ANCIENT CITIES
Ancient city with an ancient port on the cape of Gramvoussa with a beautiful landscape.
Falassarné, a Cretan nymph and heroine, took his name from this city located on the cape of Gramvoussa. Excavations of the ancient city of Falassarna have unearthed an ancient port, part of the city and the necropolis. Founded in the 6th century BC by the Dorians, the city reached its peak in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. It was then that the city-state was fortified with thick walls and a port was built on the site of a lagoon. Falassarna became an important commercial port, trading on the Mediterranean routes, especially with the Phoenicians. The decline was gradual over the following centuries, with the incessant wars fought by the Cretan city-states. Falassarna soon became a den of pirates, which provoked the ire of Rome: the Romans disembarked in 69 BC to close the port. Falassarna holds on as best it can until the gigantic earthquake of 365. The whole western part of Crete then rose by almost ten metres, which had the effect of pulling the port out of the water. This marks the definitive end of the ancient city. The visit is worthwhile, especially at the end of the day, when the sun is low. The surrounding landscape offers a magnificent panorama: olive groves on the mountain carved out of caves and curious white rock formations advancing towards the sea. Along the way you will see an ancient throne, probably dedicated to the masters of the sea: Poseidon for the Greeks and Astarte for the Phoenicians (protective goddess of the sailors).
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