Mount Ida (Crete)
| Mount Ida | |
|---|---|
| Psiloritis (Timios Stavros) | |
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View of Psiloritis mountains from west
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,456 m (8,058 ft) |
| Prominence | 2,456 m (8,058 ft) |
| Listing | Ultra |
| Coordinates | 35°13′36″N 24°46′21″E / 35.22667°N 24.77250°ECoordinates: 35°13′36″N 24°46′21″E / 35.22667°N 24.77250°E |
| Geography | |
 Mount Ida
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| Location | Crete, Greece |
Mount Ida, known variously as Idha, Ídhi, Idi, Ita and now Psiloritis (Greek: Ψηλορείτης, "high mountain"), at a height of 2,456 m (8,057 feet), is the highest mountain on Crete. Located in the Rethymno regional unit, it was sacred to the Greek Titaness Rhea, and on its slopes lies one of the caves, Idaion Andron, in which, according to legend, Zeus was born. Its summit (Timios Stavros) has the highest topographic prominence in Greece. A natural park which includes Mt. Ida is a member of UNESCO's Global Geoparks Network.
The Skinakas observatory of the University of Crete is located on the secondary peak Skinakas at 1750 m. It has two telescopes including a 1.3 m Modified Ritchey-Chrétien instrument.
Mount Ida is the locus for a race of legendary ancient metal workers (Dactyls), whose roots are also associated with Cyprus.
The Nida plateau is found to the east of the mountain.
On the summit of Ida is the little chapel of the Holy Cross, Timios Stavros.
On the plateau are some shepherd's huts (mitata) built only of local stones, and used both for shelter and for cheesemaking.
In ancient times the Idaean cave, "cave of the Goddess" (Dea) was venerated by Minoans and Hellenes alike. By Greek times the cave was rededicated to Zeus. The cave where Zeus was nurtured is variously stated to be this cave, or another of the same name, or the Dictaean cave.
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