Experiences and Things to do in Ziros village

The archaeological site of Trypitos can be found on a small peninsula, 3km east of Sitia, close to the beach Karavopetra, which boasts a breathtaking view of Sitia city and its port. It is believed to be the ancient city of Sitia, Itia, which was initially one of the ports of Praesus. The city thrived during the Hellenistic period (350BC – 50BC).

In 1967, a shipshed (a building used for storing vessels) was discovered in a trench measuring 30m in length, 5.5m in width, and 5m in height. Due to this cavity, the site was given the name Trypitos (meaning hollow in Greek).

Archaeologist Nikolaos Papadakis began the first extensive excavations in 1987, and they are still ongoing. The city extends across the entire peninsula, with a strong wall protecting its southern side. Inside the walls, there were houses, public buildings, and streets. Numerous pottery works, jewelry, and coins from the city have been found in the area. In fact, while exploring the antiquities, you will come across many potsherds.

The thin yet often wavy stretch of sea dividing the islands of Koufonissi from the opposite coasts of Crete did not hinder the continuous presence of humans in ancient times. The ancient name Lefki (meaning white) was inspired by the shimmer of white limestone and marl in the sunlight.

Koufonissi was an economic and cultural center from the Minoan until the Greco-Roman Times and was claimed by all major cities of the region. As recorded on the inscription of the Magnites, currently embedded on the facade of the Toplou monastery church, there was a significant dispute between Itanos and Ierapytna about the island. In 132 AD, the island was owned by Itanos.

The history of the islands is closely tied to sponge fishing and processing of Tyrian purple, the red dye used by Ancients and Byzantines, which was extracted from the gastropod Murex brandaris. According to Aristotle and Pliny, live shells were collected in early autumn or winter and were then put in pots until many of them were gathered since each shell produced just one drop of dye. After that, the smaller shells were broken with stones. The larger mollusks were pierced and then a small gland called “flower” was extracted. Then, they put the milky liquid in salt, added a little vinegar, and left this in the sunlight. Its color turned red from yellow and was then diluted or condensed with boiling. The dye, the Tyrian purple, was sold at that time as it weighed in silver. If they added hyacinth blooms, the color was violet, but it was considered of inferior quality.

In 1976, excavations began on the island, uncovering remarkable findings. On the northwest edge of the island, at Anemertia, opposite the Marmara islet, and a short distance from the beach, the excavations revealed a well-preserved stone theater. The auditorium was damaged only on its west side, while a significant part of the central seats has completely disappeared. The auditorium has twelve rows of seats and a maximum length of 34 m. The distance of the twelfth row to the orchestra floor reaches 6 m. It is estimated that the auditorium could accommodate about 1000 people.

The orchestra, almost chamber, was paved with clay tiles. The stage, completely corrupt in its western part, should have a length of 20m while the width is estimated at about 9m. At the eastern end, one can make out the paraskenion, the pulpitum or stage, the hyposkenion, and also the east parados which was vaulted. The theater had rich decoration, which was vandalized. The theater was destroyed and burned with ferocity at the end of the 4th century.

East and south of the theater, the excavations revealed a settlement that seems to have been destroyed, such as the theater. Excavations have unearthed a large house or villa of which 8 proper rooms still exist. One enters through a small but impressive porch (propylon) facing the road which leads to the east parados of the theater. The kitchens were identified and also the household workshop for the preparation of purple dye. Two formal rooms for entertaining were found with mosaic floors of black and white geometrical designs (based on the rhombus and the cross) framed by a surround. In the main part of the settlement, other houses have been excavated; 16 rooms have been cleared – probably houses of fishermen since installations for the preparation of purple dye were found and also fishing equipment such as hooks and lead weights for nets.

The most important building of the settlement – following the theater – is the imposing building of the Public Baths (Balinea), which was in use from the 1st to the 4th AD century. The pathological love that Romans had for the public baths, combining physical cleaning with training and discussing, is well known. The Baths building was necessary not only in cities but also in small dorps. In rich houses, there was a separate area, a miniature of the public Baths (Balinea), while the imperial Baths (Thermae) were famous for their luxury.

The Bath complex of Koufonisi includes all the spaces that followed the standards of the Roman Baths: Around a garden, there are rooms such as that for the central heating system (whose walls are preserved at a height of 4 m), two hypocausts (perhaps for men and women separately), baths for sweating, warm, hot and cold bath, and changing rooms. Luxury is still visible in some rooms, in the preserved parts of the marble floor and walls. A large number of vaulted tanks with pipelines is impressive. They were used to bring water from the springs located north of the Temple to the other side of the island.

In the south part of the island, a temple was found, which unfortunately has suffered from predatory looting from the authorities (in 1920) to build a huge lighthouse, only 5m from the eastern short side of the temple where the entrance would have been, even though another stepped entrance was found on the north side. The overall dimensions of the temple were 18m x 15,7m with a crepidoma, while next to the north-west corner two large pieces of the colossal cult statue of the temple seen were found. This represented a deity enthroned on a cube-shaped seat. The fragments found are: a part of the seat with the left side of the pelvis, and the right leg from the draped or folded waist of the garment down to the ankle. Unfortunately, it is very damaged, but it appears to be of the Hellenistic period, and the height of the whole statue must have been over 2,50m.

The rest of the statue, however incredible it may seem, must have been broken up by the workmen and used as building material for the lighthouse (which was bombed in 1944). Here the lumps of marble can be seen wedged among the other stones, also the huge symmetrical blocks which were uprooted from the temple of which only the steps and the filling remain – even the flooring has disappeared. As if all this were not enough, in more recent years, a metal automatic lighthouse pylon (now removed) had been set up over the floor of the temple, placed perhaps, who knows, by the ironical hand of fate right where the colossal statue of the deity, worshipped by the people of Lefki, used to stand in all its splendor.

Praesus (now known as Pressos) stood atop three hills, approximately 13km south of Sitia and a mere 2km from today’s Nea Pressos, formerly Vaveli. Established by the Eteocretans, who fled the Minoan cities after the Dorian invasion around 1100 BC, they settled in Crete’s secluded regions. Two ports served Praesus, one near Sitia (Etea) and another on the southern coast (Stales).

Initially, the Eteocretans maintained their Minoan traditions, language, and religious practices. Archaeological finds here include inscriptions in the Minoan language using Greek characters, offering significant insights into deciphering the Minoan language. Over time, the city adopted a democratic constitution, akin to the Dorian city-states.

All its hills functioned as strongholds, with the tallest encircled by a defensive wall and remnants of a grand mansion. One hill reveals traces of an altar and various artefacts from sacrificial rites. Remarkably, an athlete’s tomb was discovered here, along with possible Panathenaic Game awards.

As a dominant Cretan city, Praesus minted its own coins bearing various icons like Hercules and Zeus. The city vied with Itanos and Ierapytna for control over Palekastro’s Zeus temple and Koufonissi island. However, by 155 BC, Ierapytna overpowered and razed Praesus, leading its inhabitants to retreat to the Etea port and establish New Praesus.

Italian archaeologists Halbherr and Mariani initiated the site’s excavations in the 1880s. Presently, visitors can explore a sprawling archaeological area dotted with ancient churches, temples, fortifications, and more.

The hill Katrinia in the area of Piskokefalo, province Sitia, was home to one of the most significant peak sanctuaries of Minoan Crete. Pilgrims from nearby regions would visit to worship their gods and offer their tributes. In this area, three sacred caves have been discovered, similar to other peak sanctuaries in Crete (e.g. Giouchtas, Pirgos near Tylissos, etc.).

In 1952, archaeologist Nikolaos Platon uncovered some of the most important Minoan pottery findings up to that point. Regrettably, looters had previously discovered numerous figurines. Among Platon’s many discoveries were male and female figurines with intricate hairstyles, providing valuable insights into the appearance of the Minoans.

Additionally, numerous vases, beads, and an unusually large number of clay scarabs were found. Furthermore, archaeologists discovered replicas of temples featuring the Minoan double horn in their cornice.