Exploring Crete’s impressive Skotino Cave 

Half an hour north west of Skotino on the island of Crete lies a cave steeped in legend. If you’re on holiday on Crete and yearn for adventure, step inside the impressive Skotino Cave and experience the atmosphere, which it has in abundance.

The entrance alone is striking; an arch which is 27 metres wide and 10 metres high. Step gingerly down the steep little path, ducking below the ceiling that is covered in fissures and drips, which all adds to the eerie affect.

This rough path goes down inside the entrance and exits into a large and very imposing chamber named “Mega Nao”. The chamber it is approximately 130 meters long, 33 meters wide and 30 meters high. It hosts a large amount of stalagmites. Going further you will encounter an equally impressive number of stalactites; many of these actually reach the floor.

Using a bit of imagination, a variety of shapes can be made out: a woman’s head, a child who appears to be smiling, a dog lying on the ground, even a bear! At the end there is a further small chamber, which has been given the name, ‘The Alter’. According to archaeologists this was used as a place of sacrifice, drains on the floor were used for offerings to the Gods of the underworld, not only blood, but oil and wine.

To the left of the first chamber, is another entrance to the cave and further spaces, some that get flooded in winter. The most incredible chamber is known as the “Adoration Hall”.

This place has been a sanctuary over a very long period, i.e. since the middle Minoan years (1900 BC), to Roman times. It then became a Christian sanctuary. It seems the cave was at one period dedicated to the Goddess Britomartis.

The overall surface of the cave is over 2500 square metres. After a prolonged study, some experts have linked this cave to the famous labyrinth of the Minotaur of Knossos, and certainly a place of worship, and sacrifice since Minoan times.

If you are interested in caves or ancient religion, the impressive Skotino Cave is quite simply a must to visit. What’s more, it’s free to go in.