DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7519#0040
THE ISLAND 5
of Messara, well watered and one of the most fertile and pro-
ductive parts of Crete. This is separated from the Libyan
sea by the Asterousia range—to-day called Kophinos, which
is pierced at intervals by wild gorges which run down to a
precipitous coast.
Next comes the great mass of Dikte—the modern Lasithio-
tika Vouna (PI. Ill, 1) centring round a high upland plain which
was thickly inhabited in ancient times. There is a flat strip
along the North coast where carob trees flourish, but except
for the Vianos valley the country is rocky and inhospitable
to the South.
East of Dikte is the narrow isthmus of Hierapetra, flat and
low-lying, bounded to the East by the Thriphte mountains
(PI. II, 3). It forms a kind of funnel down which pours the
hot sirocco in May (PI. IV, 3). The mountains between the
isthmus and Sitia extend right across the island, of which this
is one of the wildest parts. Beyond Sitia stretches a high
limestone tableland which reaches as far as the East coast
(PI. IV, 1 and 2).
A feature of the country, which has not yet been mentioned,
is the number of upland plains. Most of them are completely
surrounded by hills, and the water and snow which collects
there during the winter is carried away by natural swallow-
holes, or ywvoi as they are called. The higher plains are
used only in the summer by shepherds. In the White Moun-
tains is the plain of Omalos, about 3,500 feet above the sea, too
high for any but summer habitation, which begins when the
shepherds bring up their flocks in April. It is accessible by
the steep gorge of Agia Roumeli, and by easier passes from
Selinos and the North. Next is Anopolis, only 2,000 feet
high with the ancient city of that name on the ridge to the
South (PI. Ill, 3). Next comes the plain of Nidha, still preserv-
ing the ancient name of Ida (PI. Ill, 2). This is nearly 5,000 feet
in height and is covered with cheese dairies to which the
shepherds resort towards the middle of May. Just above it is
the cave of Zeus. Tracks passable by animals lead down to
Anogeia—near the ancient Axos—Krousonas, the gate of Ida
and a city of refuge in Turkish times, Gergeri, Kamarais, by
a track which leads close to the sacred cave, the Amari valley,
and the Mylopotamos valley.
The plain of Lasithi or Psykhro is less than 3,000 feet in
height and is to-day as in ancient times thickly populated
(PI. Ill, 1). It is accessible from all directions, with the result
of Messara, well watered and one of the most fertile and pro-
ductive parts of Crete. This is separated from the Libyan
sea by the Asterousia range—to-day called Kophinos, which
is pierced at intervals by wild gorges which run down to a
precipitous coast.
Next comes the great mass of Dikte—the modern Lasithio-
tika Vouna (PI. Ill, 1) centring round a high upland plain which
was thickly inhabited in ancient times. There is a flat strip
along the North coast where carob trees flourish, but except
for the Vianos valley the country is rocky and inhospitable
to the South.
East of Dikte is the narrow isthmus of Hierapetra, flat and
low-lying, bounded to the East by the Thriphte mountains
(PI. II, 3). It forms a kind of funnel down which pours the
hot sirocco in May (PI. IV, 3). The mountains between the
isthmus and Sitia extend right across the island, of which this
is one of the wildest parts. Beyond Sitia stretches a high
limestone tableland which reaches as far as the East coast
(PI. IV, 1 and 2).
A feature of the country, which has not yet been mentioned,
is the number of upland plains. Most of them are completely
surrounded by hills, and the water and snow which collects
there during the winter is carried away by natural swallow-
holes, or ywvoi as they are called. The higher plains are
used only in the summer by shepherds. In the White Moun-
tains is the plain of Omalos, about 3,500 feet above the sea, too
high for any but summer habitation, which begins when the
shepherds bring up their flocks in April. It is accessible by
the steep gorge of Agia Roumeli, and by easier passes from
Selinos and the North. Next is Anopolis, only 2,000 feet
high with the ancient city of that name on the ridge to the
South (PI. Ill, 3). Next comes the plain of Nidha, still preserv-
ing the ancient name of Ida (PI. Ill, 2). This is nearly 5,000 feet
in height and is covered with cheese dairies to which the
shepherds resort towards the middle of May. Just above it is
the cave of Zeus. Tracks passable by animals lead down to
Anogeia—near the ancient Axos—Krousonas, the gate of Ida
and a city of refuge in Turkish times, Gergeri, Kamarais, by
a track which leads close to the sacred cave, the Amari valley,
and the Mylopotamos valley.
The plain of Lasithi or Psykhro is less than 3,000 feet in
height and is to-day as in ancient times thickly populated
(PI. Ill, 1). It is accessible from all directions, with the result