Dikteo Andro and Ideon Andro description and photos - Greece: Crete (Topic)

Dikteo Andro and Ideon Andro caves description and photos - Greece: Crete. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Dikteo Andro and Ideon Andro.

Photo and description

According to ancient Greek mythology, the titan Kronos was predicted to be defeated by his own son, and every time his next offspring was born, he swallowed it, until, finally, his wife, the goddess Rhea decided to cheat. Hiding in one of the mountain caves and giving birth to the future supreme god of Olympus Zeus, Rhea gave Kronos a stone wrapped in a shroud, which he swallowed, and left the child in the cave. This cave was guarded by Koribants, who arranged noisy dances in front of the cave entrance in order to drown out the crying of the baby and distract Kronos.

True, even Pausanias wrote that it is impossible to list all possible places where the cave in which he was born could be located and was brought up by Zeus. There is no consensus today but among the most popular versions it is worth noting the Dikteyskaya and Ideyskaya caves on the island of Crete. Today these are some of the most interesting sights of the island, which are definitely worth a visit.

The Dikteyskaya cave is located in the eastern part of the island in the Dikteyskie mountains on the picturesque Lasithi plateau, at an altitude of 1025 meters above sea level, near the small village of Psychro. The first studies of the Dikteyskaya cave were carried out in 1886 by Joseph Hadzidakis, and 10 years later the study of the cave was continued by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. During the excavations, a number of unique artifacts were discovered (today they are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford), indicating that the cave has been an important cult center for a very long time, where the god Zeus was worshiped. The cave consists of an entrance hall, where the altar and special stone structures for offerings and the main hall were located. There is a small lake at the bottom of the cave. Dikteyskaya Cave is open to the public and thanks to the electric lighting you can fully enjoy the stunning beauty of stalactites and stalagmites.

The Ideyskaya Cave, which is located on the slopes of Mount Ida in the central part of the island, is no less beautiful and interesting. The only entrance to the cave is located in the western part of the Nido plateau at an altitude of 1538 meters above sea level. As well as in the Dikteyskaya cave, many ancient artifacts were found here (the earliest dates from the Neolithic era), including cult objects that testify to the existence of a sanctuary in the cave. It is believed that it was here that the "Ideas' rings" - mysteries in honor of Zeus, were held annually.

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Topic: Dikteo Andro and Ideon Andro description and photos - Greece: Crete.