Melidoni Cave, the same cave of Gerontospilos, is located at an altitude of about 220 meters above sea level between the hills. You can get here by passing through the village with the same name, where you can see a beautiful view of the green valley, mountains and almost 45 residential settlements around.

The cave entrance is an arch height of 2, 5 meters and 4 meters wide and was formed by the collapse of one of the walls . The cave abounds in beautiful bizarre stalactites, illuminated by different colors, as well as narrow winding passages, partially closed . So, to the left of the entrance, before going down to the main hall, there is a small camera called "Old Furnace" . In general, Melidoni is quite complex the system internal chambers and transitions, to a large part of which the entrance for tourists is forbidden . Moreover, most of all visitors of this place are interested in the Hall of Heroes - the central and largest chamber of the cave is 65 meters long and 25-30 meters wide . Its height is about 25 meters .

Numerous finds from different ages, from the Neolithic . were found in the cave chambers. Among them, animal bones, stone axes and double-edged axes, which became the symbol of Crete . Many different religious objects, including lamps, bowls and vessels, dating back more than 2,500 years, suggesting that the cave near Melidoni was the place of origin of religious ceremonies in prehistoric times . coal tracks here date from the period between 3650/3500 and 3000/2900 years before the new era - obviously, it was then that the cave was opened by people . The decoding of the inscriptions on the walls led the scientists to the conclusion that later it was worshiped by Hermes and Zeus himself . According to legend there lived the mythical Talos - the bronze giant, the defender of Crete, created by Zeus daily he obbegat the whole island, to keep order . and still later it served as a place of refuge for shepherds and a refuge for local residents during the war, many of which survived .

But the most famous caves, alas, thanks to the latest, and not ancient history . in 1824 killed 30 soldiers and 370 ordinary villagers in Melidoni martyrdom . This happened during the war with the Turks, when the villagers tried to hide from the invaders in the cave . Turks fired up the fire at the entrance, and everyone inside was suffocated in the smoke . Today the most easily impressed tourists claim that in bizarre drawings stalactites and stalagmites of the cave can be discern a grimace of pain and terror . In the center of the Hall of Heroes set white sarcophagus that holds the ashes of the dead, and next to the entrance to the cave outside the chapel built .

Melidoni Cave Melidoni Cave in the green light

Melidoni's Cave