KYTHIRA TRAVEL GUIDE

KYTHIRA > ARCHAEOLOGY

ARCHAEOLOGY

Paleokastro

Ano Kythira of Thoukydidi, the ancient capital, was built on the hill above Paleokastro about 2 km from Skandia the ancient seaport of Kythira. The church dedicated to the saints Anargyron Kosma and Damianou is on this hill and was built in 7th century AD. Close by are the ruins of the temple of Venus, Aphrodite, with Doric columns circa 6th century BC.

Minoan Holy Mount

The Mount of St George is just a few km from the archaeological site of Paleohora. It was a sacred mount during the Minoan period of Kastri. It was used during the first half of the 2nd millennium BC and is the only one found so far that has not been looted. Its peak was during the new palace period of 1700-1400 BC when Crete dominated the Mediterranean and Kythira was the stopgap between Crete and the Peloponnese.

The first excavations were undertaken in 1922 and others in 1993-4 leading to the discovery of many artefacts of the Minoan and later periods signifying that this was a sacred place for over 3,500 years. Examples of the artefacts are: stoneware religious objects, earthenware animal figurines, bronze human figurines and offerings, jewellery and ceramics.

Housti Cave

Recent excavations in the Diakoptou area have located the Housti Cave in which important archaeological relics have been found dating to about 4000 BC.