Anemospilia, Minoan temple ruins on Mount Juktas, Greece

Anemospilia is a Minoan temple on the northern slope of Mount Juktas, about 7 km from Knossos near Archanes. Its stone walls stand only to hip height. The building has three chambers and an annex that leads into them; the central chamber holds a rock-cut altar with clay feet from a burnt wooden idol, and the east chamber a stepped altar.

The temple was discovered in 1979 by Greek archaeologists Yannis and Efi Sakellarakis and dates to the Minoan period. The site was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in the mid-17th century BCE.

The name Anemospilia means "caves of the wind". In the east chamber, traces of milk, honey, grains and peas were found at the bottom of pithoi, and some reconstructed vessels carry a carved scene of a religious ritual. In the central chamber, libations were poured over a mound of hillside rock representing the earth, one of the three eternal elements alongside sea and sky.

Visiting this site requires advance permission from the local archaeological authority that can be obtained by contacting +30 2810 752712. Planning your visit in advance will help you understand current access conditions and timing for your trip.

The 40 cm engraved knife found with the bound 18-year-old is disputed: Dennis Hughes argues it is an ornate spearhead that likely fell from a shelf above the body, and that the platform was not an altar.