Gialia

The mythology of ancient Creece (7000 BC) mentions that in this area lay the ancient cities of Phoenix and Lamon which dominated the Libyan Sea up to the Classical

Period. The islands of Gadvos and Gadvopoula, then known as Ogygia, was the realm of women ruled over by the goddess - queen Kalypso whose beauty held the

mythical hero Odysseus enthralledfor seven years before he set out onthe last stage of his journey home. The greatest of the ancient gods, Olympian Zeus, grew up

on the nearby Mount Ida. As a young man he fell in love with the Phoenician princess Europa and in the guise of a pure white bull lured her onto his back the then

absconded with her over the waves to Crete, where he took her and hid her in the palm forest of Preveli. Dionysos, god of wine, ruled the islets of Dionysoi

(Paximadia), and the goddess Artemis with the nymph Vritomartis often hunted in this area.The people of the New Stone Age (6000 - 2800 BC) have left many traces

for as at sites like Kastellos, Katsouni, and Xiro Horio.The Minoan complexes at Monastiraki, Syvrito and the Minoan cemetery at Armenoi are visited today even

though their excavations are not complete; whereas in many other sites digging hasnot even begun.During the 1st Byzantine Period the regular private raids on the

south coast, forced the local inhabitants to fortify their villages on the slopes of the mountains, some distance from the sea. Here, they were safe from surprise

attack and they were also able to keep a better watch on the sea.

The Byzantine Period which followed 1200 AD, was that of the Venetian occupation. In this period many beautiful churches, monasteries, fortresses, bridges and

other structures were built.Many of these were decorated with frescoes, carving, and sculptures by the excellent local artists and artisans. St. Paul the Apostle is

believed to have came ashore in this area. Following his visit a christian community was established which could be regarded as the church's first overseas colony

. This however is disputed.1645 until 1913 was the period of the Turkish occupation. This was a time of great attrition for the area. Since then Crete has been a part

of the Greek state. Some of the finest monuments to befound in the area are the architectural styles contained in the ordinary village houses, the churches and other

buildings of the two monasteries of Preveli ( 14th and 18th centuries), the olivepress of Preveli Monastery, the Venetian fortress at Frangokastello, the Great Brigde

over the Megapotamos and the observation post on the conical hill of Koule just behing Plakias. After 1913, the mining of lignite took place in the area. Mining, of

course, was the profession Kazantzakis' "Zorba the Greek". He is said to have been a visitor to the area known as Gonates. It is also worth noting that the strong and

independent culture of the local people have produced a character that the various conquerors of the island have never been fully able to subdue.In fact, the reverse

is true with many of the conquerors being assimilated into the culture.