Dictaean (Psychro) Cave: The birthplace of Zeus

This is where Rhea fled to give birth to Zeus in order to save him from his father, Cronus, who was devouring his children to avoid fulfilling the oracle according to which he would die by his son’s hands. Moreover, this is where tradition has it that king Minos himself, son of Zeus and Europa, was born.

By venturing into the depths of the cave, one can easily understand why the Psychro cave has been the source of inspiration for so many myths – it is said that the terrible Harpies, mythical creatures with bird-like bodies and women’s heads, lived in its depths. The almost mystical atmosphere, the uncanny play of light and shadow and the peculiar geological formations often trick the eye and excite the imagination. Perhaps this is why the use of caves as cult centres was particularly widespread in ancient Crete.

There are traces of cult activity from the Early Minoan (2800-2300 BC) up to the Archaic period (7th-6th century BC) in the cave; they are evidenced by the numerous votive offerings left behind by the pious visitors: figurines of animals and gods, shells, tools, jewellery, weapons, seal stones and more. Most of these finds are on display at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

The cave, covering a total of 2,200m², is divided into two sections: the Upper and Lower Cave, which in turn consists of five chambers, with a small lake and spectacular stalagmite and stalactite formations. Indeed, stalactites and stalagmites resembling figures were often turned into objects of worship – in the Lower Cave a large folding stalactite called “Cloak of Zeus” stands out.

The lovely 15-minute walk from the village of Psychro to the cave is an additional reason to visit, as the panoramic view of the Lasithi plain is breathtaking.