Ancient Matala

Ancient Matelon, today's Matala, was the port of Phaistos initially and later of Gortynos and is known for its carved caves, which were tombs from the Greco-Roman period.

It covered an extensive area. It extended to the small valleys around the port and to the hill on the south where the Acropolis is.

The cape south of Matala has been identified as Cape Nysos and as the place where Menelaus' ships were wrecked (according to Homer's Odyssey). The archaeological site next to the village, which was the hub of the city, began to be excavated in the 1980s, and revealed large buildings and workshops for metals, pottery, carpentry, etc.

The city appears to have flourished between the 6th century BC and the 7th century AD, and has never been abandoned since then.


Photo/Info:  Wikipedia.

Photos 1-2: incrediblecrete.gr