Petras Archaeological Site: History and Preservation

Petras Archaeological Site was constructed on a small hilltop with a view of the modern city of Sitia. Many academics think that this was the location of ancient Etea or Etida, where the sage Myson originated. Archaeologist M. Tsipopoulou excavated the town in 1985 and parts of the Cyclopean wall, which included three square towers, two houses, and a Minoan palace were discovered. The hieroglyphic file discovered in exceptional form provides proof that Petras flourished beginning in the 20th century BC and swiftly became an urban centre of primary commercial significance. The hill was still occupied after the palace was destroyed in 1450 BC, and the protective Cyclopean wall was constructed. Artefacts were also found in Petras Archaeological Site such as enormous jars, (pithi) just like in other Minoan palaces. Petras Archaeological Site is rocky and presents a landscape that will let you have a sea view of the Cretan waters.

Sitia in which Petras Archaeological Site is located is a sparsely populated area with monasteries, historical ruins, palm-forested beaches, dazzling bays, and exciting mountain climbs. Tourists visit Petras Archaeological Site because of its great appeal due to its historic structures and archaeological discoveries. Petras Archaeological Site also has an adjacent tourist destination. In 2018 alone, the island of Crete welcomed more than 5 million tourists. Tourists’ itinerary often includes the beach and the mountainous tours but of course, for a historic experience also visit archaeological sites such as Petras Archaeological Site. For a more exclusive, organised, and time-worthy exploration on the island of Crete especially when visiting archaeological sites, a car rental in Crete is the best option. It will give you ample time to reflect and understand the culture, and appreciate the artefacts, and the palace itself. Petras Archaeological Site offers the monuments of the town, two houses, and the central palatial building which all carry purpose and role during the Minoan time.

What is the history of the Petras Archaeological Site?

Petras Archaeological Site is one of the Minoan settlements that is situated next to the sea on top of a small hill. A region bounded by Chamaizi on the west, Pressos on the south, and Analoukas on the east was centralised around the Petras Archaeological Site. Despite indications of settlement reaching back to the later half of the Neolithic period, the first encampment was thought to have occurred during the Early Minoan II period. Up until 1450 B.C., when it and the other ancient Minoan cities were destroyed, it was inhabited. Moreover, a brief reoccupation of the Petras Archaeological Site was noted during the Late Minoan III period. When the hilltop centre building with palatial features was built during the Old Palace era, the community flourished; nevertheless, it peaked during the New Palace period, during which extensive changes to the buildings were made. Around the 12th-13th centuries, 32 burials from a cemetery that once stood at the top of the hill have been discovered. In 1900, R.C. Bosanquet conducted a brief unearthing in the area, where it was possible to see the remains of ancient walls. In addition, Systematic unearthing and exploration have been done by M. Tsipopolou since 1985 at the Petras Archaeological Site.

What is the geography of the Petras Archaeological Site?

The ruins of the Minoan Palace Petras, the Petras Archaeological Site, are located on a low hill with a view of the sea about 2 kilometres southeast of the town Sitia. Petras Archaeological Site is an archaeological site of an ancient Minoan town in northeastern Crete. The site is situated on top of a small plateau and overlooks the sea north of Crete. Thus, the physical environment of Petras Archaeological Site is rocky and presents a landscape that will let you have a sea view of the Cretan waters.

What are the most significant monuments at the Petras Archaeological Site?

Petras Archaeological Sites covers a 0.3-hectare area, which means it has a lot more to offer. Just like any other archaeological site, Petras Archaeological Site offers historic importance by presenting monuments that are equally important and play a role in establishing Petras as a must-visit archaeological site in Crete.

Listed below are the most significant monuments in Petras Archaeological Site.

The town: The town surrounded the central structure and covered the entire hill. At the base of the hill, a “cyclopean” wall with three towers was discovered.
Two houses: Two houses completely uncovered date to the New Palace period (1600-1450 B.C.). One of the houses was abandoned during the Late Minoan period (1500 B.C.) while the other one was destroyed by a fire a little later (1450 B.C.).
The central palatial building: The central palatial building is a 0.3-hectare area. It was built on two terraces, on a man-made plateau on the hilltop, and is encircled by a retaining wall with a bastion that resembles a tower.

1. The town

The town surrounded the central structure and covered the entire hill. At the base of the hill, a “cyclopean” wall with three towers was discovered. Access to the terraced, freestanding homes was provided by stone-paved streets, one of which went directly to the main structure. On the lower floor of the houses were storage areas and workshops, and on the upper story were the real living spaces.

2. Two houses

Two houses completely uncovered date to the New Palace period (1600-1450 B.C.). One of the houses was abandoned during the Late Minoan period (1500 B.C.) while the other one was destroyed by a fire a little later (1450 B.C.). For House 1, the bottom floor’s apartments extend onto two terraces that are joined by a stone stairway. Two kitchens, two storerooms, and a room with a “lenos” (wine-press) and pithio for the storage of wine are still there on the lower terrace where vases had fallen from shelves on the walls. A workshop with stone basins and querns is located on the upper terrace, and a pithos with an infant’s grave was located beneath the floor. For House 2, there are two distinct construction periods. During the first, one of the ground floor rooms served as a reception hall with a central column, a plastered floor, a hearth, and openings to the other rooms. Later, this space was transformed into a workshop area for processing and dying wool. In one of the storerooms, a lump of clay bearing the Linear A writing symbols for “perfume oil” was discovered.

3. The central palatial building

The central palatial building is a 0.3-hectare area. It was built on two terraces, on a man-made plateau on the hilltop, and is encircled by a retaining wall with a bastion that resembles a tower. The central court, which has a plastered floor, is reached through an E-W-oriented hallway that passes through a pier-and-door divider. A libation table and tablets written in Linear A script were discovered there, indicating that it was expanded during the last phase and surrounded by rooms on the west that most likely served as cult locations. The room with the gypsum slabs and the seat coated in plaster and orthostats is the most interesting of the rooms to the south of the corridor. Twelve oblong rooms are located on the north side of the hallway, and magazines are located below. The magazines are connected to the central court by a large, plaster-covered stairway; in the last stages of construction, this staircase was also closed by a storehouse. The main portion of the building and the workshop sections were divided by a garden to the west of the structure.

How was the Petras Archaeological Site preserved?

Petras Archaeological Site is preserved well. The initiative to preserve Petras Archaeological Site is pushed by the Greek state to preserve and maintain the historic value of Petras Archaeological Site through reconstruction, reassembly, removal, and excavation, as well as site interpretation. In general, the Council of Europe, the legislation provides that from the beginning of the modern Greek State’s foundation, the preservation of cultural assets such as the Petras Archaeological Site was a state duty. Law 3028/2002, “On the Protection of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in General”, is the primary piece of legislation governing the protection of cultural heritage. It establishes a thorough and detailed system of protection regarding both movable and immovable monuments and artefacts, as well as the intangible heritage.

What are the nearby attractions in Petras Archaeological Site?

Sitia in which Petras Archaeological Site is located is a sparsely populated area with monasteries, historical ruins, palm-forested beaches, dazzling bays, and exciting mountain climbs. The nearby villages of Zou, Ziros, and Handras– all bustling with modern activity– abandoned Ethia, and the area around Karydi– to name a few, all have great appeal due to its historic structures and archaeological discoveries. Petras Archaeological Site also has an adjacent tourist destination.

Listed below are the nearby attractions in Petras Archaeological Site.

Archaeological Museum of Sitia: The Archaeological Museum of Sitia is an unbelievably underrated museum with a display of artefacts spanning almost 4000 years, from 3500 BC to 500 AD. Its collections include artefacts from Sitia, Zakros, Petra, and Palaikastro that date to the Minoan era. The Archaeological Museum of Sitia is one of the best museums in Crete, which contains the most important finds from eastern Crete.
Folklore Museum of Sitia: The Folklore Museum of Sitia was founded by the educational and cultural organisation “Vitsentzos Kornaros” in 1975. The Folklore Museum of Sitia includes numerous significant folklore artefacts, primarily hand-woven textiles, embroidery, regional costumes, and furniture.

What is the contribution of Petras Archaeological Site to Crete Tourism?

Petras Archaeological Site contributes a significant amount to Crete Tourism. Tourists pay €2 upon visiting Petras Archaeological Site. Greece’s largest island, Crete, is a diverse and energetic place full of historic sites, bustling cities, and gorgeous coastlines. Although many visitors come for the sun, sea, and sand, there is much more to do in Crete than what is usually included in holiday packages, such as visiting Petra Archaeological Site for a historic experience. More than 5 million tourists arrived in Crete in 2018, accounting for nearly one-sixth of all visitors to Greece, and 20% of all tourism-related revenue was earned there.

Can you rent a car to get to the Petras Archaeological Site?

Yes, renting a car is a necessity to get around Crete, especially when visiting Petras Archaeological Site. Renting a car when visiting Crete is an advantage to go around the island and maximise time. There are tourist destinations in Crete that public transportation does not stop at. Public transportation sometimes only stops at the nearest station to these attractions, so tourists take a taxi to take them to their destination. Thus, Car Rental Crete should be considered when planning to visit the island. Especially when planning to go around different archaeological sites such as Petras Archaeological Site for a better experience, convenience, and appreciation of the destinations by travelling exclusively.

What are the factors to consider before renting a car in Crete?

There are buses and taxis available that tourists can use to travel around Crete. But another type of transportation is car rental, which is a more private mode of transportation. Car rental, most of the time, is a must when going around and travelling in Crete. Tourists need a car for them to be able to reach tourist destinations they wish to visit. There are different car rental companies that tourists can opt to rent their car in Crete during their stay. It is a great option for those who want to have private transportation when going to their destination, especially during the pandemic.

Listed below are the things to consider before renting a car in Crete.

Insurance: Make sure that the car has insurance that will cover the damage that may be caused by any possible accidents.
Driver’s Age: To be able to rent a car in Crete the driver should be at least over 21 years old and has a driver’s licence for at least 12 months.
Driver’s Gender: Some tourists can be picky regarding who will be their driver. The gender of the driver is one of the things that tourists consider, as many people believe that men are better drivers than women. Both men and women can drive in Crete without any restrictions.
Car Type: There are different car types that are available to be rented. Each type caters to a different number of passengers and the amount of bags they can carry.
Documents: Other than having a driver’s licence, a credit or debit card is a must to rent a car. A card with the tourist’s name is needed to provide the rental car company guarantee.

How much does a car rental in Crete cost?

Crete Car Rental costs depend on how many days that car will be rented, the number of passengers, and the type of car that will be rented. Crete Car Rental for a week can cost around €250. Day trips and night trips in Crete will cost about €30 to €40. It can be used for a week with unlimited mileage and four-seaters. The rental cars are manual transmission, air-conditioned, and have four doors. The rented car should be returned to the company with the same amount of fuel as at the start of the trip to avoid charges.

Are children permitted at the Petras Archaeological Site?

Yes, children are permitted at the Petras Archaeological Site, but parents are encouraged to be vigilant about the children’s actions to preserve and protect the artefacts that are available at Petras Archaeological Site. As Petras Archaeological Site provides you with the best view and scenery perfect for picture taking, children can surely enjoy the view and the ambience of the place. Taking the tour of Petras Archaeological Site is a fun activity for the children when visiting Crete. However, there are other Fun Places in Crete to Take Your Kids for a memorable, fun-filled, worthy, and enjoyable visit in Crete.

Last updated on December 20th, 2024