The archaeological excavation of 1936 revealed findings of great archaeological value from the Neolithic, Proto-Minoan, Middle Minoan, Hellenistic, and Byzantine periods. The most significant discoveries include scarabs from the 11th Pharaoh Dynasty, as well as an ivory figurine and other items that indicate established relationships with the countries of the Near East, particularly Egypt.
The Kronio Cave, or Table Cave, may not have the prestige of the Dictaean Cave nor its size, but it hides within its depths a significant mythological and historical past. It is located on Castle Hill, at an altitude of over 800 meters, between the village of Marmaketo and Tzermiado. According to myth, this is where Cronus, the god of time, was born.
Signs easily guide you to the location, from where, via a set of stairs, you reach the small entrance of the cave. Although its size is not vast, a flashlight is essential to admire the decoration inside, which has unfortunately been damaged by human presence.
After entering the cave, two small chambers open up before you, with easy access and no significant slopes on the ground.
The stalagmitic and stalactitic formations leave your imagination free to create images, which are further enhanced by the cave’s history. Evidence of habitation from the Neolithic period has been found within the cave, and there are also indications suggesting that it functioned as a place of worship as well as a burial site.
Indeed, during the excavations conducted in 1936 by the British archaeologist John Pendlebury, significant findings were uncovered within the cave, spanning from the Neolithic period to the Byzantine era. Among the discoveries were ivory figurines, scarabs from the 11th Egyptian Dynasty, which indicate contacts with Egypt, as well as sheets of gold.
The view from the hill where the cave is located is magnificent, overlooking the plain of the Plateau. You can enjoy this breathtaking panorama from benches that have been placed to the right of the entrance, nestled between the pine trees that dominate the area.
