Archaic - Classical - Hellenistic Period:
During the ancient years the main city was, without doubt, Knossos. However, there must have been some kind of settlement, north of Knossos, near the city of today, on a hill and at some distance away from the sea with the name Heraklion. Archaeological remains from the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods come to light from time to time in different areas of the old city (areas of Daidalou, Idomeneos, Meramvellou, Xanthoudidou, D.Bofor and Epimenidou sts.), mainly after excavations and earthworks that take place before a new building is erected, under the supervision of the relevant Archaeological Service.
Roman Period:
For this period the information about the city becomes richer. Strabo, (even though he had not visited Crete) reports in "Geographica" that Heraklion was the seaport of Knossos. A great number of important finds of this period mainly come from graves, also from building complexes. The most characteristic of the latter comes from the excavation of the museum's new plot that presented six mosaic floors in very good condition.
First Byzantine Period:
During this period (330 AD to 824 AD) when Crete becomes a ‘thema' (part) of the Byzantine Empire and Gortyna, the administrative, military and religious centre, the settlement was known by the name ‘Castro'. Unfortunately, a lack of evidence of this period and of important archaeological finds, it is difficult for to have a full picture of the town for this period. During these years the whole island was hit by pirate raids and by natural destructions (earthquakes) resulting in the decline and even the disappearance of towns as urban centres.
The Arab Conquest:
In 824 AD, Castro surrendered to its conquerors. After Arab raids and the debarkation of the Arabs themselves onto the island (822 AD-823 AD) resulting in the gradual conquest of Crete. Added to this the fact that the Byzantine state (Empire) suffered continuous disputes and internal upheavals. The town was now known as Rabdh el Khandac, meaning the Fortress of the Trench, as the Arabs built a wall of raw bricks along their settlement and round it they dug a deep trench (Khandaq) to protect it. From this name derived the later ones of Chandakas, of the Second Byzantine period and Candia of the Venetian period. Chandakas became the capital of the island when Gortyna was deserted, occupied an area from Daidalou, Chandakos streets, the sea front, Epimenidou street and part of Freedom Square. The Arabs developed their own civilization on Crete, like those of their contemporaries. They had their own mint, developed metalwork, ceramics and well-built buildings. A lot of information on their architecture and life style has been revealed during the excavation that took place in the old Kastella, east of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
2nd Byzantine Period - The recovery of Crete by the Byzantines:
The Byzantines tried continuously to recover Crete, without any success. In 826 AD, the Byzantine General Krateros attempted a campaign against the Arabs, unfortunately unsuccessfully. The area of battle and the shattering of the Byzantine Army is preserved even today, a few kilometres east of Heraklion, the name of the heroic General (Karteros).
Nikiforos Fokas:
In 960 AD, the General of the Byzantine army and the later Emperor Nikiforos Fokas campaigned against the Arabs. With fully equipped armed forces, he manages to liberate the whole island and to restrict the Arabs into the well fortified Chandakas. After a siege of many months in the spring of 961 AD, a general attack took place by the Byzantine and the mercenary troops that resulted in the successful recovery of the city. Many Arabs were killed or were taken prisoner, during the battle, as victims of the soldiers' brutality despite Nikiforos Fokas' instructions to the contrary. The General himself took the Emir and his family to Constantinople, where they were honoured by the Byzantines. The Emir's son adopted Christianity and served the Emperor. Nikiforos Fokas, on his way out of Chandakas, took with him a large amount of valuable booty that the Arabs had gathered in the town.
Nikiforos Fokas, in his aim to create a new area, more secure for its citizens, since Chandakas was almost flattened, and the fortification wall had, in a big part, been destroyed, built a new fort a few kilometres to the south (near Kanli Kastelli). The new settlers though, did not wish to leave the deserted, destroyed Chandakas, as that city, due to its position, could serve their needs more.
The reconstruction of the city - Megalo Kastro:
A second Byzantine Period starts and will last until 1204 AD. In Chandakas, now known by the name Kastro (term for a fortified city or fortress) is settled by new settlers that came from the elite Byzantine families, the higher lords, the army and the political administrative body. The city was rebuilt almost from the start, public and private buildings were erected, while the fortification wall was repaired and completed and the port organized. The administrative centre must have been situated in the area where, in the later years: the Loggia, the Basilica of St. Mark and the palace of the dukes, were built by the Venetians (around the area of 25th August Street). As far as the Byzantine fortification is concerned, it is almost certain that in many parts, was based on the already existing Arab stone foundation, parts of which came to light after excavations on building plots along Daidalou Street for the erection of new buildings. A characteristic of the fortification wall was the towers and the straight parts between them. The city, during this period, with the fortress and the port from which trade took place with markets outside of Crete, was the most important of the island. It had a growing economy and quite rightly was referred to as Megalo Kastro, a name that is still in the memory of the older Heraklion people.
A very large number of movable finds (coins, excellent samples of glazed ceramic work) has come to light from excavations and earth works in different parts of the city. At the same time, building complexes, two large public baths in Koronaiou and in Chortatson strets, cisterns and graves were uncovered.
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