Description of the attraction
Not far from the small picturesque village of Kritsa (about 3 km) and 15 km from Agios Nikolaos are the ruins of the ancient city of Lato. This Dorian city-state was one of the most important and powerful settlements in Crete and a major trading port. It is believed that the city got its name in honor of the goddess Leto (in Dorian it sounds like "Lato").
Ancient Lato was located next to the Mirabello Bay in a valley between two hills, on the tops of which the city's acropolis were located. Lato was probably built in the 7th century BC. (and possibly even earlier), although the ruins found by archaeologists date back to 5-4 centuries BC. This period is precisely the peak of the heyday of the ancient state. The city had its own coinage with the image of the goddess Ilithia, very revered in the region. The city was destroyed around 200 BC. True, its harbor, located near modern Agios Nikolaos, was also used during the period of Roman rule.
Some research in this area was carried out by the scientist A. Evans in 1894-1896. Systematic excavations in these places began in 1899-1901 under the leadership of the French school of archeology. The main city gates were discovered, well preserved to our times, and a staircase of eighty steps leading to the Agora, in the center of which was a small sanctuary. A large city temple is located to the south of the Agora. Also, a monumental complex was excavated, reminiscent of an ancient theater, where members of the city assembly probably sat. Remains of stone walls, ruins of residential buildings, shops and workshops have also been preserved.
The ruins of the ancient city of Lato are an important archaeological site in Greece.
