Palaikastro Archaeological Site

World Monuments Watch
Palaikastro, Greece

2002 and 2004 World Monuments Watch

Located on the eastern shore of Crete, Palaikastro is the only Minoan city to have survived intact – its harbor, outlying settlements, and sanctuaries preserved under 2,000 years of sediment. According to legend it was here that the Diktaian Zeus, the Cretan equivalent of the Greek god of wine, Dionysos, was born and where he built his holy city. Evidence of his worship includes a rare 3500-year old statuette of the god in gold and ivory, and the recent discovery of what may be a temple dedicated to his cult. Natural erosion and the rise in sea level have plagued this coastal site. Last winter, heavy rains brought down the remains of a temporary shelter erected in 1990 to protect a particularly fragile building. The site's most pressing threat, however, is that posed by the development of a tourist complex at Cape Plako, an area that includes Minoan quarries. An access road to reach the resort area is planned through the ancient city. Listing in 2002 convinced the current mayor and governor of Crete to be more supportive of on-site preservation efforts. However, to protect the site into perpetuity, measures must be taken to stem costal erosion, shelters need to be installed to protect exposed remains, and a public advocacy campaign must be launched to minimize the impact of tourism development in the area.

Last updated:
July 2004

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