Archaeological site of Aptera
Ancient Aptera is located in west Crete, near present-day Chania, and was founded on the plateau of a low hill southeast of Souda Bay. A place of unique natural beauty, it dominates a geographical site of exceptional strategic importance that played a key part in the development of the ancient city.
According to Strabo and Pliny, Aptera had two harbours, Minoa (today’s Marathi) and Kissamos (between Kalami and Kalyves), thus controlling the movement of trade.
As a city-state it ruled over a large area. Its territory probably extended from the borders of Kydonia (present-day Chania) in the west, to Lappa (Argyroupoli) in the south and Drepanon Akron (Cape Drapano) in the east. A road network connected Aptera with the neighbouring city- states, smaller towns and rural settlements. The lowlands to the south and east were crossed by the river Pyctos or Pycnos (today’s Koiliaris).
Aptera was particularly powerful in periods of prosperity and has been described as the most commercial city of Crete. It was destroyed by devastating earthquakes that struck the East Mediterranean in Late Antiquity.
Τhe archaeological investigation
The first excavations were carried out by the French School of Archaeology in 1862 and 1864. Today excavations are conducted with annual funding from the Region of Crete, while projects are being implemented to upgrade and improve the accessibility of the site.
APTERA
Historical testimonies and findings
Bronze age
From Knossian tablet in Linear B Aptera known as a – pa – ta – wa
Vessel from a Thalamus tomb with two
Chambers, Cup (1450 – 1400 BC, Late Minoan II)
Ceramic kiln, Stylos Apokoronou
(1375 – 1300 BC, Late Minoan IIA2)
Late Minoan Vaulted Tomb,
Azoire of Apokoronou Fleet (1375 – 1300 BC, Late Minoan IIIA2)
Iron age
668 BC: Participation of Aptera in the Second Messinian War
Pausanias mentions that in the Second Messinian War (668 BC), archers from various cities of
Crete, including Apteraians, fought on the side of the Lacedaemonians against the Messenians.
Pithotafi, G. Kelaidi residence (8th century BC)
Archaic building on the Blue Coast of
Kalyvo (7th century BC)
Archaic house, Azoire (6th century BC)
Classical period (490/80 BC – 323 BC)
City acne
Two-room temple (5th century BC)
Fortification
Main entrance
Minting of own coin with Artemis patron goddess of Aptera and Ptoliikos founder of the city
Silver stater of Apteras (3rd century AD)
Silver stater of Apteras (3rd century AD)
Hellenistic period (323 BC – (67) 31 BC)
Relations with major centers of the Hellenistic era such as Knossos, Gortyna, Rhodes, Sparta
3rd BC: first building phase of the Theater and rectilinear theater
2nd century BC: Inscription on the burial monument II
Consular resolution (2nd century BC)
Siren figurine (2nd and 1st century BC)
Burial monument II (2nd century BC)
Roman times (61) 31 BC – 324 AD
New acme – Public buildings.
2nd building phase of the Theater
Burial monument | outside western rampart
Peristaltic Roman house from a wealthy family
Theater
The inscribed pedestals of the Hero and the inscription in the Baths are dated
Baths
Funerary relief from funerary monument I
(2 nd century AD)
Finds (censers, figurines, etc.)
Regiment of Artemis Apollo,
Roman house (1 st and 2 nd century AD)
Censer with lid, Western
Cemetery (1 st century AD)
Idol of love, Tomb II
(2 nd century AD)
365 AD
The largest Mediterranean earthquake to date.
Cause of destruction and decline of the city of Aptera.
Fortification fallen by an earthquake
16th – 17th century AD
The basic monastery stock of Agios Ioannis the Theologians is being built.
Monastery share of Patmos of Saint
John the Theologian
More recent times (1669-1913)
The Turks build Koule, or “Fortress Soumbasi” from the materials of the ancient fortification of
Aptera, to suppress revolutionary movements of the fighting Cretans.
Koules Aptera (1868)
Concession of a large part of the area of the monastic share of the Patmos monastery of Saint
John the Theologian to the Greek state.
Aptera, a city of Crete, (named) after the strife of the Muses and Sirens, which took place in the Mouseion, a place so called near the city and the sea…
Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica
