Temporarily Closed for 2025!!!

The impressive Cave of Zeus, Dikteon Cave, is located above the village of Psychro in the Lassithi Plateau, at an altitude of 1025 meters. In Psychro, there is ample parking space with many restaurants, from which two paths lead to the cave. The hike takes approximately 15 minutes.
The easier path is the one to the left, as the second (older) path has been worn down by thousands of tourists and is slippery. The route to the cave is beautiful, offering a panoramic view of the Lassithi plain. If you don’t want to walk, there are donkeys available to carry visitors to the cave for a small fee.
Next to the cave entrance, there is a kiosk where you can purchase tickets for the cave. The cave, which spans 2200 square meters, is adequately illuminated, and the paths inside are well-maintained, with a total length of 250 meters.

Near the entrance, on the right, there is an antechamber, and further down, the large hall begins. To the southeast of the chamber, there is a large stalagmite formation. Additionally, there are some old and newer buildings. A smaller chamber is located on the northwest side. Moving further into the cave, the visitor enters the large hall, with most of it covered by solid rock and large stalagmites.

In the second section, there is a large and very spectacular folded stalactite, known as the “Mantle of Zeus”. This stalactite has been damaged by visitors to the cave. The entire interior of the hall is decorated with impressive formations, including large columns, stalagmites, stalactites, and curtains, making it one of the most spectacular caves in Crete.

Archaeological Findings

At the end of the 19th century, locals, mainly shepherds and hunters, discovered many archaeological objects in the cave. From then on, a series of excavations began inside the cave, although they were limited in scope. Most of the findings come from illegal excavations and are now housed in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and the Oxford Museum. Unfortunately, because the cave was open to the public over the centuries, it is believed that many significant objects have been removed.

The cave seems to have been used as a place of residence and burial since 2800 BC. It is believed that around 2000 BC, the Dikteon Cave became a place of worship, taking over from the previously most important cave of Trapetza, near the village of Marmaketo. Around 700 BC, it transferred the role of religious significance to the Idaio Cave on Psiloritis. Various stone figures, resembling either humans or animals, appear to have played a significant role in the worship rituals.

In the antechamber, Neolithic pottery shards and Early Minoan tombs were found, while a rectangular altar rises here. Offerings from the worshippers, such as oil, honey, wine, grains, and sacrificed animals, were placed on the altar, and then set on fire. The remains from the burning were not discarded but were collected at the side of the altar.

During excavations, four layers of offerings and ritual items, ash, and bones or horns of animals were found, along with objects from the Neolithic, Minoan, Sub-Minoan, Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman periods, highlighting the long-standing religious use of the cave. In the deepest layer, pieces of stone offering tables were found, one of which bears an inscription in Linear A script. Among the items discovered were small cups, fruit baskets, double bronze axes with their stone bases, stone lamp bases, Clay Kamares vessels, bronze figurines, animal figurines, sword blades, knives, dags, and votive weapons.

In the low chamber, near the entrance, a temple, a paved floor, and a large wall enclosing the area were found. Above the paved area, traces of ash, Late Minoan pithoi, reliefs, bronze weapons, knives, and pins were discovered, as well as a metal religious figurine and Geometric and Archaic votive offerings. In the alluvial deposits of the large hall and among the stalagmites, numerous votive offerings were found, while in various cavities, spear points, dory spearheads, knives, razors, needles, figurines, votive statues, and 18 bronze or copper double axes were unearthed. In the floor’s alluvial deposits, pottery shards, precious stones depicting bulls and goats, necklace beads, small crystal spheres, rings, and bronze, gold, and silver crowns were also found. A distinctive feature here is the absence of iron objects (which are abundant in the ante-chamber) and zodiac symbols. In the mantle chamber, human figurines, double axes, precious jewelry, spears, darts, needles, and more were discovered.

The Worship of Aphrodite and Ariadne

The abundance of weapons and swords found in the cave could suggest that a warlike deity was worshiped there. However, the majority of the findings from the Cave of Psychro (female offerings, hair curlers, needles, spindle whorls, arrows, hairpins, necklaces, etc.) seem to belong to the worship of a goddess rather than a god. Some of the figurines of women with exposed and swollen breasts are of the type of Pandemos Aphrodite. Other findings and offerings are related to the agricultural activities of the donors. Therefore, it is likely that a goddess of Minoan type was worshiped in the cave. Relief representations on a small bronze plate resemble the worship of Uranian Aphrodite.

In Cretan mythology, three heroines were closely connected with the tradition of Minos: Pasiphae, Ariadne, and Phaedra. Many archaeologists believe that Ariadne is more closely associated with the deity of Psychro, and alongside her, her lover Dionysus.

Panida

In the antechamber of the cave, wild pigeons and other bird species nest. In the chambers of the Lower Cave, various species of bats have been observed nesting. Notably, the Mediterranean bent-wing bat and cave-dwelling arthropods stand out.

 

The Myths of the Cave

Most scholars identify the Psychro Cave with the famous “Dictaean Cave” mentioned in mythology, as referred to by Hesiod, where Zeus was born and raised with the help of Amalthea and the Curetes. For this reason, it is also called the Bethlehem of the Ancient World. The same cave is also connected with stories such as that of the prophet Epimenides, who “slept” there, the union of Zeus with Europa, the birth of Minos, the Harpies, and others.

According to the myth, there was a prophecy that Cronus would be killed by his son, which is why Cronus ate his children to protect himself. Therefore, Rhea sought refuge in the Dictaean Cave to secretly give birth to the father of all gods, Zeus, away from Cronus. Rhea deceived Cronus and, instead of the infant, gave him a rock wrapped in the baby’s swaddling clothes to devour. She then left Zeus in the cave to be raised by the Curetes of Dicte, with the care of the goat Amalthea and the nymph Melisse.

According to another myth, entrance to the cave was once forbidden to mortals. However, the cave was home to bees that had produced a great amount of honey. Ignoring the prohibition, four friends—Laius, Cerberus, Cuculus, and Aeglius—entered the cave to collect the honey. They wore bronze armor to avoid bee stings and entered. There, they found the swaddling clothes from the birth of Zeus. Zeus, enraged, struck them with a thunderbolt. However, since no one could die inside the cave, Themis and the Moirai (Fates) transformed the four friends into birds, which are now the laios, cerberus, cuculus, and glaucus.

A secondary legend suggests that King Minos was born in the same cave as Zeus, that is, in the Dictaean Cave.

Another myth states that Minos would visit the Dictaean Cave every nine years, when the orbits of the moon and the sun align. During these visits, he would meet with his father, Zeus, and receive new laws to rule over Crete. This connection between Minos and divine justice is what made him the judge in the Underworld after his death. This myth is a variation of the more widespread one that identifies this cave with the Idaean Cave.

Also, a variation of the well-known myth of Europa states that when Zeus, in the form of a bull, abducted Europa from Phoenicia, he took her to the Dictaean Cave, rather than to Gortyna. There, he revealed his true form to her, and they mated. This union resulted in the birth of Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon.

The Dictaean Cave is the magical cave where, according to tradition, the wise ancient figure Epimenides fell asleep for 57 years. Upon waking, he was the same age but had acquired divine wisdom and knowledge.

According to mythology, the Dictaean Cave was the cave where the Harpies resided. The Harpies were female monsters with the form of birds and the heads of women, and they were messengers of Hades. They are best known for the story of the punishment of Phineas.