Kommos

Kommos is an archaeological site along the southern coast of Crete featuring extensive ruins of ancient buildings, storage warehouses, and religious structures directly by the sea. The remains reveal the layout of a former harbor settlement with storage facilities and shipyards from Minoan times.

The settlement served as the primary harbor for the Messara region during Minoan times and was an important hub for trade and shipbuilding. Initial excavations began in 1924 when Sir Arthur Evans started uncovering the significance of this ancient port facility.

Pottery found here reveals trading connections with Central Greece, the Cyclades, Cyprus, the eastern Mediterranean, and Egypt in ancient times. These artifacts show that the place was a major hub for exchanging goods between different regions around the sea.

Access to the archaeological site is limited, but visitors can view the ancient structures from the nearby beach area. The location right by the water makes it easy to stop by from the beach and see the historical remains.

This place contains one of the largest stone blocks found in Minoan architecture, used in building coastal warehouses and shipyards. This massive construction demonstrates the technical skill of ancient builders in moving and shaping heavy materials.