Ancient Tarra

Tarra, an ancient autonomous city and seaport of Elyros, was located at the site of present-day Agia Roumeli. This city was home to a famous temple dedicated to Apollo and a healing center. According to legend, Apollo himself once came to Samaria to purify himself with the help of the great priest and healer Karmanor after killing Python at Delphi. Apollo fell in love with the Minoan nymph Akkakalis while in Samaria, and due to her enchanting beauty, he stayed in her embrace and forgot to start the morning on time, resulting in the longest night ever known in the world.

Coins from Tarra featured a Cretan goat’s head on one side and a bee on the other. In the 3rd century BC, Tarra joined the Mountainous Association, a federation of independent mountain towns that shared common internal and foreign policies. This federation consisted of the cities Lissos, Syia, Pikilassos, Tarra, Hyrtakina, and Elyros.

Today, only a few ruins remain from Tarra, particularly near the exit of the Samaria Gorge to the sea. Additionally, part of an Early Christian Basilica has been preserved, which now serves as the foundation for the church of Panagia Kera.