Tarra, Crete
Encyclopedia
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 Greco-Roman period. There was the cult of Apollo Tarraios. There were found parts of his temple. Tarra in frequently cited in the ancient sources.
Although it was small town, Tarra had its own coins. The coins have the head of Cretan wild goat, arrow, and bee. Tarra had monetary union with Elyros
, Yrtakina
and Lissos
. The coins belong to the 3rd and 2nd century BC, when Tarra became member of the Republic of Cretans. The city had established a colony of the same name in the Caucasus. It is also believed that Tarra of South Italy was another colony of the city. It probably founded Lampa, also on Crete.
In 1415, Buondelmonti detected in the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, an inscription in Greek that was saying: “Peel your shoes, cover your head and come in.” A similar inscription was found at the Temple of Matala. The custom of entering the temple without shoes is ancient. Apollo, after the murder of Python, went to Tarra, where there were done purgatorial rituals by priest Karmanoras. According to Pausanias, Apollo “in the house of Karmanor, Apollo made love with nymph Akakallidi”. The nymph gave birth to twins, Phylakides, and Philanders. A goat fed them. Therefore, the Elyrians presented to Delphi bronze goat feeding to infants. In Tarra, there were glassworks workshops.
It was the birthplace of the author Lucillus of Tarrha or Loukillos. He commented on the Argonautics by Apollonios of Rhodes
. Chrysothemis, a lyre player, son of Karmanor, who won at the Pythian festival, was from Tarra as well. Tarra is one of the city that signed decree with Eumenes B’ in 170 BC. Robert Pashley
was the first who detected the location of the city. In the area, there was found stone stele with inscribed double axe. It is exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Chania.
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...
, near Samaria Gorge
Samaria Gorge
The Samariá Gorge is aNational Park of Greece on the island of Crete - a major tourist attraction of the island - and a World's Biosphere Reserve....
, at Agia Roumeli
Agia Roumeli
Agia Roumeli is a small village in southwest Crete, Greece and is popular with tourists. Located a few kilometres above the town is the southern entrance to the Samaria Gorge. For most walkers, this is the exit, as the usual route through the gorge is to descend from the north...
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 Greco-Roman period. There was the cult of Apollo Tarraios. There were found parts of his temple. Tarra in frequently cited in the ancient sources.
Although it was small town, Tarra had its own coins. The coins have the head of Cretan wild goat, arrow, and bee. Tarra had monetary union with 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...
, 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 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....
. The coins belong to the 3rd and 2nd century BC, when Tarra became member of the Republic of Cretans. The city had established a colony of the same name in the Caucasus. It is also believed that Tarra of South Italy was another colony of the city. It probably founded Lampa, also on Crete.
In 1415, Buondelmonti detected in the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, an inscription in Greek that was saying: “Peel your shoes, cover your head and come in.” A similar inscription was found at the Temple of Matala. The custom of entering the temple without shoes is ancient. Apollo, after the murder of Python, went to Tarra, where there were done purgatorial rituals by priest Karmanoras. According to Pausanias, Apollo “in the house of Karmanor, Apollo made love with nymph Akakallidi”. The nymph gave birth to twins, Phylakides, and Philanders. A goat fed them. Therefore, the Elyrians presented to Delphi bronze goat feeding to infants. In Tarra, there were glassworks workshops.
It was the birthplace of the author Lucillus of Tarrha or Loukillos. He commented on the Argonautics by Apollonios of Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
. Chrysothemis, a lyre player, son of Karmanor, who won at the Pythian festival, was from Tarra as well. Tarra is one of the city that signed decree with Eumenes B’ in 170 BC. 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 detected the location of the city. In the area, there was found stone stele with inscribed double axe. It is exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Chania.
Sources
- Catholic Encyclopaedia
- 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica