The antiquities of Eleftherna

The City of Eleftherna was established in the Geometric period (c970-820BC) and survived for almost 2,000 years, until it was sacked during the Arab invasion in 980AD.

In its early days, Eleftherna achieved great eminence and despite its distance from the sea established itself as a major maritime power (its port was Pantomatrio - which is now the resort of Panormo) but even so, during the war of 220BC it was allied with Knossos in that city's effort to subjugate the states to the west, such as Lappa and Lyttos. When those cities secured the assistance of Philip V of Macedon, Eleftherna broke away from the control of Knossos . Eventually, Philip established himself as the island's overlord. A hundred and fifty years later, Eleftherna was one of the 30 cities that united against the Romans. Despite mounting a doughty resistance it eventually fell to the legionaries of Caecilius Metellus - apparently as a result of an act of betrayal. It subsequently thrived under Roman and then Byzantine rule, eventually boasting its own bishop.

One of the most notable discoveries at the site has been a statue of a dressed woman, the "Lady of Eleftherna." Its most famous son was probably the philosopher Diogenes the Apollonian (Eleftherna was also known as Apollonia, which is why Apollo appears on its coins).