Δικταιον Αντρον

Diktaion Antron - Dictaean Cave - Dictaion Andron - Dhiktean Cave - Cave of Psychro

Useful Information

Location:	Psichro, Crete. 48 km east of Heraklion and 52 km west of Agios Nicholaos, near the village of Psichro. From Psichro 800 m walk, or hire a mule. (35.1628621, 25.4450643)
Open:	APR to OCT daily 8-20. NOV to MAR daily 8-15. Closed 01-JAN, 25-MAR, Easter Sunday, 01-MAY, 25-DEC, 26-DEC. [2022]
Fee:	Adults EUR 6, Children (0-18) free, Students free, Seniors free. 06-MAR, 18-APR, 18-MAY, 29-SEP, 30-SEP, 28-OCT free for all. Parking EUR 2.50, Mule EUR 15. [2022]
Classification:	Karst Cave Greek mythology: Zeus Grown Up in a Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	A=1,025 m asl, T=13 °C, Ar=2,200 m².
Guided tours:	self guided, L=250 m, D=45 min, St=400.
Photography:	allowed, no tripod
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Georgios I. Panagiotakis (1988): The Dictaean Cave, In English, published by the author. 118 pp, SB, numerous photos, some in colour, survey etc. A useful introduction to the cave with 42 refs in the bibliography. Barbara Vessey (1984): Diktaeon Cave, The British Caver, Vol 93 1984. Diktaeon Cave by Barbara Vessey
Address:	Τ.Κ. 72053, Psychros (Prefecture of Lasithi), Tel: +30-28410-22462. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2000-1700 B.C.	inhabited in the Prepalatial Period.
700 B.C.	appeared first in literature.
1415	first exploration by a Florentine monk.
1851	explored by Captain Spratt (of Malta fame).
1886	archaeologists Joseph Chatzidakis and F. Halbherr visit the cave.
1897	explored by A. Evan.
1899	explored by the British archaeologist D. G. Hogarth and by J. Demargne.
1939	explored by Pendelbury.
1999	electric light installed.

Description

Δικταίον Αντρον (Diktaion Antron, The Dictaean Cave) is overlooking the Lassithi Plateau, the view from the cave entrance is marvelous. And it is interesting karst geology, the "plateau" is actually a polje. But it is also known as Σπήλαιο Ψυχρού (Σπήλαιο Ψυχρού, Cave of Psychro), after the village Psychro nearby. By the way, Psychro translates "cold", but the cave is not the Cold Cave, it was named after the village.

According to greek mythology, Rhea hid the baby Zeus from the murderous Cronos in this cave. But this is one of two caves claiming to this cave from mythology, the other one is Cave Idaion Andron. The story about Zeus is told here: Book Zeus Grown Up in a Cave. This cave is also the place of a second story, where Zeus many years later met Europe.

Archaeologists have uncovered many icons and votive symbols, confirming that the cave was an important place of worship during the Minoan era. In the background of the cave is a small pond, where - according to myth - Zeus bathed and around which most of the offerings were found. The excavations were carried out by the English archeologist David Hogarth. The finds are scattered in museums all over the world from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford to the Louvre in Paris, France. Numerous findings can be seen in the archaeological museum of Heraklion.

The huge cave portal allows the sunlight into the first chamber. The trail goes down a debris slope to the cave floor. The entrance chamber is followed by two more chambers which are well decorated with speleothems, mostly stalactites and stalagmites. One chamber contains an underground lake.