LIMIN HERSONISSOU (Hersonissos)		Quality of Remains
		Ease of Access
		Atmosphere & Setting

History & Occupation:

The ancient town of Hersonissos dates back originally to the Minoan period, but the remains that have been unearthed there suggest a thriving town of some size and importance during both the Roman period and the Byzantine period after the fall of western Roman power. Little is known about the history of the city, though the importance of Roman Crete is clear from the presence of Gortyn, a Provincial capital, on the south side of the island. Perhaps Hersonissos constituted the main port and point of disembarkation on the north coast.

Remains and Visit:

Little has been done with the remains of Roman Hersonissos. Excavations were carried out some time ago and the sites have been left open to view, but are overgrown and often behind fencing. The two items that inevitably attract the eye are the early Christian (Byzantine) basilica on a promontory at the waterfront, with its moisaics and fallen columns and the interesting mosaic-decorated fountain on the main street near the front. With only a little investigation it is very easy to locate a wealth of Roman road surfaces, housing, shops and even the crumbling remains of a theatre or amphitheatre.

Images:

Roman fountain	A street	Theatre rear wall
Unidentified Roman building	The Christian basilica	Mosaic in basilica	Aerial view (c/o Google Earth)