Polyrrinia

Polyrrinia, a Cretan city that was powerful in the Hellenistic times, was built at the position of the homonymous modern village and its high and steep acropolis had a view both to the Cretan and the Libyan sea.

Despite the lack of finds, it is believed to date back to the prehistoric years. It can be concluded from Stravon’s texts that the city was founded by the Achaeans through the unification of adjacent settlements. It had developed close relations with the cities of the Hellenic area (Sparta, Milos, Rhodes and Thebes) but also with places outside the Hellenic area, like the coasts of Ionia and Egypt.

It was an enemy of Knossos and Kydonia and did not take part in the resistance of the Cretan cities against the Romans, therefore avoiding being looted. In the Roman times it flourished and also took control of the Dictaean temple (Stravon Χ, 479).

(Authors: Vanna Niniou - Kindeli, Aggeliki Tsingou, archaeologists)