Gortys

The first site we saw on Crete was Gortys, which was a flourishing Minoan town between 1600-1100 BC. The most fascinating part of Gortys is the Code of Law, which is the oldest and most complete known example of ancient Greek law, discovered in 1884. It was also at Gortys that Andreas told us the myth of Europa and Zeus. According to Greek Mythology, Gortys was the site of Zeus’ affair with princess Europa, which the continent has been named after. Zeus takes Europa from Lebanon discussed as a bull and has an affair under a tree that still lives in Gortys today. From their union three sons were born who became the kings of the three Minoan Palaces in Crete.