Kamares

The Mountainous and Historical Kamares

Is mountaineering a hobby of yours? Are you an archaeologist? Do you enjoy learning about history and culture? If so, you must make time to visit Kamares, Crete. Kamares, located in south-central Crete, contains an archaeological site of a sacred, Minoan cave. This sacred cave lies slightly offset from the Psiloriti Range, aligned with the location of nearbyPhaistos. The Kamares cave, also known as Kamaraiko, is situated on the slopes of Mount Soros at an altitude of 1525m.

The magnificent cave was discovered by a local in 1890 and was investigated by a team of Italian archaeologists. In 1913, it was explored again by the British School of Archaeology. The pottery found here dates back to 2200 B.C. and is believed to have been used for worshipping a Minoan Goddess. The vases are covered in colorful, intricate designs, with very thin walls. The style of the pottery is similar to the pottery found in the palaces of Knossos and Phaistos. If you wish to see the pottery that was found, you should visit the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. It is said that some of the best Middle Minoan pottery had been discovered from the Kamares cave, therefore, adapting the name Kamares. Besides the large quantities of pottery, a few fragments of terracotta animal figurines, some stone and bone tools, animal bones, and six iron spearheads of probable post-Minoan date were discovered.

The findings from Kamaraiko also resemble the findings from the Eileithyia cave, close to Heraklion. The Eileithyia cave was dedicated to the goddess Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth and midwifery. Because of this, some archaeologists believe that the Kamares cave is also devoted to Eileithyia.
The path that leads to the cave begins at Karames and will be a steep ascent, taking about 3.5 hours to reach. The same path leads to the plateau of Nida and is quite scenic and serene. Traveling along the path, you will see small oak forests and numerous springs. In addition, you will see the plain of Messara. You will have plenty of opportunities to take beautiful pictures and maybe even a dip in a spring, as you make your way to the historical cave.

Therefore, if you are interested in mountaineering, ancient artifacts, caves, or the Minoan period, you must take a trip to the village of Kamares and make your way up to the beautiful, historical cave. The 3.5 hour climb is well worth it thanks to the numerous springs, Nida plateau, plain of Messara, and the final destination, Kamaraiko. Don't forget to make an additional trip to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, if you wish to see the pottery that was excavated from the cave.