Gortyn, Archaeological site of ancient city in Messara Valley, Greece.
The extensive ruins of Gortyn include Roman baths, temples, a theater, and a Praetorium spread across 45 kilometers south of Heraklion in Crete.
Gortyn served as the capital of the Roman province of Creta et Cyrenaica until its destruction by Arab forces in 828 AD.
The Gortyn Code, discovered in 1884, represents the oldest complete Greek legal text, inscribed in stone blocks at the Odeon site.
The archaeological site maintains regular visiting hours from 8:00 to 15:00 in winter and 8:00 to 20:00 in summer, with tickets priced at 6 euros.
The ruins contain a stone inscription of ancient Greek laws dating to 450 BC, written in a spiral pattern using the Dorian dialect.
Location: Gortyn Municipality
Elevation above the sea: 157 m
GPS coordinates: 35.06007,24.94946
Latest update: May 27, 2025 09:38
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