Later in history an independent city with the
same name ("Limen", meaning "port" in greek) , the port of the inland
city Lyttos, was located at the same area. According to local tradition
this city had been founded by the Etruscans who brought in the island
the worship of Artemis (Diana) Vritomartis, along with the wooden idol
of the goddess, who, thus became the main god of the city.
The town flourished during the Roman era as it is manifested by the
ruins of various buildings and constructions, as the constructions of
the port, actually visible in the sea just under the surface of the water,
an open theatre of the period, ruins of dwellings and a beautiful fountain
in the shape of a trunked pyramide, actually found on the pavement of
the beach.
Christian era was also a period of flourishing for the area and the
town. It had been the seat of a diocese, established by Apostle Titus,
the patron saint of Heraklion. There are several christian monuments
worth seeing here: the church of Aghia Paraskevi at the port, built within
a cave-like opening of the rock; the small church of Aghios Nikolaos,
of the 17th century, a historic church as it is built on the place of
an Early Christian basilica, which in turn was built on the ruins of
a Roman temple.
Another important christian monument it is found at "Kastri". It is a
three-aisle Early Christian Basilica, within which have been buried many
eminent clergymen and martyrs. And, finishing with christian monuments,
it is worth mentioning the two-aisle, twin church of Aghios Georghios
(St. George) on the cape western to the town. The church is dedicated
to two saints: the Southern aisle to Aghios Georghios (St. George) and
the Northern to Aghios Nikolaos.
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