Britomartys was probably a continuation of Minoan religious beliefs and has been combined with the goddess Artemis of the Greek pantheon of gods and deities. Diktynna was the most important sanctuary of the goddess Britomartys and a powerful factor in keeping the conflict between the most powerful cities in the region, Kydonia in Chania and Polyrnia in Kasteli, in check. Britomartys was worshiped here during the Hellenistic and Roman Eras. The Hellenistic sanctuary has not yet been found while the Roman one was visible from a great distance out to sea and several pieces of marble and Roman ruins were found in the area. Later in the 9th century the Monastery of Agios Georgios was built here, but it was destroyed by constant pirate raids. Today little remains can be seen of the Roman presence or the monastery.
Editor: Niki Kalopaidis