Psychro Cave or Cave of Diktaion Andron (Σπήλαιο Ψυχρού)

Psychro Cave

 

Location: Crete Island  Map

 

Description of Psychro Cave

Psychro Cave is one of the most legendary caves on the Crete Island. The legend claims that it was in this cave god Zeus was born by goddess Rhea. She did it in secret from Zeus' father god Kronos. Kronos was prophesized that one of his kids will overthrow him so he went on a wild rampage to kill all his kids. His wife Rhea managed to flee the wrath of her husband and hid in the Psychro Cave. Here Zeus also spent first years of his life. For centuries Psychro Cave drew many Greeks from across the Mediterranean basin. Multitude of peoples came to a sanctuary hidden deep inside the ground. During archeological site scientists discovered several altars devoted to the head of the Olympian Gods. Many figurines, pottery and other pieces were abandoned as sacrifices throughout the Psychro Cave. Today tourists can get to the Psychro Cave by overcoming a fairly steep climb. Impressive stalactites and stalagmites adore the ceiling, walls and floor of the intensive underground passages. If you have enough perseverance you might get to the underground lake, where according to legend Zeus was taking his first bath.

 

At the end of the 19th century, locals, mainly shepherds and hunters, discovered many archeological objects in the cave. Since then, a cycle of excavations began inside the cave, but to a limited extent. Most of the finds come from illegal excavations and are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion and Oxford. Unfortunately, because the cave was open, over the centuries, many important objects are believed to have been removed.

The cave seems to have been used as a place of residence and burial since 2800 BC. It is speculated that around 2000 BC. Dikteo Cave became a place of worship, taking the scepter from the most important cave of the Bank until then, near the village of Marmaketo. Around 700 BC, he handed over the scepters of worship to the Idea Cave of Psiloritis. Various stone or animal-like forms appear to have played an important role in worship.

Neolithic shells and Early Minoan burials were found in the vestibule, while a rectangular altar rises here. The offerings of the pilgrims, such as oil, honey, wine, grains, sacrificial animals, were placed on the altar and then set on fire. The remains from the burning were not thrown away, but were collected on the side of the altar.

In excavations, 4 layers of offerings and items of worship were found, ashes and bones or animal horns and objects from the Neolithic, Minoan, Minoan, Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman years, highlighting its long-standing cultic use. In the deeper layer were found pieces of stone tables of offerings, in one of which there is an inscription Linear writing A '. Among the items found are small cups, fruit bowls, double bronze axes with their stone base, stone lamp legs, clay chamber vessels, bronze figurines, animal dummies, sword blades, knives, swords and votive offerings.

In the lower chamber, near the entrance, a mosque was found, a cobblestone and a large wall enclosing the space. Traces of ash, Late Minoan pits and reliefs, bronze weapons, knives and pins, a metal cult statuette, as well as geometric and archaic votive offerings were found above the cobblestones. Numerous votive offerings were found in the alluvium of the great hall and between stalagmites, while in various pits were found spearheads and spearheads, knives, razors, needles, figurines, votive dummies, 18 bronze or bronze double axes. Pottery shells, gemstones depicting bulls and goats, necklace beads, small crystal spheres, rings and bronze, gold and silver wreaths were also found on the floor. Characteristic here is the absence of iron objects (in the vestibule abound) and zodiac signs. In the mantle chamber were found human figures, double axes, precious jewelry, spears, spears, needles, etc.

The worship of Aphrodite and Ariadne
The abundance of weapons and swords found in the cave could lead to the thought that a war deity was worshiped in it. Most of the finds in the Cave of the Cold (women's votive offerings, hair tweezers, needles, rocket ends, shuttles, hairpins, necklaces, etc.) are more appropriate to worship a goddess, not a god. Some of the statuettes of women with bare and bulging breasts are of the Aphrodite Pandemic type. Other findings and tributes are related to the agricultural activities of the donors. It is therefore possible that a Minoan-type goddess was worshiped in the cave. Reliefs on a small bronze plate are reminiscent of worship of Heavenly Venus.

 

In Cretan mythology, three heroines were closely associated with the tradition of Minos: Pasiphae, Ariadne and Phaedra. Many archaeologists believe that Ariadne is closer to the deity of the Cold, and with her, her lover Dionysus.

Fauna

Wild pigeons and other species of birds nest in the vestibule of the cave. Various species of bats have been observed nesting in the chambers of the Lower Cave. The Mediterranean ottoman and cavernous arthropods stand out.

The myths of the cave
Most scholars identify the Cold Cave with the "Diktaion Andron" known from Mythology, as Hesiod mentions, where Zeus was born and raised with the help of Amalthea and the Kourites. That is why it is also called the Bethlehem of the Ancient World. The same cave was associated with stories such as the soothsayer Epimenides who "slept" here, the union of Zeus with Europe and the birth of Minos, the Harpies, etc.

According to legend, there was an oracle that said that Saturn would be killed by his son, so Saturn ate his children to protect himself. Thus, Rhea resorted to the Diktaion Cave to give birth to the father of all the gods, Zeus, secretly from Saturn. Rhea tricked Saturn and, instead of the baby, let him devour a rock wrapped in the baby's nappies. Then he left Zeus there in the cave to be raised by the Diktaean Kourites, with the care of the goat Amalthea and the nymph Melissa.

 

According to another legend, mortals were once forbidden to enter the cave. However, bees nested in the cave, which had produced too much honey. Contrary to the ban, four friends, Laios, Kerveros, Koukoulos and Aiglios, entered the cave to get the honey. They wore copper armor to avoid stings and entered. Then, in the cave, they found the diapers from the birth of Zeus. Zeus then became angry and struck them with lightning. But because no one could die in the cave, Themis and the Squadrons transformed the four friends into birds, who today are the Lai, the Cerberus, the Cuckoo and the Glaucus.

A secondary legend wants King Minos to have been born in the same cave as Zeus, that is, in the Diktaion Cave.

Another legend states that Minos came to Dikteo Cave every nine years, when the orbits of the moon and the sun converge. Then he met with his father, Zeus, and received the new laws to rule Crete. That is why Minos was associated with absolute justice, a fact that made him a judge in Hades when he died. This myth is a variation of the prevailing one that wants this cave to be the Idea Cave.

Also, a variation of the well-known myth of Europe states that when Zeus, in the form of a bull, stole Europe from Phenicia, he took it with him to the Diktaion Cave, and not to Gortyna. There he revealed his real face to her and they met. Their meeting resulted in the birth of Minos, Radamanthis and Sarpedon.

Diktaio Andro, is the magic cave that according to tradition the sage of antiquity Epimenides fell asleep for 57 years. After waking up, he was the same age but had acquired divine wisdom and knowledge.

According to mythology, Dikteo Cave was the cave where the Harpies lived. The Harpies were female monsters in the form of birds and with the head of a woman who were the messengers of Hades. They are known for the history of Phineas' punishment.