HISTORY
The little fishing village of Lentas (Lebena) lies on the south coast of Crete, at the foot of Asterousia mountain range. West from Lentas at the other side of the Lion Cape is Dytikos (Dyskos) Beach, where is located the new Great Eastern Studios.
Two apartments for 1-4 people and 3 studios for 1-3 people with basic cooking facilities, shower/WC, air condition, satellite TV and balcony with wonderful sea view.
Great Eastern Studios & apartments are OPEN ALL THE YEAR, from January to December and are able to accommodate 16 persons.
Get some rest, relax, enjoy the sea, meditate on the beach, feel the power and the energy of this very special place. The beach Dytikos or Dyskos, specially beloved from naturists, is a part where anything could happen and attitudes are not determined.
Lentas:Lentas or Levin (Greek Λέντας), Lentas is a coastal village 70 km south of Heraklion, on the south coast of Crete in Greece. It belongs to the municipality of Gortys.
Climate
It belongs to an area where the climate consists an exception in accordance to the climate on the island of Crete which is Mediterranean. Lentas falls in the North African climatic zone and thus enjoys significantly more sunny days and high temperatures during the summer. Probably the best time to visit Lentas is spring and autumn.
The Fountain, south of the Nymphaion, at Levenas
The archaeological investigation of the site started after the first visit of the English captain H. Spratt, in the middle of the 19th century. Excavations were carried out by the Italian Archaeological School at Athens in 1900, 1910 and 1912-13, and revealed the sanctuary and other buildings. Since then no excavation had taken place in the ancient city until recent years, when the investigations of the Greek Archaeological Service brought to light the Minoan settlement and graves.
THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
The archaeological investigation of the site started after the first visit of the English captain H. Spratt, in the middle of the 19th century. Excavations were carried out by the Italian Archaeological School at Athens in 1900, 1910 and 1912-13, and revealed the sanctuary and other buildings. Since then no excavation had taken place in the ancient city until recent years, when the investigations of the Greek Archaeological Service brought to light the Minoan settlement and graves.
The most important monuments of the site are:
1) The Temple of Asklepios. It lies at the SW edge of the terrace of the sanctuary and dates from the 1st-2nd centuries A.D. The walls, built of mudbricks with a revetment of white marble, are preserved to a height of 3.40 m. Two of the marble columns and the bases of the cult statues of Asklepios and Hygeia are preserved inside the temple.
2) The "Treasury". It is earlier than the temple and the west portico, lying beneath the floor of the latter. It was built in the Hellenistic period (3rd century B.C.) and its floor is covered with mosaics, forming two "panels" depicting a seahorse and palmettes. The mosaic covered the mouth of the "Treasury" (a well 1.90 m. deep, where the offerings were kept).
3) The Fountain, located to the south of the Nymphaion.
4) Large, three-aisled basilica. Ruins of the church, dated earlier than the 9th century A.D., were found underneath the basilica of St. John.
5) Early Minoan settlement (2600-2000 B.C.) on the low hill called Anginaropapouro.
6) The West Stoa. It extends to the north of the temple and is almost 27 m. long. In the northern part are preserved the thresholds of three doorways leading to rooms on the west, which were probably used by the priests and the temple personnel. The West Stoa and the temple were built in the period of the heyday of the Roman Empire (1st-2nd century A.D.).
7) The North Stoa. It was built before the temple (2nd century B.C.), into which it was later incorporated. Bases and parts of columns along with marble slabs are preserved. Most likely it was the "adyton" or "abaton" (sanctuary) of the shrine.
8) The Nymphaion. Room with two arches built of mudbricks, located at the east edge of the North Stoa.
9) Two large, mudbrick cisterns, used possibly for therapeutic baths.
Dyskos beach.
The eastern part of the beach, located in front of the village, is slightly organized, with a few taverns and rooms. As you move to the west, the beach gets more secluded. The western part, near the settlement of Gerokambos, is particularly popular to nudists. Especially, in older times Dyskos was a favorite place for hippies. All along the beach there are several tamarisk trees where you can find shade and camp. Further west, you'll meet the small village of Tsigounas with the small beach of Limanaki (harbor) used as a local harbour, due to its protected orientation.
Dyskos is famous for its sunset, with the sun setting behind the towering mountains of Asterousia. Lastly, beach parties are regularly organized here, during the seasons of full moon and new moon.
Origins of the name
The name of Lentas possibly derives from the Greek word Λέοντας (in English, "lion"). It refers to the lion shaped cape that makes the small protected bay of Lentas. This cape is documented in medieval maps as Cape Liontas (Greek Ακρ. Λιώντας).
Lentas has a rich past and there are evidence that it had been first habitated from the Neolithic and Early Minoan period (3rd millennium BC). Lentas (Levin) is also known to be one of the two harbours of Gortys, which became the most prominent city of Crete after the fall of Knossos.
View of the "Treasury" building of the 3rd c. BC, at Levenas
The temple is built on an artificial terrace at the SW edge of the sanctuary and is oriented to the east. The walls of the cella, preserved to a height of 3.40 m., are built of mudbricks, reveted with white marble slabs. Similar slabs cover the central part of the floor, while the rest of it is mosaic. Two of the columns (4.70 m. high) and the bases of the cult statues of Asklepios and Hygeia are preserved inside the temple.
It was constructed in the first centuries of the Roman Empire (1st-2nd century A.D.). After the expansion of Christianity the temple (and the sanctuary) were abandoned and gradually destroyed. Architectural members of the temple were used for the construction of the Byzantine basilica. In 1856, Onorio Belli drew the groundplan of the Asklepieion of which only the outline and two of the columns are still preserved today.
The temple of Asklepios was excavated, along with the rest of the sanctuary, by the Italian Archaeological School at Athens in 1900, 1910 and 1912-1913. The columns of the temple were immediately restored by the excavators.
In the late Classical period (beginning of the 4th century B.C.) the Gortynians established the sanctuary of Asklepios at the harbour. During the tremendous earthquake of 46 B.C. Lentas was destroyed and subsequently rebuilt. Gortys later was the Province's capital during the Roman era, which also comprised Cyrnaica (ancient Libya). In the early Christian and Byzantine periods, a small settlement developed and a basilica was erected. The small Byzantine church of St. John was built in the 14th century. The archaeological investigation of the site started after the first visit of the English captain H. Spratt, in the middle of the 19th century. Excavations were carried out by the Italian Archaeological School at Athens in 1900, 1910 and 1912-13, and revealed the sanctuary and other buildings. Since then no excavation had taken place in the ancient city until recent years, when the investigations of the Greek Archaeological Service brought to light the Minoan settlement and graves.
Today in Lentas there is an archaeological site of the sanctuary of Asklepios (Greek Ασκληπειός) and the Byzantine church of St John. It is believed that Levin during the Roman occupation became a sanitarium were sick wealthy Romans mainly from North Africa received treatment. The treatment consisted of a diet with mineral water from an ancient spring near the temple of Asklepios, which was believed to have therapeutic properties, and local fruits. Today Lentas is a popular tourist destination and has rural and stock farming activities.
The lion, Dyskos, Lentas
Dyskos is located 75km southwest of Heraklion, just 1-2km west of Lendas. It is a small settlement, known also as Dytikos, which is separated from the village of Lentas by the famous Cape Lion. Lion is said that was one of the lions carrying the chariot of the goddess Rhea and was petrified here.
In front of the settlement of Dyskos, west of the Lion, starts a long beach with fine pebbles, which extends westward to Tsigounas village. To get here you should drive from Lentas towards Gerokampos. The paved road runs along the beach. Just 1km after Lendas, you will see the beach on your left hand. If you do not have a car, you can access Dyskos by following the short path that crosses the Lion Cape.