Khania (Kydonia). Α Tour to Sites of Ancient Memory

Edited by Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki

City: Khania

Year: 2009

Publisher: Ministry of Culture and Tourism – 25th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities

Description: Paperback, 201 p., colour & b/w ill., 20,7x29,3 cm

From the Preface

The city of Khania is rightly proud to be included among cities with a long history and especially cities where excavations have revealed a continuous habitation in successive occupation layers. It is the only city of modern Crete which digs up so many memories every day and brings to light so many traces of its distant past. Traces erased and erased, like a palimpsest, but always leaving readable and recognizable impression. This is how the reconstitution of the unique architectural palimpsest of the city of Khania began, which has been described as a city of Mediterranean architecture. At the same time, it is one of the most ancient cities of the Mediterranean and the whole of Europe, a description that is supported by the existence of an organized settlement of “urban” character as early as the third millennium B.C.

In a modern city with such density in time and space as Khania, the mission of the Archaeological Service is very difficult. On the one hand it has to succeed in rescuing the antiquities that appear every day from the total destruction that can be caused by modern digging machinery and, on the other hand, it must find ways of highlighting the most important antiquities that come to light. It is a costly, time-consuming and often soul-destroying task of rescuing and making them known. The personal problem of each citizen will always be set against the state’s obligation to rescue the evidence of the course of the city through time. This obligation is only completed when those ancient remains that are deemed suitable to be viewed and visible are made ready and presented to the citizens.  We have already begun to do this in Khania and the present project is the first summary of these efforts, as a result of a collective work of the whole personnel of the 25^th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities. The unwinding of another clew of Ariadne begins with the large amount of archaeological evidence as a mainstay, from 21 spots scattered inside the city, which refer to successive layers, multiple periods, different times and people, to their various activities and which constitute a distant yet direct link to the present and to the future of this land.

Contents

Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, ‘Minoan and Classical antiquities in the city of Khania: A brief history’ [14-29].

Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, ‘Haghia Aikaterini Square. Greek-Swedish excavations’ [32-43].

Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, ‘Lionaki-Vlamaki excavation (15-17, Kanevaro St.)’ [44-49].

Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, ‘“Vakalounaki” excavation (10 Katre St.)’ [50-55].

Eftychia Protopapadaki, ‘“South of the walls” excavations (Junction of Karaoli-Demetriou and Katre St.)’ [56-61].

Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, ‘“Mathioudaki” excavation’ [62-69].

Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, ‘“Papadopoulos” excavation (63 Daskaloyanni Street)’ [70-77].

Michalis Milidakis, ‘“Haghios Rokkos” excavation (Daskaloyanni St.)’ [78-85].

Katerina Tzanakaki, ‘“Melissa” excavation (2 Daskaloyanni St.)’ [86-95].

Efthymia Kataki, ‘“Khania Bank” excavation (Junction of El. Venizelou and Mikhelidaki St.)’ [96-107].

Stavroula Markoulaki, ‘“Peace and Friendship of People Park” excavation (A. Papandreou St.)’ [108-113].

Sophia Preve, ‘“Lendari” excavation (83 A. Papandreou St.)’ [114-119].

Efthymia Kataki, ‘“Manolikaki” excavation (86-88 A. Papandreou St.)’ [120-127].

Stavroula Markoulaki & Vanna Niniou-Kindeli, ‘“Mathioulaki Emm.” Excavation (31 G. Khatzi-Daki St.)’ [128-135].

Angeliki Tsingou, ‘“Mathioulaki Mar.” excavation (31a Khatzidaki St.)’ [136-145].

Vanna Niniou-Kindeli, ‘“Rovlia” excavation (9 Renieri St.)’ [146-151].

Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki & Eftychia Protopapadaki, ‘“Kouklaki” excavation (73-77 Igoumenou Gabriel St.)’ [152-165].

Sophia Preve, ‘“South enclosure of the Holy Church of Apostles Peter and Paul” excavation (69-71 Igoumenou Gabriel St.)’ [166-171].

Sophia Preve, ‘“Rovithaki” excavation (11 Malinou St.)’ [172-179].

Stavroula Markoulaki, ‘“Malefaki” excavation (161 Apokoronou St.)’ [180-185].

Lambrini Limantzaki, ‘“Agricultural Bank” excavation (Junction of Skalidi and Manousso-Yannakidon St.)’ [186-195].

Angeliki Tsingou, ‘“Goniotaki” excavation (32-34 M. Metaxaki St.)’ [196-201].