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Iraklion Greece: A city on the island of Crete

By: S Pappas

Iraklion or Eraklion Crete is one of the largest cities of the Greek island of Crete. Because of its ideal location in the Aegean Sea, this is another Cycladic city with a long history of invasions, uprisings and frequent change of hands.

Iraklion Greece was built on the port that was used by the largest known Minoan population center on the island of Crete or Creta, at Knossos. The port has been in use at least since 2000 BC. The present city was founded in 824 AD by the Saracens, Arabic Muslim peoples, who dug a moat around their settlement. And they named it Andaq, which means moat. Andaq was a safe haven for pirates, which offended the Byzantine Empire. In 961 a Byzantine invasion led to the slaughter of all Saracens.

Tied to the politics of the Fourth Crusade, Crete or Creta Greece - including Iraklion - became Venetian. The Venetians improved the city's protective moat with enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place. They also built a fortress in the harbor. Andaq, which had become Kandaq through time, now became Candia to the Italians, who sometimes referred to the whole island as Candia.

Venetians were ousted by Turkish invaders after a bloody 22 year war. Venice ceded the city in 1669, and the city as well as the island became known as Kania. During the time of the Turkish reign, Iraklion's harbor in Crete silted up. The Turks moved to the west part of the today greek island, and the city has had a relatively peaceful history ever since.

Iraklion Crete became an independent city in 1898, then joined the Greek kingdom in 1913. That was when Andaq/Kandaq/Kania was renamed Iraklion, sometimes spelled Heraklion or Eraklion Greece. This, the City of Heracles, was renamed for the ancient Roman port of Heracleum that had once existed in the area.

Today Iraklion or Heraklion Crete In Greece is home to an international airport in Crete. It is the island's most important shipping port as well as docking point for ferries that serve much of Greece. Iraklion of Heraklion is the major business center and a major cruise destination. This busy city has a lot of traffic, which looks out of control to visitors! The city is known for its shops, its designer fashions, and local produce. Iraklion's Saturday Market, a farmers market featuring a kilometer of fresh fruit and vegetable displays, was held in the port area for a long time. The market was recently relocated to a suburb, to the great disappointment of some.

In Crete Iraklion's Archaeological Museum offers exhibits and education spanning several thousand years of history, beginning with the Minoan culture. There is a Battle Museum, and a beloved Natural History Museum which shares the flora, fauna, the wildlife of the island. The city's largest monument is Rocca al Mare, the Venetian fortress in the port.

Iraklion Creta or eraklion might be best known for the near by Knossos. About a 20 minute ride out of town, a man named Arthur Evans restored the Minoan palace in Crete. Visiting Knossos Greece in Crete is probably the closest modern people can get to experiencing and understanding the culture and daily the life of the Minoan civilization.

by S Pappas greekinfo@gmail.com

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