South Crete, Creta, Kreta, Krete, Lissos
Lissos is an ancient city in South Crete whose ruins are preserved between Paleochora and Sougia. It has been a very important and flourishing city for many centuries, so it had the power to mint its own coinage called “Lission”, which depicted the head of the goddess Artemis on one side and a dolphin on the reverse.
Lissos is an ancient city in South Crete whose ruins are preserved between Paleochora and Sougia. It has been a very important and flourishing city for many centuries, so it had the power to mint its own coinage called “Lission”, which depicted the head of the goddess Artemis on one side and a dolphin on the reverse.
Lissos was known for its famous Temple of Asklepios (Aesculapium), of Doric order, where a lot of statues were found, among them of Asklepios, the goddess Hygeia and Pluto, and many others with dedications to them. The floor is mosaic, with gorgeous color details, depicting animals and geometrical patterns. The city had water reservoir, theater and spa baths of Roman times. Lissos flourished during the Hellenistic era, as well as during Roman and Byzantine periods. From the Byzantine time ruins of two Christian churches (Basilics) with mosaic floors are preserved. Today there are chapels of the Virgin Mary and St.Kirikos on that site. The Temple of Asklepios was destroyed by a major earthquake, but its mosaic floor is preserved.
