Ancient Coin Stories

The necropolis in Orthi Petra, which serves as a burial site for elite citizens, is constructed in Eleutherna.

The Gortyn Code in chiseled into a wall in Gortyna. Its fragments are the second longest Greek inscription remaining.

Aptera attacked and captured by Kydonia.

Eleutherna triggers the Lyttian War by accusing Rhodes of murdering their leader Timarchos.

The Lyttian War is fought between an alliance led by Knossos and one led by Polyrhenion. On the side of Knossos were Rhodes, the Aetolian League, and Kydonia. On the side of Polyrhenion were Lyttos, Macedon, and the Achaian League.

Philipoemen is invited to Gortyna and takes control of its military.

The Aetolian League aids Rome in defeating Philip V in the Battle of Cynoscephalae. Philip pauses for a day at Gonnos for troops who had survived the battle. Several hundred soldiers from Gortyna participate on the Roman side.

The Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus conquers Crete, incorporating it into the Roman Republic. Eleutherna, along with Gortyna, Knossos, and Kydonia, come under Roman rule

Gortyna made the capital of the Roman province of Crete and Carthage.

An earthquake destroys Aptera, Gortyna, Eleutherna, and Knossos on Crete. Alexandria is devastated by a tsunami, and Kyrene is also affected by the same tsunami.