Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite
The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite is an archaeological site on the southern side of the Dikti mountains, at 1,150 m altitude and about 5 km north east of the village of Kato Symi. The sanctuary stands near the Krya Vrysi spring and covers 1.7 hectares, of which only a portion has been excavated. It is the most significant archaeological site in the province of Viannos.
Worship here ran from around 2000 BC to Roman times, which makes this one of the longest-lived sanctuaries of Greek antiquity. The site is open to visitors after contacting the guard.
Two thousand years of worship
Worship at the sanctuary began around 2000 BC, in the same period as the other Minoan peak sanctuaries of eastern Crete, and it carried on without a break until Roman times. Hermes was worshipped here from the 7th century BC. Aphrodite joined him in Hellenistic times, around 330 BC, and in the early Christian era a small chapel was built on the site.
Hermes Kedritis, the patron of adulthood
Inscriptions found at the sanctuary name Hermes Kedritis as the patron of adulthood, worshipped alongside the goddess Aphrodite. That role matches what the finds show. After the 11th century BC the ritual vessels gave way to figurines, and the main theme of those figurines is the coming of age of the people who left them.
Which deities the Minoans worshipped here is not settled. The ritual vessels and utensils from the earlier phases do not carry the female figures typical of Minoan religion, so the identification stops there.
What the excavations found
Most of the finds date from the 11th century BC and point to animal sacrifice and religious feasts. The objects recovered from the ashes include animal replicas, tubular utensils, plates showing male figures carrying or leading animals, clay cups, three swords, a golden ring-seal depicting a runner, and a hieroglyphic plate. The most significant finds are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.
Excavation began in 1972 and has continued in bursts since. Only part of the 1.7 hectares has been dug, so the sanctuary is still a partial picture.
The Holy Mountain and the cities that claimed it
The sanctuary is linked with the Ieron Oros, the Holy Mountain, which Ptolemy placed between ancient Tsoutsouras (Inatos) and ancient Ierapetra (Ierapytna). Its standing made it a point of contention among the powerful cities of the region. None of them vandalised it: the sanctuary was damaged only by natural causes, which says plainly how it was regarded.
Things to do near the sanctuary
Five gorges, beaches and villages lie within 10 km of the sanctuary, listed below with the nearest first.
- Walk towards Lapathos. The Holy Apostles Gorge is 3.1 km away, on the same plateau the sanctuary road climbs to.
- Stop in the mountain villages. Riza lies 4.5 km out and Christos 6.1 km, both on the slopes below the site.
- Take on another gorge. The Panagia Keralimeniotissa Gorge is 5.1 km away, the Arvi Gorge 7.3 km and the Sarakina Gorge 8.5 km.
- Drop to the Libyan Sea. Tertsa is 7.4 km from the sanctuary, Sidonia 8 km and Vatos 8.1 km.
- Combine the site with Myrtos. The beach and the village of Myrtos are 8.9 km away, and the Pyrgos Myrtos archaeological site stands 9.1 km out.
Getting to the Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite
Drive to Kato Symi and take the forest dirt road that leaves the village towards the Lapathos plateau. That track is the only approach, and the sanctuary sits about 5 km north east of the village at 1,150 m. Contact the guard before setting out, since the site is visited by arrangement.
The nearest villages on the way up are 4.5 km and 6.1 km from the site. Riza and Christos both sit on this southern flank of the Dikti range, and the Monastery of Panagia Exakousti in Malles lies 8.6 km away.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite?
The sanctuary is on the southern side of the Dikti mountains, about 5 km north east of Kato Symi, at 1,150 m altitude. It stands near the Krya Vrysi spring, in the province of Viannos.
How old is the sanctuary at Kato Symi?
Worship began around 2000 BC and continued until Roman times. That run of roughly two thousand years makes it one of the most enduring sanctuaries of Greek antiquity.
Can you visit the Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite?
Yes, the site can be visited after contacting the guard. A forest dirt road starts at Kato Symi and runs towards the Lapathos plateau to reach it.
What was found at the sanctuary?
The finds include animal replicas, tubular utensils, plates with male figures leading animals, clay cups, three swords, a golden ring-seal depicting a runner and a hieroglyphic plate. Most date from the 11th century BC and were recovered from ashes left by animal sacrifice and religious feasts. The most significant pieces are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.
Which gods were worshipped there?
Hermes was worshipped from the 7th century BC and Aphrodite from around 330 BC. Inscriptions name Hermes Kedritis, the patron of adulthood. The Minoan deities of the earlier phases remain unidentified, because the ritual vessels lack the female figures usual in Minoan religion.
Location
Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite is located at Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite, in the Heraklion region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
