3rd century BCE
AE 1.81g
D/ T. l. de Zeus à d.
R/ ΛY Aigle à d., les ailes ouvertes.
Svoronos, Crète, 81, pl. XXII, 12
Lyttos may be the most ancient city in Crete. It’s attested to in ancient Greek records and proclaimed as such by Polybios. A fair portion of their history was occupied in struggles with Knossos, with whom they fought several wars. Knossos eventually destroyed Lyttos in 220 BCE.
Legend has it that Zeus himself was born here, hence the placement of his bust on the obverse. Lyttos itself is mentioned by Homer. It was later colonized by Sparta.
220 BCE-
216 BCE
216 BCE
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.