| Regions > Mylopotamos > History |
The history - The monuments
Psiloritis (Iris Mountain according to its ancient name) was considered as the Vithleem of ancient times. Here, Rea hunted by Saturn gives birth to Zeus at Idaion Andron, on top of the plateau of Nida. The goat Amaltia takes the role of the nurse, while Kourites strike their cembalos to cover with their growl the cry of the little God, who was meant to become the King of Dodecatheon. The area presents constant inhabitance from the prehistoric era until today. It followed the adventures of the island in every historic period. Zominthos was an important Minoan center, while the ancient cities of Eleftherna and Aksos bloomed from the Geometric era until the later Roman years. It has been the center of revolutions during the Venetian invasion. During the revolution for independence at 1824, four hundred people from Melidoni village were tortured to death at the historic place of Gerondospilios. The people of Mylopotamos fought in the battle of Arkadi at 1866. The residents of the area actively participated in the Battle of Crete during the Second World War. At Gournolakos site 32 people from Mylopotamos were executed. During the German invasion, Psiloritis hosted resistance groups with the incident of the kidnapping of the German General Kraipe and the third in a row holocaust of Anogia at 1944, with the later destroying the heroic village at 1822 and 1867. The archeological discovery brought to light findings at the worshipping caves of Idaion Andron and Gerondospilios at Melidoni as well as burial monuments of the prehistoric years at Ageliana village, Margarites and Choumeri villages, while at Zominthos a well preserved Minoan palace was excavated, surrounded by a dorp with a cemetery as well as a pottery workshop of the 1600BC. At Eleftherna, the excavation spreads in three areas. The Geometric cemetery of the city is being excavated. Many parts of the dorp have been brought to light such as the important old Christianic basilica of the 5th century with mosaic decorations. The acropolis of Aksos is believed to be the temple of Aphrodite. From the first christianic centuries, great basilicas were built, such as the one of Viran Episkopi and Panormo. Byzantine and post Byzantine churches have been rescued in every dorp of the district (Agios Ioannis of Anogia, Agia Irene in Aksos, Agios Ioannis Theologos at Margarites, Christ the Saviour at ancient Eleftherna, Agios Ioannis near the Monastery of Diskourios, Agios Georgios at Kalama etc.). The patriarchal Monastery of Chalepa prevails in Mylopotamos, while the Monastery of Vosakos is well hidden in the plateau of Talaia Oroi. The Monasteries of Attali, Bali, Diskourios near Livadia and the glebe of Karakallos in Margarites are active. We also refer to the Jerusalem glebe of Christ at Mourtzana village. The Monastery of Arkadi prevails here, which according to tradition was founded from the monk named Arkadios. Today it is considered a global symbol of freedom because of the holocaust at 1866. Venetian and later manor houses can be found around the villages of Mylopotamos such as Episkopi (the capital of the Latin Diocese), Garazo, Melidoni, Margarites, Abvanites, and Agios Ioannis etc. A large number of windmills can be found at the boundaries of Damavolos and Agios Sylas up to the Monastery of Diskorios as well as at Veni, Moussai, Drosia and Episkopi villages. The rock build bridge at Kampos in Garazo is especially interesting.
