Mount Ida ( el, Ἴδα), known variously as Idha, Ídhi, Idi, and Ita (the massif including the mountain is called Psiloritis, el, Ψηλορείτης), is the highest
mountain
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited Summit (topography), summit area, and ...
on the island of
Crete
Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...
, with an elevation of . It has the highest
topographic prominence
In topography, prominence (also referred to as autonomous height, relative height, and shoulder drop in US English, and drop or relative height in British English) measures the height of a mountain or hill's summit relative to the lowest contou ...
of any mountain in
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
.
A
natural park which includes Mount Ida is a member of
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
's
Global Geoparks Network
UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) are geoparks certified by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council as meeting all the requirements for belonging to the Global Geoparks Network (GGN). The GGN is both a network of geoparks and the agency of the United Nati ...
.
Located in the
Rethymno regional unit, Ida was sacred to the
Titaness
In Greek mythology, the Titans ( grc, οἱ Τῑτᾶνες, ''hoi Tītânes'', , ''ho Tītân'') were the pre-Olympian gods. According to the ''Theogony'' of Hesiod, they were the twelve children of the primordial parents Uranus (Sky) and Ga ...
Rhea in
Greek mythology
A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the Cosmogony, origin and Cosmology#Metaphysical co ...
. On its slopes lies one of the caves, ''Idaion Antron'', the Idaean Cave, in which, according to legend, the god
Zeus
Zeus or , , ; grc, Δῐός, ''Diós'', label=Genitive case, genitive Aeolic Greek, Boeotian Aeolic and Doric Greek#Laconian, Laconian grc-dor, Δεύς, Deús ; grc, Δέος, ''Déos'', label=Genitive case, genitive el, Δίας, ''D ...
was born. Other legends, however, place his birthplace in
Psychro Cave
Psychro Cave ( el, Σπήλαιο Ψυχρού) is an ancient Minoan sacred cave in Lasithi plateau in the Lasithi district of eastern Crete. Psychro is associated with the Diktaean Cave ( el, link=no, Δικταῖον Ἄντρον; ''Diktaion ...
on the
Lasithi Plateau
The Lasithi Plateau ( el, Οροπέδιο Λασιθίου, ''Oropedio Lasithiou''), sometimes spelt Lassithi Plateau, is a high endorheic plateau, located in the Lasithi regional unit in eastern Crete, Greece. Since the 1997 Kapodistrias reform, ...
.
An archaeobotanical study was conducted that looks at the different plant bases in Minoan villas during the Neo-palatial time period in Crete. There was a rich range of food plants that were found to contain essential nutrients like carbohydrates, protein and vitamin sources.
The study took place on Mount Ida, at the Minoan villa of Zominthos.
Features
The Psiloritis is located on the
water divide
A drainage divide, water divide, ridgeline, watershed, water parting or height of land is elevated terrain that separates neighboring drainage basins. On rugged land, the divide lies along topographical ridges, and may be in the form of a singl ...
between the southern part of Crete, which drains to the
Libyan Sea
The Libyan Sea (Greek , Latin ''Libycum Mare'', Arabic البحر الليبي) is the portion of the Mediterranean Sea north of the African coast of ancient ''Libya'', i.e. Cyrenaica, and Marmarica
(the coast of what is now eastern Libya and ...
, and the northern basin facing the
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea ; tr, Ege Denizi (Greek language, Greek: Αιγαίο Πέλαγος: "Egéo Pélagos", Turkish language, Turkish: "Ege Denizi" or "Adalar Denizi") is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Asia. It ...
. A saddle at 2,321 m East of the summit connects it with
Mount Agathias
Mount Agathias ( el, Αγκαθιάς), at 2,424 m, is one of the highest mountains on Crete.
Features
Located in the Rethymno (regional unit), Rethymno regional unit, the Agathias stands close to the Psiloritis, the highest summit of Mount I ...
,
while westwards the ridge continues with Mount Stolistra (2,336 m)
The
Skinakas Observatory
Skinakas Observatory ( el, Αστεροσκοπείο Σκίνακα) is an astronomical observatory located on the eponymous peak of Psiloritis, on the island of Crete, Greece. It has a 1.3 m modified Ritchey–Chrétien telescope and a 0.3 m ...
of the
University of Crete
The University of Crete (UoC; Greek: Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης) is a multi-disciplinary, research-oriented institution in Crete, Greece, located in the cities of Rethymno (official seat) and Heraklion, and one of the country's most aca ...
is located on the secondary peak
Skinakas at 1750 m. It has two telescopes including a 1.3 m Modified Ritchey-Chrétien instrument.
The
Nida plateau is found to the east of the mountain. On the plateau are some shepherd's huts (''
mitata
Mitata is a small village in the middle of Kythira, it is a municipality of areas such as Prininiadika and Sklavinika.
History
In 2006, an earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surfa ...
'') built only of local stones, and used both for shelter and for cheesemaking. On the northeast of the mountain, beneath Skinakas Peak, the site of the observatory, is Vromonero Plateau, the site of a holly and maple grove, with many endemic and endangered species. It, along with the access road through Halasia Gorge, and the starting point at
Krousonas
Krousonas ( el, Κρουσώνας) is a village and a former municipality in the Heraklion regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Malevizi
Malevizi ( el, Μαλεβίζι) is a munici ...
, has been defined as a
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, respectively ...
protected area, Krousonas - Vromonero Idis, ID GR4310009.
Zominthos is a plateau that is located in the northern foothills of Mount Ida. On the plateau is the highest altitude Minoan villa ever found, the Minoan villa of Zominthos.
The Kamares Cave is an Ancient Greek sanctuary located on Mount Ida. During the excavation of the cave, numerous pieces of pottery, like vases, were found in the cave. Based on the condition and pattern of the vases, it is known that the pieces of pottery were crafted by peasants at the time. Typically, Cretan pottery is known to have a polychrome ornament, and a black base. The Kamares Cave was not fully excavated however until 1913. The findings gave real insight into Ancient Greek life in relation to Mount Ida.
Mythology
Dactyls
Ida is the locus for a race of legendary ancient metal workers, the Dactyls.
Idaean Cave
In ancient times the Idaean cave, "cave of the Goddess" (''Dea'') was venerated by
Minoans and
Hellenes
The Greeks or Hellenes (; el, Έλληνες, ''Éllines'' ) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions, namely Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and, to a lesser extent, other ...
alike. By Greek times the cave was rededicated to
Zeus
Zeus or , , ; grc, Δῐός, ''Diós'', label=Genitive case, genitive Aeolic Greek, Boeotian Aeolic and Doric Greek#Laconian, Laconian grc-dor, Δεύς, Deús ; grc, Δέος, ''Déos'', label=Genitive case, genitive el, Δίας, ''D ...
. The cave where Zeus was nurtured is variously stated to be this cave, or another of the same name, or the
Dictaean cave
Psychro Cave ( el, Σπήλαιο Ψυχρού) is an ancient Minoan sacred cave in Lasithi plateau in the Lasithi district of eastern Crete. Psychro is associated with the Diktaean Cave ( el, link=no, Δικταῖον Ἄντρον; ''Diktaio ...
.
Votive seals and ivories have been found in the cave. Like the
Dictaean cave
Psychro Cave ( el, Σπήλαιο Ψυχρού) is an ancient Minoan sacred cave in Lasithi plateau in the Lasithi district of eastern Crete. Psychro is associated with the Diktaean Cave ( el, link=no, Δικταῖον Ἄντρον; ''Diktaio ...
, the Idaean cave was known as a place of initiations. It may have served as the site of an
oracle
An oracle is a person or agency considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. As such, it is a form of divination.
Description
The word '' ...
, symbolized by the frequent depiction of a
tripod
A tripod is a portable three-legged frame or stand, used as a platform for supporting the weight and maintaining the stability of some other object. The three-legged (triangular stance) design provides good stability against gravitational loads ...
on coins of nearby
Axos
Axus or Axos ( grc, Ἄξος), also Oaxus or Oaxos (Ὄαξος) and Waxus or Waxos (Ϝάξος), was a city and ''polis'' (city-state) of ancient Crete. According to Virgil, it was situated on a river; which, according to Vibius Sequester, gave ...
, which presumably controlled the territory around the cave.
[Ustinova, noting Capdeville 1990, and, critically, Prent 2005:568.]
Gallery
File:Idian-Cave-20070814-059834.jpg, Mouth of the Idaean Cave
File:Psiloritis, east ridge.jpg, East ridge of summit Ida.
File:Nida Plateau - Mitata.jpg, Shepherd's hut (''mitato
Mitato ( el, μιτάτο, archaic form: , from la, metor, "to measure off/to pitch camp") is a term meaning "shelter" or "lodging" in Greek.
Appearing in the 6th century, during the Byzantine period it referred to an inn or trading house for for ...
'') on Nida Plateau, eastern side of Mt Ida
File:Skinakas observatory.JPG, Skinakas Observatory
Skinakas Observatory ( el, Αστεροσκοπείο Σκίνακα) is an astronomical observatory located on the eponymous peak of Psiloritis, on the island of Crete, Greece. It has a 1.3 m modified Ritchey–Chrétien telescope and a 0.3 m ...
File:ΙΔΗ ΑΝΩΓΕΙΑ 1.jpg, Near Anogeia
Anogeia (Ανώγεια) is a municipality in the Rethymno regional unit, Crete, Greece. The municipality has an area of ., excluding the former municipal departments Axos and Zoniana. Population 2,379 (2011).
When exactly Anogeia was founded and ...
See also
*
Idaea
Idaea or Idaia (Ancient Greek: Ἰδαία) is the name of several figures in Greek mythology, it means "she who comes from Ida" or "she who lives on Ida", and is often associated with Mount Ida in Crete, and Mount Ida in the Troad.
Figures
T ...
*
Mount Kedros
Mount Kedros ( el, Όρος Κέντρος, also Κέδρος), is a mountain on the island of Crete in Greece. It is located southwest of the Ida massif with which it forms the two flanks of the Amari Valley. Mount Kedros is conical-shaped and m ...
References
External links
Greek Mountain Flora
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ida Mount
Two-thousanders of Greece
Mountains of Crete
Landforms of Rethymno (regional unit)
Landforms of Heraklion (regional unit)
Geography of ancient Crete
Natura 2000 in Greece
Sacred mountains
Rhea (mythology)
Zeus