dead city of the geometric and archaic era as well as Hellenistic and Roman buildings that were constructed on top of the earlier. At "Pirgi" site (peak of the hill), professor Ath. Kalpaksis excavated the core of the settlement and at "Katsivelos" site (eastern side of the hill), professor P. Themelis brought to light a part of the settlement that comprises Hellenistic walls, Roman buildings, baths as well as an early Christianic basilica with mosaic decorations.

In the area of Eleftherna, it is worth visiting the rampart tower on the hill which was used from the Hellenistic to the Byzantine years.

Source:
Prefectural Committee for the Promotion of Tourism
Municipality of Arkadi

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