Archaeological site of
Phourni at Archanes
Excavations at Phourni have
brought to light 26 buildings, most of which had funerary use. The cemetery
was used from 2400 B.C. until 1200 B.C. and each complex had more than
one architectural phase. Most of the funerary buildings were used for many
decades and contain successive burials
The most important monuments
of the site are:
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Mycenaean Grave Enclosure.
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Tholos Tomb A.
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Building 4
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Tholos Tomb B.
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Funerary Building 6.
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Funerary Building 3.
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Tholos Tomb C.
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Funerary Building 19.
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Tholos Tomb E.
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Tholos Tomb D.
Tickets:Free admission
Anemospelia
 Rectangular
building with three narrow chambers, each opening into a long corridor
to the north, which extends along the whole width of the building.
The area is enclosed with
a stone wall and the whole structure has been interpreted as a shrine;
in the central room was found a "xoanon" (statue) of the deity worshiped
here. In the west room, where the altar stood, was uncovered, according
to the excavator, the first human sacrifice to have ever taken place in
Minoan times.
The building at Anemospelia
was used for only half a century, as it was suddenly destroyed by an earthquake
in the middle of the 17th century B.C.
The "Minoan Megaron" at
Nirou was excavated in 1918 by St. Xanthoudides. In 1960, under the supervision
of the Ephor of Antiquities N. Platon, the site was fenced and the building
restored. The monument is consolidated and cleared at intervals by the
23rd Ephorate.
The site was excavated in
the summer of 1979 by John Sakellarakis. The walls of the building have
been consolidated.
The School at Ano Archanes
An excellent specimen of
a specialized building, one of the first structures erected during the
period of the Cretan State. It was designed by the architect Salivero,
one of Prince George's officials. The plans were completed in 1901 and
the construction was accomplished thanks to donations of rich Archanians
living in the U.S.A. The building is Pi-shaped in plan, has two storeys
and a basement, it is built of stone and its roof is partially wooden and
covered with tiles. It is a monumental but well balanced structure with
many harmonic and elegant Neoclassical features.
Since its construction,
the building has been used as a school. During the German occupation it
housed General Muller's division.
The building was repaired
by the 7th Ephorate during 1990-1995. |
