Many myths and legends exist around the Greek islands. Told in the books of Homer or Plato, these stories are part of the magic of Greece. Known for its beautiful beaches and breathtaking landscapes, it is also home to many archaeological sites, witnesses of its rich past and ancient civilizations that have crossed it. Discover the myths and legends linked to some of the Greek islands.
Known for its heavenly landscapes, Corfu is an island surrounded by ancient legends. Homer, an 8th century poet, mentioned the emerald island several times:
Ulysses, the hero of Homer's Odyssey, is said to have run ashore on the island after his ship was turned into stone by Poseidon. You can also find this stone ship on the Gulf of Paleokastritsa, among the many cliffs. Just above, at the top of the mountain stands the Orthodox monastery of Paleokastritsa. This place would correspond to the place where Nausicaa, daughter of the king of the Phaeacians would have taken Ulysses to his palace.
The island also takes its name from Greek mythology, originally Corfu was named Kerkyra because of Korkyra, a nymph that Poseidon fell in love with and took to the island. Pack your bags and come discover the magical island of Corfu!
Crete, land of many myths
Crete is home to pretty little seaside villages and breathtaking landscapes but it is also an island full of stories.
According to the legend, Gaia, goddess of the earth, predicted to Cronos, god of time, that he would be dethroned by one of his children. He then decided to devour each of his them at birth to avoid this prophecy. Rhea, his wife, used a ruse to counter the ritual and deceived him with a stone wrapped in sheets. This saved child was named Zeus.
Zeus would then have been sent to Crete where he would have taken refuge in the cave of Dikti on the plateau of Lassithi. Later, from his union with Europa, Minos was born. Raised by the king of Crete, this one will become king in his turn after his death. The Minoan civilization takes its name from Minos. In order to prove the legitimacy of his reign, he asked the gods for a sign, and asked Poseidon to send him a bull, in exchange for the sacrifice of the animal. Poseidon granted his request but Minos kept the bull. Poseidon took his revenge on Pasiphae, Minos' wife, who fell in love with the bull and gave birth to the Minotaur. This half-man half-bull creature will be hidden in a labyrinth from which it is impossible to get out.
Athens after its defeat against Crete, had to give as an offering 14 people to the minotaur. Theseus, son of the king of Athens, decided to put an end to this rite and entered the labyrinth and used Ariadne's thread to find the exit after having killed the minotaur.
In these myths we find many existing places that can be visited:
The Palace of Knossos is the main Minoan palace in Crete, the place from which the famous myth of the minotaur and his labyrinth derives.
Every 9 years, Minos took advice from his father during a meeting in a cave, this cave is the Ida cave. Nicknamed the Cave of Zeus, it is here that his mother Rhea would have raised him in the shelter of his father.
The city of Akrotiri, nicknamed the Greek Pompeii, was buried under the ashes of a volcano just like the rest of the island. The city developed extensively during the Bronze Age and was a prosperous center of the Minoan civilization.
Numerous frescoes have been discovered and some of the art objects found during excavations are on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. These discoveries have allowed to depict an advanced civilization, which could correspond to the description made by Plato of the Atlantis people.
If you wish to visit this archaeological site, it is located next to the modern city of the same name.
Delos, a holy island
The island is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. Its numerous archaeological sites attract thousands of visitors every year. Delos would be the island where the twins Artemis and Apollo were born. According to a Homeric hymn, this island of the Cyclades, floating until then, was anchored to the bottom of the sea so that Leto could give birth to her children.
Quieter than Mykonos, the island from which it is located nearby, Delos will delight history and archeology lovers. The main monuments that you can discover are the ancient theater of Delos and the sanctuary of Apollo and its famous sculptures of lions.
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