Heraklion, Crete’s capital and Greece’s fourth biggest city, stands proudly overlooking the Cretan sea.

The various landmarks in the city, the fortification walls, the fountains from the past are reflecting the flares of its adventurous past in the previous centuries.

Heraklion was Crete’s main harbor from prehistoric times. The Greek geographer Strabo (64 BC – 21 AD) mentions in his Geography the port or Heraclium. This name most probably is a tribute to Hercules, who completed one of his labours in Crete.

The Arabs invaded Crete in 822 or 823 and gradually managed to dominate Crete, while Heraklion fell in 827 or 828, named Rabdh el-Khandaq (Fortress with a Moat)
Eventually this name became Chandakas or its Latinized version Candia.

In 961, the Byzatine Fleet recaptured Chadax finally liberating Crete from the Arabs.

The possible site and size of the enceinte Chandax in the second Byzantine Period (Multimedia Lab) – Courtesy of http://history.heraklion.gr/

Crete was conquered by Venice in 1211, and Chandax was made the capital of Venetian Kingdom in Crete.

The Venetian town in the mid-17th century (Hans Rudolf Werdmueller, Historical Museum of Crete, SCHS) – courtesy of history.heraklion.gr

In 1648 the longest siege of Candia began, which lasted 21 years. On October 4th, 1669, the Ottoman troops entered the city.

*Fresco found in a Turkish house, depicting Chandax occupied by the Turks (Historical Museum of Crete, SCHS, Heraklion) – courtesy of history.heraklion.gr *

The Ottomans ruled the island for the next two centuries. The Official name of the city remained Kandiye (Candia) but informally in Greek the name would be called ‘Megalo Castro’ Big Castle’ and the citizens Kastrinoi, which is a name still heard to these days.

After Crete’s autonomous rule (between 1898 and 1913), Crete regained its ancient name of Heraklion and joined the Greek State in 1913.

View of Heraklion from the walls, showing the Cathedral of Agios Minas, 1900 (R. Behaeddin, Vikelaia Municipal Library) Courtesy of history.heraklion.gr

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