Gortyna
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Gortyn Γόρτυνα |
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 Gortyn
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Location within the region
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| Coordinates: 35°03′45″N 24°56′49″E / 35.0626273819368°N 24.9468095785076°ECoordinates: 35°03′45″N 24°56′49″E / 35.0626273819368°N 24.9468095785076°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Crete |
| Regional unit | Heraklion |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 464.8 km2 (179.5 sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 158.3 km2 (61.1 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Municipality | 15,632 |
| • Municipality density | 34/km2 (87/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 4,716 |
| • Municipal unit density | 30/km2 (77/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
Gortyn, Gortys or Gortyna (Greek: Γόρτυν, Γόρτυς, or Γόρτυνα, pronounced [ˈɣortina]) is a municipality and an archaeological site on the Mediterranean island of Crete, 45 km away from the modern capital Heraklion. The seat of the municipality is the village Agioi Deka. Gortyn, the Roman capital of Creta et Cyrenaica, was first inhabited around 3200 BC.
It is located in the valley of Messara in the south of the Psiloritis mountain, in the current position of the settlements of Metropolis and Agioi Deka, and near the Libyan Sea.
The municipality Gortyna was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:
The municipality has an area of 464.841 km2 (179.476 sq mi), the municipal unit 158.310 km2 (61.124 sq mi).
There is evidence of human occupation in Gortyn as far back as the Neolithic era (7000 BC). Many artifacts have been found from the Minoan period, as well as some from the Dorian (c. 1100 BC). Although it is disputed whether the city was in development during the Minoan period, it is true that the city was in existence during the heroic times, because it is referenced by Homer, among the cities of Crete that were flourishing and were well fortified. The city was complimented by Plato and many others. The city of Gortyn surpassed the prominence of Phaistos during the first millennium BC, Phaistos having been the most significant city on Crete during Minoan times. The period of its great prosperity, however, coincided with the Hellenistic era. Gortyn was the most powerful and prosperous city of Crete and took hegemony of the island, dominating the entire valley from Messara to Levina and, later in the 2nd century after the destruction of Phaistos, extended its power to Matala.
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Wikipedia