Jouchtas

From antiquity till our days, Jouchtas was considered the mythical tomb of Zeus. Cretan Zeus had the unique ability to be mortal and that made the Cretans to be considered liars by the rest of the Greeks. The most probable explanation for that is that Zeus was linked with the more ancient god

of fertility, who was following the natural circle and thus he was perishing and reborn every year.

 

At mount Jouchtas a very important royal temple of the Minoan period was unearthed that gave information on the structure of the temples at this period and on the Minoan religion too. On the highest tomb a shrine was built over two deep hollows at the natural rock. Very close a deep

cave-like hollow was discovered and its opening was blocked bay natural phenomenon or human intervention. Deep inside pottery and terracotta offerings were found, as well as a treasure of

bronze double axes, votive bronze idols of men in the act of praying and votive human limbs.

 

The view of Heraklion and the Cretan sea from Jouchtas is breathtaking and the mountain is filled with many kinds of herbs and their smell fill the air.