Greek Island of Crete
Greece is one of the world’s most popular tourist hotspots. Visitors come to explore Greek Island & its towns, sample its cuisine, and relax in the Mediterranean climate. The country also attracts history buffs fascinated by mythology, and many locations in Greece are part of this rich heritage. The Greek Island of Crete is particularly popular due its connection to Zeus, the god of thunder.
Greek Island of Crete
The Famous Myth
Greek God Kronos (Image by Unknown – Dr. Vollmers Wörterbuch der Mythologie aller Völker, third edition Stuttgart 1874, S. 406-407.online, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15175174)
Two caves close to Zeus’ origin story are the Ideon and Dikteon caves on the Greek Island of Crete. According to the myth, when Zeus’ father, Kronos, became paranoid about a prophesy of his children overthrowing him as chief of the gods, he ate all of them except for one. Kronos’ wife, Rhea, was able to save Zeus from a certain death by hiding him in a cave in Crete. Today, both the Ideon and Dikeon Caves contest the honor of being known as the hiding place of Zeus.
Greek Island of Crete is famous for the myth of Kronos eating his children. This famous myth of Greek mythology has been depicted by some of the world’s most famous artists. Francisco Goya famously painted the scene in his series of “Black Paintings”. In modern media, both Kronos and Zeus have recently been depicted in the film Wrath of Titans and the video game series God of War, with each one showing a different design of the character. Foxy Bingo in their game Kronos use the classic Greek depiction of the god, the man of authority with the long hair and beard, that can be found on ancient artifacts. The story of Zeus being kept in the caves has been an intriguing subject for those who appreciate Greek mythology, and it is for this very reason that people keep visiting the Greek Island of Crete. The caves are still intact and tourists can see them by taking a tour.
Ideon Caves
Ideon Cave (Image credit: Pinterest)
Ideon Cave, also known as the Cave of Zeus, on Mount Ida was hollowed out as early as 4000 BC. Upon entering, travelers will find themselves in the main chamber that is 40 meters long and 50 meters wide. In the past, Ideon was used as a place of worship. Today, tourists can visit the cave on the Greek Island and enjoy its rich history via guided tours.
Dikeon Caves
Dikteon Cave (Image credit: Pinterest)
Dikteon Cave is just as important as Ideon Cave. Like Ideon, Dikteon was used as a place of worship. Dikteon Cave lies at an altitude of 1025 meters on the northern slopes of Mount Dicte. The cave is also near the village of Psychro, which is why it is also informally known as Psychro Cave. Compared to Ideon, it is much more impressive and popular.
Important places associated with Zeus
Mount Juktas (Image credit: Wikipedia)
There are plenty of other places associated with Zeus on Greek Island of Crete, and one of the most popular is Mount Juktas. It is a mountain in north-central Crete that houses one of the most important peak sanctuaries in the Minoan world. The Ancient Greeks believed that Zeus’ final resting place was at the foot of the mountain.
Palace of Knossos (Image credit: Wikipedia)
Another must visit is the ancient historical site of the Palace of Knossos. This site is one of the most important archeological sites in Greece, and is the largest Bronze Age ruin on the Greek Island of Crete. According to mythology, the palace’s labyrinth was the living quarters of the minotaur — a powerful creature that came from a bull that Zeus once sent to Queen Pasiphae. Tourists can visit the palace, and see Greek heritage displayed in the 15 century BC throne room.
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