Leben, Archaeological site and sanctuary in southern Crete, Greece.

Leben, also called Lebena, was an ancient port town on Crete's south coast, now near the village of Lentas. Its ruins climb the slopes north of a 280-metre-wide bay between Cap Leontas and Cap Psamidomouri, and include remains of the Asklepieion, a healing sanctuary of Asclepius.

The site developed as a port town and harbor serving ancient Gortyna, playing a key role in maritime trade and communication. This connection to the inland settlement made it a strategic point for the movement of goods and people across the region.

The sanctuary of Asclepius at Leben was founded by the Gortynians, probably at the beginning of the 4th century BC, and adopted the rules and cult practices of the central sanctuary at Epidaurus. Pausanias instead called it a Cyrenian foundation, since goats were sacrificed there as at Cyrene. The cult followed an older worship of Acheloos and the nymphs, gods with healing powers.

The site sits along the coast near Lentas and can be explored on foot, though sturdy shoes are helpful for walking on uneven ground. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for visiting, as the location gets significant sun exposure.

Three Egyptian scarabs from the late 11th or early 12th Dynasty were found in the nearby Papoura and Gerokambos tombs. They are kept in the archaeological museum in Iraklio and help align the late prepalatial period of Crete with Egyptian chronology.