Σπήλαιο Τραπέζας

Trapeza Cave - Σπήλαιο Κρόνιο - Kronio Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Μαρμακέτο 720 52. Between the villages Marmaketo and Tzermiado. (35.1977875, 25.4938592)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave Greek mythology: Zeus Grown Up in a Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Trapeza Cave, Tel: +30-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Σπήλαιο Τραπέζας (Trapeza Cave) is also known as Κρόνιο Σπήλαιο (Kronion Cave), named after the Titan Chronos. There is a connection to the legend about Chronos who ate his children and Zeus, who was born in a cave, so he survived long enough to fight against his father. However, we could not find a version of the legend which mentions this cave. But several cave descriptions insist that this cave is in the legend. In the end, it’s all a question of faith.

Despite being undeveloped, definitely not a show cave, the cave is rather famous and visited by many people. It is well signposted, and from the Tzermiado soccer field in the Lasithi plain a comfortable stone staircase leads up to the cave entrance. Unfortunately, the development ends here, the cave has neither trails nor light. But with so many visitors, there are well-trodden paths inside. And another drawback: many speleothems were destroyed by those visitors. The cave has a narrow entrance but widens then for a first chamber. At the end, a large stalagmite splits the passage into two. After a descent, the second chamber is reached. The cave is not exactly developed, but very easy to visit. Bring lamps and wear walking shoes.

During excavations in the cave, remains from the Neolithic were found. It seems the people first used the cave as shelter. Later, when people settled down, they lived on nearby Kastelos hill and used the cave for burials. During the Bronze Age the cave became a temple, a place of worship, quite common during antiquity. From this era, some Egyptian scarabs of the 11th Dynasty were found in the cave. This proves that Crete and Egypt had a close connection and traded goods. Among the items retrieved from the cave were a gold leaf, a faience figurine and an ivory figurine.

The area is full of goats, and as the cave is mostly level, the goats sometimes enter the cave. Bones of dead goats can be found around the cave entrance and inside. As according to legend Zeus was raised by drinking milk from the goat Amalthea, there is actually a connection with the Zeus legend.