Crete - Sanctuary of Dictynna

Near Cape Scala, can be seen the sanctuary of the nymph Dictynna, excavated by German archeologists during the World War II.

Dictynna was identical with the Cretan mountain goddess Britomartis and was later equated with Artemis. According to another tradition she was the patroness of fishermen and their nets (diktyon = "net").

The best way to reach the site is by boat from Khaniá. From the landing-place a path ascends a small valley with the ruins of an abandoned village and up the southern slope of the hill (to left) to the excavation site. There are the remains of a temple built in the A.D. second century on the site of an earlier temple of the seventh century B.C., together with the altar, cisterns and other buildings