The Magoulas Cultural Association provides crucial insights into the history of Afentis Christos Hill.

It notes that the presence of pine trees on the hill is attributed to the efforts of the village children during the time when Magoulas' primary school was still in operation.

The controversy

According to a local tale, in times past, the villages of Magoulas and Kaminaki were embroiled in a dispute over ownership of Afentis Christos Hill. To settle the matter, they arranged a race, with the condition that the first village to reach Afentis Christos Hill would claim ownership. The story goes that Magoulas emerged victorious in this competition, and as a result, Afentis Christos Hill is said to have belonged to the village of Magoulas since then (as narrated by Konstantinos G Dolapsakis).

History

Afentis Christos Hill is an important part of an ancient settlement dating back to the pre-Minoan period. Although many ancient artefacts, such as pottery, utensils, and tools, were discovered at one point, they unfortunately suffered from looting over time. On the south side, an ancient tomb of a small child was uncovered, and the hill is linked to the area below known as Pig(l)alistra, where a Minoan royal tomb was discovered. Owing to its strategic location, Afentis Christos Hill is believed to have played a role in the ancient settlement, possibly hosting a temple.

Photo: Wikipedia