The remains of the great ancient city of Gortyna, with its acropolis and necropolises, is located 46 km south of Heraklion city, in Messara valley, and has an area of 400 hectares. According to legend, the bull that was really Zeus mated with Europa below the evergreen sycamore tree that can still be seen today, and she then gave birth to Minos and Rodamanthis, King of Phestos. Moreover, the bull that Poseidon offered to Minos mated with Pasiphae here, and she gave birth to the Minotaur.
According to the legend, the Labyrinth is the ancient quarry and artificial cave (also known as Lavyrinthos) near Moroni and Kastelli villages, which can still be seen today, although it cannot be visited. Apostle Paul also preached to the Cretans here for the first time, and named his disciple Apostle Titus as the first bishop of Crete, who later died a martyr in that city. The Ten Saint Martyrs (Agii Deka Martyres) also died here during the persecution by emperor Dekius in 250 AD.
A church was built where they died, in Spilious and Agia Limni, and is well preserved even today. It is just outside Gortyna on the south side of Agii Deka village, of which they are patrons.
It was the capital of Crete from 67 AD and for the next 1000 years, while the first Cretan silver coins were minted there in 470 AD. There were three fortresses, three large markets, two aqueducts, five theatres, a stadium, five sanctuaries and temples, nine Christian places of worship, underground mausoleums, etc. The imposing Temple of Agios Titos is an impressive ecclesiastical monument, dominating Gortyna, and will be the first building to draw your attention. Its architecture, a three-aisled domed basilica, and its hewed limestone structure, are impressive. To the east, you will find the sculpture gallery with copies of Roman statues and epigraphs. The town's Ancient Theatre is outside the enclosed area, opposite the Odeon, and dates from the I Oth century. The Acropolis of Gortyna, where important clay figurines were found (triad of naked female deities, twin forms, a statuette of Venus, and others), is located north-west of the Agora. During your tour, you will also come across the Odeon, a building used for performances, which is also quite well preserved today. The large epigraph containing the oldest European code of laws is unique and particularly impressive. It is written from the right to the left in archaic writing, and dates from the 6th to 7th century. Epigraph specialists have called it the queen of all epigraphs. Sections of the epigraph are kept in the Louvre museum in Paris.
The subjects contained in the epigraph are family and inheritance law, sales issues, mortgaging and debt, play , seduction and persons ery.
Within the boundaries of the archaeological site, you will also see the famous old evergreen sycamore tree, a sub-species of the common sycamore. Excellent examples from the period of the dominance of Gortyna can be seen in all the surrounding area.
The church of Agios Georgios is near the Agricultural school. A vaulted geometric tomb dating from the 9th century BC was found there, containing many vessels, earthenware jars and ash-bearing amphorae. The Pretorion was the largest building, 1,000 mz in size. It used to be the residence of officials and the commander of Crete. Its size is apparent from the columns scattered among the impressive olive trees, and from the paved courtyard. Another large monument in Gortyna is the Temple of Pythios Apollo, in the centre of the ancient city. It was built in Roman times, together with a small theatre, very few parts of which have been found. The only sanctuary in Crete dedicated to Egyptian deities, Isis, Serapis and Hermes Anouvis, worshipped in Greek and Roman times, was found here.