Crete - paradisiacal beaches and mythical landscapes in one
Welcome to Crete! As the largest island in Greece, there's so much for you to explore. From the island's rich history to its stunning natural beauty, there's a world of experiences waiting for you here.
Crete and its beaches
There are around 450 different beaches for you to choose from! You'll find everything from soft, white sand and sparkling blue seas to dramatic cliffs and hidden rocky coves. In Crete, you'll find some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, like Elafonissi, Balos and Matala. But there are also smaller, more secluded beaches like Kedrodasos, Voulisma and Agios Pavlos, which are perfect for those seeking tranquillity and a connection with nature. As if that weren't enough, Crete gets around 300 days of sunshine a year, making it the perfect place for a holiday.
Seitan Limani
The only downside to the island is the wind. You can experience it in both the south and north, but the south coast is much more windy. The large, open beaches often have big waves that aren't suitable for small children and can be dangerous for adults on the rocky beaches. There are some small coves surrounded by cliffs that are mostly free of both wind and waves. If you don't want to spend your whole holiday in one place, it's a good idea to plan your day according to the strength of the wind. If there are strong winds, it's best to stay to the north, or look for bays facing east or west, or those protected by reefs. You won't spoil your holiday and you'll love Crete.
Matala beach
Crete's nature
The island is also home to 4,000 caves of varying size and importance, many of which hold great historical value. They were used as shrines to Greek gods or as places of refuge in modern history. Each one has its own fascinating story to tell. For example, the birth of the Olympian god Zeus or the pillaging of Crete by the Ottoman Empire. Some are full of amazing geological formations like the Sfendoni, while others are almost bare like Milatos. But each one is unique, full of history and stories.
Psychro cave, cave of Zeus
You will also find Mount Ida, the birthplace of Zeus, and several canyons, including the longest canyon in Europe, the Samaria Canyon. If you're travelling by car in the inland areas, you'll be constantly surrounded by hills, valleys and canyons – it's a truly beautiful part of the island. This is the other side of Crete, the unknown one that promises so much adventure! I'd also like to mention Lake Kournas, which is home to freshwater turtles hatching in its crystal-clear waters.
Mount Ida - views from the second Zeus Cave
The rich history of Crete
As well as its natural beauty, Crete is home to a number of historical monuments. It's where the famous Minoan civilisation originated. The Minoans left some pretty impressive archaeological finds, such as the palaces of Knossos and Faistos, which are considered to be among the most important monuments of the Minoan culture. There are also many legends associated with the history and one of the most famous in connection with Crete is that of the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull who was imprisoned in a labyrinth in Knossos and fed with human sacrifices. History is lurking around every corner, just waiting to be discovered! Did you know that, according to Hesiodos, Crete is the birthplace of Pluto, the god of abundance and wealth?
Crete became such a beloved place for us, a place where we circumvented the rules of no entry for the first time, got lost in the middle of the mountains for the first time and didn't need the services of a hotel for the first time, because the island was too tempting. From the original 3 days to explore, we walked it for a full 11 days and returned again two years later for another 10 days to explore other parts of the island. And even then, we didn't see all that this magnificent and expansive island has to offer.
"Demeter, radiant goddess, in desire of love,
with the hero Iason, united in a fertile field,
on Crete, on a thrice-ploughed plain, gave birth to Pluto, a human-lover, who on earth everywhere and on the crest of the sea walks..,
and whoever he meets or whoever comes under his hand, and makes him rich, and gives him an abundant fortune."
Central Crete
Myths of Crete
The Minotaur Myth
The myth of the Minotaur and the labyrinth is one of the most famous Greek myths associated with Crete. King Minos, son of Zeus and Europa, ruled the island of Crete. Minos had a wife named Pasiphae, daughter of the sun god Helios. Minos gained the favor of the gods and wanted his rule to be confirmed by a divine sign, so he asked Poseidon for a sacred bull to sacrifice.
Poseidon sent him a magnificent white bull from the sea, expecting Minos to sacrifice it. Minos, captivated by the beauty of the bull, decided to keep it and sacrificed another, less impressive one. Poseidon was angered and as punishment caused Pasiphae to fall in love with the bull. Pasiphae asked the excellent craftsman Daedalus to help her unite with the bull. Daedalus created a wooden cow for Pasiphae to hide in so that she could be as one with the bull.
From this union was born the Minotaur, a creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull. Minos was horrified, but could not kill the Minotaur, so he asked Daedalus to build a huge labyrinth where the Minotaur could be imprisoned.
Every nine years Athens had to send seven young men and seven young women to Crete as a tribute to a previous defeat they had suffered as a sacrifice to the Minotaur. The hero Theseus, son of the King of Athens, decided to put an end to this cruel ceremony and set out for Crete with the intention of killing the Minotaur. In Crete, Minos' daughter Ariadne fell in love with Theseus. To help him, she gave him a ball of thread, which he used to mark his way through the labyrinth.
Theseus, thanks to the thread, got to the Minotaur, killed him and then returned with the aid of the thread. Afterwards, together with Ariadne and the other Athenians, they fled Crete. On the way back, however, Theseus abandoned Ariadne on the island of Naxos. As the gods willed it and Ariadne became the wife of the god Dionysus.
By Class of Athens 581 - Jastrow (2006). Image renamed from Image:Theseus Minotaur Crimea Louvre CA2254.jpg, Public Domain, Link
The Myth of Daedalus and Icarus
The myth of Daedalus and Icarus is a story of fatherly love and a warning against pride and carelessness. Daedalus was a brilliant inventor and craftsman who created many important works, including a labyrinth for the Minotaur. After the help provided to Pasiphae, Daedalus was imprisoned by King Minos, along with his son Icarus, so that they could not reveal the secret of the labyrinth.
Daedalus was determined to escape Crete and save himself and his son. He knew that escape by land or sea would be almost impossible, for Minos controlled all the harbours and roads. Therefore, he decided to create wings, so that they could fly over the sea and escape. He made a pair of wings for himself and his son out of feathers and wax. Before flying away, Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun, as the heat could melt the wax, nor too low over the sea, as the humidity could dampen the feathers and cause them to fall off.
At first, everything went smoothly. Daedalus and Ikaros took off from Crete and flew over the sea. Ikaros was enchanted by the freedom of flight and the magnificent view. Gradually, however, he began to ignore his father's advice. He succumbed to euphoria and decided to fly higher and higher, too close to the sun. As he got closer to the sun, the heat began to melt the wax that held the feathers on his wings. The wings began to disintegrate and Ikaros lost the ability to fly. He fell into the Aegean Sea and drowned. The place where he drowned is called the Sea of Icarus, according to legend. Daedalus, heartbroken by the loss of his son, continued to fly and eventually found refuge in Sicily with King Cocala. Here he continued his work as a craftsman and inventor, but he never forgot the tragic loss of his son Ikaros.
By After Peter Paul Rubens/ Peter Paul Rubens/ Jacob Peter Gowy - https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-fall-of-icarus/2823dc25-398a-4d88-a4b2-be314065a62dPreviously: http://www.museodelprado.es/imagen/alta_resolucion/P01540_01.jpg, Public Domain, Link
The birth of Zeus in the cave of Dikteon
Kronos was the youngest of the Titans and the son of the sky god Uranus and the earth goddess Gaia. He became the ruler of the universe after his father Uranus was deposed. He and his sister and wife Rhea had six children. However, Kronos feared a prophecy that said one of his children would overthrow him, just as he had overthrown his father. To prevent this, he decided to eat all of his children after they were born.
Rheia was desperate at the loss of her children and decided to at least save her youngest child, Zeus. When the time of his birth approached, she secretly went to Crete, where she gave birth to Zeus in a cave on Mount Dikta (some versions of the story speak of Mount Ida). In order to deceive Kronos, Rheia gave him a stone wrapped in diapers instead of the child, which Kronos swallowed without hesitation, thinking he had eaten his son. Meanwhile, Zeus hid and grew up in safety in Crete, far from his father.
Zeus was raised by the goat Amaltheia, who fed him with her milk. Along with her, the nymphs also cared for him. In some versions of the story, he was also protected by the Kouretes, the young gods, who masked little Zeus' cries with their dancing and noise so that Kronos would not hear them.
When Zeus grew up, he decided to free his siblings and depose his father Kronos. With the help of Metis, the goddess of wisdom, he prepared a potion that forced Kronos to vomit up all his swallowed children.
Titanomachia
Titanomachia ensued, a great war between the Titans, led by Kronos, and the younger gods, led by Zeus. The struggle lasted ten years, during which Zeus and his allies managed to enlist the aid of some of the Titans, as well as of the Cyclopes and Hekatoncheires (giants with a hundred arms and fifty heads), whom Kronos had imprisoned in Tartarus. The Cyclopes gave Zeus lightning bolts, Poseidon a trident, and Hades a helmet of invisibility, making them even more powerful. With these weapons and new allies, the younger gods eventually defeated the Titans.
After the victory, Zeus imprisoned the Titans in Tartarus, a deep part of the underworld, and became the supreme god, ruler of heaven and earth. He shared power with his brothers: Poseidon was given dominion over the sea and Hades over the underworld. Zeus became ruler of Olympus and protector of gods and men.
The birth of Zeus and his subsequent victory over the Titans symbolizes the transition from chaos to order and the establishment of a new divine hierarchy that has ruled the Greek world for centuries. This story is a cornerstone of Greek mythology and shows how courage, wisdom and justice can overcome even the greatest obstacles.
By attribuito al it:Pittore di Nausicaa - https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/247308, Public Domain, Link
The myth of Europe and Zeus
The myth of Europa and Zeus is a story of love and abduction. Europa was a beautiful Phoenician princess with whom Zeus fell in love. To obtain her, he transformed himself into a magnificent white bull and approached her as she walked on the beach with her friends.
Europe, enchanted by his beauty and gentleness, approached the bull and mounted his back. At that moment Zeus ran and swam with her on his back across the sea to the island of Crete. On Crete, Zeus transformed back into a god, and Europa bore him three sons, Minos, Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon. Europa became Queen of Crete and the island was named after her. This abduction, however, sparked a host of other notable exploits. Europa's brother Cadmus went in search of her and, on the advice of the gods, later founded the city of Thebes and became the first king of this famous city, which was an important part of Greek history.
By Titian - http://www.gardnermuseum.org/collection/artwork/3rd_floor/titian_room/europa?filter=artist:3150, Public Domain, Link
The Myth of Talos
Talos was a huge bronze giant that, according to Greek mythology, guarded the island of Crete. Some stories say it was created by the divine blacksmith Hephaestos at the request of King Minos, others say it was a gift from the god Zeus to Europa when he brought her to Crete. Talos was the last member of the race of bronze giants that once inhabited the Earth.
Talos' main task was to guard Crete from invaders. He was extremely fast and strong, able to circle the island three times a day. If a ship approached the coast, Talos would throw huge boulders to sink it. Talos was almost invulnerable because he was made entirely of bronze. However, he had one weakness: he had a bronze nail on his ankle that closed off the single vein running from head to toe. This vein contained his "ikhor" - a life-giving fluid that flowed through his body like blood in humans.
One day the ship Argo arrived in Crete with heroes known as the Argonauts, who were returning from Colchis after the capture of the Golden Fleece. Talos considered them a threat and began throwing boulders at their ship. The heroes were helpless against such a powerful foe. Among the Argonauts was the sorceress Medea, who decided to use her magical abilities to defeat the giant. Medea began to recite incantations and put Talos into a trance. She then convinced him that she could grant him immortality if he removed a bronze nail from his ankle.
The dazed Talos eventually removed the nail, and his "ikhor" began to ooze from his vein. In this way, Talos was knocked down, collapsed to the ground, and died. The Argonauts were then able to land safely on Crete. Medea, by her magic, once again proved her abilities and helped the heroes overcome another obstacle on their way.
