Elyros
Encyclopedia
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 southwestern Crete, having about 16,000 inhabitants. It was an industrial and commercial city with large weapon
s production. Syia
and Lissos
were its harbours. Apollo, Phylakides and Philandros, sons of Apollo and nymph
Akakallida, were worshiped there.
In the third century BC Elyros was at war with Kydonia
, an important center of Cretan power, located in the modern city of Chania
. The citizens of Elyros sent to the Delphi Oracle, a bronze votive complex that represents a goat feeding the sons of Apollo when they were infants. It is also one of the thirty cities that signed the decree with Eumenes B’ in 183
BC.
Elyros was also important during Roman times. A Roman statue, the Philosopher of Elyros was recovered here and is now in the Archaeological Museum of Chania.
During Byzantine times, Elyros was the seat of an Archbishop and the remains of the bishopric church, a sixth century basilica, can still be seen in the centre of the old city.
Robert Pashley
was the first who identified the location of the city, near village Rodovani. Thenon studied more carefully the ruins of the city and discovered the inscription that says: “it seemed to the city of the Elyrians”.
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 Kefala Hill, near the village Rodovani
Rodovani
Rodovani is a small village in Chania Prefecture on the island of Crete, Greece. It has 122 residents and it's within the municipality of East Selino . Near Rodovani is located the ancient city of Elyros....
and is presently unexcavated. Elyros was flourishing at least as early as the Greek Classical Period
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
, e.g. 500 to 350 BC. In the Classical Period Elyros was the most important ancient city in southwestern Crete, having about 16,000 inhabitants. It was an industrial and commercial city with large weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s production. 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”...
and Lissos
Lissos
Lissos is an ancient city in south-west Crete, in Agios Kirikos area, near the small village of Sougia, 70 km south of Chania....
were its harbours. Apollo, Phylakides and Philandros, sons of Apollo and nymph
Nymph
A nymph in Greek mythology is a female minor nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from gods, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing;...
Akakallida, were worshiped there.
In the third century BC Elyros was at war with Kydonia
Cydonia (Ancient Greece)
Cydonia or Kydonia was an important ancient city-state on the northwest coast of the island of Crete. It is at the site of the modern-day Greek city of Chania...
, an important center of Cretan power, located in the modern city 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...
. The citizens of Elyros sent to the Delphi Oracle, a bronze votive complex that represents a goat feeding the sons of Apollo when they were infants. It is also one of the thirty cities that signed the decree with Eumenes B’ in 183
183
Year 183 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Victorinus...
BC.
Elyros was also important during Roman times. A Roman statue, the Philosopher of Elyros was recovered here and is now in the Archaeological Museum of Chania.
During Byzantine times, Elyros was the seat of an Archbishop and the remains of the bishopric church, a sixth century basilica, can still be seen in the centre of the old city.
Robert Pashley
Robert Pashley
Robert Pashley was a 19th century English traveller and economist. See Pashley was born in York and studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. Distinguished in mathematics and Classics, in 1830 he was elected a Fellow of Trinity at his first sitting...
was the first who identified the location of the city, near village Rodovani. Thenon studied more carefully the ruins of the city and discovered the inscription that says: “it seemed to the city of the Elyrians”.