Lato, Archaeological site in Agios Nikolaos, Greece.
Lato is an ancient Greek polis on the island of Crete, built across two adjacent hilltops in the interior of eastern Crete. Its stone walls, staircases, a central agora, and temple foundations remain clearly visible, as the site was never built over in later periods.
The city was founded in the 9th century BC by Dorian Greeks and grew into one of the leading urban centers of eastern Crete. Around 200 BC it was abandoned following regional conflicts and was never reoccupied.
The people of Lato worshipped the goddess Eileithyia, and her image appeared on coins minted in this city. The remains of a temple dedicated to her can still be seen at one of the higher points of the site.
The site sits on a hillside and requires sturdy footwear, as the paths are steep and uneven throughout. Arriving early in the morning is a good idea, since there is very little shade and the sun becomes strong quickly.
The agora at Lato is one of the best-preserved agoras in Crete, and it still shows the stepped seating from which citizens could follow public assemblies. These stone steps are arranged in a way that resembles a small theater, which is rare for city centers of this period.
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