Gortyna has survived various historical eras, from the Minoan to the ancient Greeks, preserving for posterity a number of archaeological relics, most of which are concentrated in the archaeological park. It is a kind of "Disneyland" for lovers of antiquity, history buffs and lovers of mythology.
Gortyna is not just a unique ancient city with a centuries-old history, but a bunch of architectural monuments, assembled in the territory of one of the most developed and richest settlements of Crete, along with Knossos, Lycus, Hierapetra and Kidonia. Homer called it a sturdy city, and Plato called it one of the most splendid.
According to the legends, with which Greece is so rich, Gortyna was ruled by one of the sons of Zeus himself, Sarpidon. Tourists can even see with their own eyes the mythical sycamore tree, under the shadow of which, according to legend, the children of Zeus and Europe were conceived. This gave rise to another belief, as if the leaves of this sacred sycamore tree should be brewed and drunk by those couples who are trying in vain to have children. The tree has been growing in Gortina for thousands of years, remaining green in both summer and winter.
Historians believe that the period of prosperity of Gortyna was during the reign of the Romans, from the first to the fifth century AD. It was then that the city acquired the status of the capital of the ancient Crete, taking into account the territory of the provincial Cyrenaica. In the course of the few hundred years the whole neighbourhoods, palaces and temples were built here. By the way, it was the inhabitants of Gortyna who were the first on the island to embrace Christianity. The city was home to about 300 people and even the praetor of Crete himself. It is noteworthy that Gortyna had its own currency - a coin depicting a girl riding a bull.
A day is hardly enough to see all the historical monuments that the unique city of Gortyna has preserved for the modern times. Here, in the open air, there are dozens of relics, each of which could be talked about for hours. Everything you knew about Greek history and mythology literally comes to life before your eyes, stirring your imagination with pictures from the glorious past of ancient civilizations that existed in different eras in the area.
Time has tried to erase the once majestic structures of Gortyna, but they have heroically passed through the centuries to give us a message from a past full of riddles and mysteries. And even if the ruins are just the remains of the former greatness and glory, but it's enough to imagine how luxurious life was in this city a few thousand years ago, and how many grand events its walls witnessed.
By the way, unlike the other cities of Crete, not only the stones of the ancient buildings are preserved but also the whole parts of the buildings, which shows the wealth, craftsmanship and high level of development of the local population.
In 1884, archaeologists discovered an incredible artifact, the "Code of Gortyna", which was a series of rules governing the life of the townspeople. This find dates back to the fifth century B.C. and raises a lot of questions about what technology the Gortynians possessed at the time to carve this codex in stone. The writings are in Doric and look like ornate patterns. The codex is considered one of the oldest legislative codes in all of Europe. From the deciphered rules you can conclude that the people of Crete were very humane and fair, as the inhabitants of the island did not practice the death penalty and were sacred about the presumption of innocence.
Greece is incredibly generous with archaeological finds and historical sites, but the leader in the accumulation of architectural monuments on the territory of one city is undoubtedly Gortyna. The remains of local buildings have survived the Byzantine, Cretan and Roman eras. Excavations are still going on in the city, such as on the hill of St. John, where the ancient acropolis is located.
In the city's main temple of Gortyna, the sanctuary of Apollo the Pythian, the treasury was hidden. Just imagine being able to stand a stone's throw from an altar dating from the seventh century BC. At the same time the altar has not changed at all, which cannot be said about the religious building as a whole.
The temple of Isis, Sarapis and Anubis is the only sanctuary that reminds of the times when the people of Crete worshipped Egyptian gods.
The remains of the Roman theater Odeon are considered a cultural relic of Greece. From the first century only the stage and a few seats in three rows have survived, as well as the marble floor of the "orchestra".
Visiting the Pretorium, you can imagine how the Viceroy of Crete lived, walking through the spacious rooms and garden alleys decorated with numerous fountains and sculptures.
At the ruins of the early Christian temple of St. Titus, the successor of one of the apostles of Christ, you can easily travel back to biblical times, when Titus was the first bishop of Crete and the temple later dedicated to him was one of the first Christian sanctuaries of the island.
Undoubtedly, a walk around Gortyna will give you an incredible experience of the majestic epochs of Greece's historical past. There is no substitute for the experience of being on the sites where ancient peoples and entire civilizations lived. And there is no guarantee that the list of archaeological finds on display today will not be updated tomorrow, as scientists keep digging into the mysteries of this city.
The tour of the ancient city can take several hours, so don't forget to pack hats and drinks, as you may not be able to get away from the sun and take a break. The entrance fee is about 4 euros, but be prepared for the fact that some of the monuments will be closed to the public, because excavations are constantly taking place in the territory of Gortyna.
The ideal way to get to Gortyna is by car. If you go by bus, there are buses to Phaestos from Heraklion bus station every hour and a half. When buying a ticket please tell the cashier that you are going to Gortyna. The same ticket will take you to the antique city by local bus from Phaestos. The distance from Heraklion to Gortyna is just over 40 km.
