Elyros is built on the "Kefala" hill, 500 m. southwest of the village of Rodovani in the province of Selino. It is considered the most important ancient city in southwestern Crete during Hellenistic and Roman times. Independent and autonomous she had minted her own currency. During Hellenistic times it was a member of the "Mountain Federation", along with the cities of Hyrtakina, Lissos, Poikilassos and Tarra. Its ports were the cities of Lissos and Siia. It is mentioned among the Cretan cities that signed the alliance with Eumenes II of Pergamum in 183 BC. In Elyros they especially honored Apollo and the heroes Phylakides and Philander, son of Apollo and the nymph Akakallida. The Elyrians sent to Delphi a bronze cluster, representing a goat nursing these two heroes when they were infants. The lyric poet Thalitas (7th century BC) is said to have come from Elyros. First Pashley, guided by the relevant passages of ancient authors and inscriptions, determined its location near the present village of Rodovani in the commune of Kampanou in the province of Selino. Thenon examined its ruins more closely and discovered an inscription, which read "he glorified the city of the Elyrians", which confirmed Pashley's opinion. Elyros maintained its activity during the 1st Byzantine period and was the seat of an Episcopate. The city was destroyed by the Saracens. Thenon examined its ruins more closely and discovered an inscription, which read "he glorified the city of the Elyrians", which confirmed Pashley's opinion. Elyros maintained its activity during the 1st Byzantine period and was the seat of an Episcopate. The city was destroyed by the Saracens. Thenon examined its ruins more closely and discovered an inscription, which read "he glorified the city of the Elyrians", which confirmed Pashley's opinion. Elyros maintained its activity during the 1st Byzantine period and was the seat of an Episcopate. The city was destroyed by the Saracens.
Source: ODYSSEUS - Ministry of Culture & Sports
odysseus.culture.gr