Gortyn was a Greek city-state on the Mediterranean isle of Crete, with Gortyna serving as its capital. During the heroic age, it flourished and was well fortified, and it became the most powerful and prosperous city on the island. During the Lyttian War of 220 BC, the city-state fell into civil war between the pro-Cnossus elderly Gortynians and the pro-Lyctus younger Gortynians. Gortyn enjoyed excellent relations with Ptolemaic Egypt, and it avoided an unfortunate fate by allying with the Roman Republic. In 67 BC, it was absorbed into the Roman province of Crete and Cyrenaica.
Gallery[]
Location of Gortyn
Gortyn in 429 BC