Lissos
Encyclopedia
Lissos is an ancient city in south-west Crete
, in Agios Kirikos area, near the small village of Sougia
, 70 km south of Chania
.
Lissos and Syia
was the harbours of the city of Elyros
, the most important ancient city of the area, located near the village Rodovani. It was established in the Classical period and flourished until the Late Antiquity. Its name was made certain by inscriptions. The early history of the city is unknown. Based on inscriptions and coins of the 3rd century BC, we know the city allied with King of Carthage Maga, and joined the League of Oreians. The koinon
of the Oreians was consisted of the cities Lissos, Syia
, Poikilassos
, Tarra
, Yrtakina
and Elyros
. Lissos had powerful trading and fishing navy.
There were discovered ruins of theatre, aqueduct, cemetery, and baths of the ancient times, and Palaiochristian basilicas. In the area, there were also found many votive objects, which are now exhibited at the Archaeological Museums of Heraklion and Chania. In no other city of Crete, apart from Gortys, there were found so many pieces of sculpture. This fact testifies the prosperity and the power of the Asclepieion of Lissos. Lissos has its own coins with the images of Artemis and dolphin and the word LISION (of the Lisians). Lissos and Yrtakina
were allies and they had trading intercourse with common currency. Their coins had dolphin or flying dove on the one side, and eight-ray star with the word L/I/S/I/O/N (of the Lisians) on the other.
In 1957-58 the city was excavated by N. Platon.
Beside the Asklepieion and the Roman necropolis there are also two Greek Orthodox churches: Agios Kyrikos has some nice frescoes and the chapel of Panagia is build with ancient marble blocks.
The small beach is a coarse pebble beach. Nobody lives in Lissos nowadays. You can reach it from Sougia by boat or by foot (90 minutes walk).
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, in Agios Kirikos area, near the small village of Sougia
Sougia
Sougia is a village in Chania Prefecture on the island of Crete, Greece. It is located on the south coast of the island, 70 km south of Chania. It has 109 residents and it's within the municipality of East Selino...
, 70 km south of Chania
Chania
Chaniá , , also transliterated Chania, Hania, and Xania, older form Chanea and Venetian Canea, Ottoman Turkish خانيه Hanya) is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania peripheral unit...
.
Lissos and Syia
Syia
Syia is an ancient city in south-west Crete. It is located in Sougia village, 70 km south of Chania.-History:Like Lissos, Syia was a capacious and safe harbour of Elyros. Strabo calls the town Syba. The name derives probably from the word “sys , i.e. hog. Therefore, Syia is the “hog-city”...
was the harbours of the city of Elyros
Elyros
Elyros is an ancient city, located in southwest Crete, in Kefala Hill, near the village Rodovani and is presently unexcavated. Elyros was flourishing at least as early as the Greek Classical Period, e.g. 500 to 350 BC. In the Classical Period Elyros was the most important ancient city in...
, the most important ancient city of the area, located near the village Rodovani. It was established in the Classical period and flourished until the Late Antiquity. Its name was made certain by inscriptions. The early history of the city is unknown. Based on inscriptions and coins of the 3rd century BC, we know the city allied with King of Carthage Maga, and joined the League of Oreians. The koinon
Koinon
Koinon , meaning "common" and interpreted as "commonwealth", "league" or "federation" were a number of associations of cities in ancient and early modern Greek history. The various federations termed Koinon were:...
of the Oreians was consisted of the cities Lissos, Syia
Syia
Syia is an ancient city in south-west Crete. It is located in Sougia village, 70 km south of Chania.-History:Like Lissos, Syia was a capacious and safe harbour of Elyros. Strabo calls the town Syba. The name derives probably from the word “sys , i.e. hog. Therefore, Syia is the “hog-city”...
, Poikilassos
Poikilassos
Poikilassos is an ancient city in west Crete, at Trypiti cape, between Sougia and Agia Roumeli. Poikilasion was not an autonomous city, as it belongs to Elyros....
, Tarra
Tarra, Crete
Tarra or Tarrha was an ancient city of western Crete, near Samaria Gorge, at Agia Roumeli village. It is near the sea, on the hill, on the left bank of the stream bank. It was probably established in the Classical period and was very important religious centre. The city flourished in the...
, Yrtakina
Yrtakina
Yrtakina was an ancient city in south-west Crete. The city was located between the existing villages Temenia and Papadiana, on Kastri hill, where the ruins of the city are situated....
and Elyros
Elyros
Elyros is an ancient city, located in southwest Crete, in Kefala Hill, near the village Rodovani and is presently unexcavated. Elyros was flourishing at least as early as the Greek Classical Period, e.g. 500 to 350 BC. In the Classical Period Elyros was the most important ancient city in...
. Lissos had powerful trading and fishing navy.
There were discovered ruins of theatre, aqueduct, cemetery, and baths of the ancient times, and Palaiochristian basilicas. In the area, there were also found many votive objects, which are now exhibited at the Archaeological Museums of Heraklion and Chania. In no other city of Crete, apart from Gortys, there were found so many pieces of sculpture. This fact testifies the prosperity and the power of the Asclepieion of Lissos. Lissos has its own coins with the images of Artemis and dolphin and the word LISION (of the Lisians). Lissos and Yrtakina
Yrtakina
Yrtakina was an ancient city in south-west Crete. The city was located between the existing villages Temenia and Papadiana, on Kastri hill, where the ruins of the city are situated....
were allies and they had trading intercourse with common currency. Their coins had dolphin or flying dove on the one side, and eight-ray star with the word L/I/S/I/O/N (of the Lisians) on the other.
In 1957-58 the city was excavated by N. Platon.
Beside the Asklepieion and the Roman necropolis there are also two Greek Orthodox churches: Agios Kyrikos has some nice frescoes and the chapel of Panagia is build with ancient marble blocks.
The small beach is a coarse pebble beach. Nobody lives in Lissos nowadays. You can reach it from Sougia by boat or by foot (90 minutes walk).