Mount Ida (Crete)

The Psiloritis is located on the water divide between the southern part of Crete, which drains to the Libyan Sea, and the northern basin facing the Aegean Sea. A saddle at 2,321 m East of the summit connects it with Mount Agathias,^[1] while westwards the ridge continues with Mount Stolistra (2,336 m)^[8]

The Skinakas Observatory of the University of Crete is located on the secondary peak Skinakas at 1750 m. It has two telescopes including a 1.3 m Modified Ritchey-Chrétien instrument.^[9][10]

The Nida plateau is found to the east of the mountain.^[11] On the plateau are some shepherd's huts (mitata) built only of local stones, and used both for shelter and for cheesemaking.^[12][13][14] On the northeast of the mountain, beneath Skinakas Peak, the site of the observatory, is Vromonero Plateau, the site of a holly and maple grove, with many endemic and endangered species. It, along with the access road through Halasia Gorge, and the starting point at Krousonas, has been defined as a Natura 2000 protected area^{[Note 1]}

Zominthos is a plateau that is located in the northern foothills of Mount Ida. On the plateau is the highest altitude Minoan villa ever found, the Minoan villa of Zominthos.^[7]

The Kamares Cave is an Ancient Greek sanctuary located on Mount Ida. During the excavation of the cave, numerous pieces of pottery, like vases, were found in the cave. Based on the condition and pattern of the vases, it is known that the pieces of pottery were crafted by peasants at the time. Typically, Cretan pottery is known to have a polychrome ornament, and a black base. The Kamares Cave was not fully excavated however until 1913. The findings gave real insight into Ancient Greek life in relation to Mount Ida.^[15]

Ida is the locus for a race of legendary ancient metal workers, the Dactyls.

In ancient times the Idaean cave, "cave of the Goddess" (Dea) was venerated by Minoans and Hellenes alike. By Greek times the cave was rededicated to Zeus.^[16] The cave where Zeus was nurtured is variously stated to be this cave, or another of the same name, or the Dictaean cave.^[17]

Votive seals and ivories have been found in the cave.^[18] Like the Dictaean cave, the Idaean cave was known as a place of initiations.^[19] It may have served as the site of an oracle, symbolized by the frequent depiction of a tripod on coins of nearby Axos, which presumably controlled the territory around the cave.^[20]

Dante in Inferno XIV visualized an old man within Mt. Ida. His head was of gold, his arms and breast of silver, his lower abdomen brass, and below that he was of iron except that his right foot was of clay, upon which all his weight bore. This symbolized the decay of the world, and his tears formed the rivers of Hell.^[21]

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  Mouth of the Idaean Cave
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  Eastern ridge of the summit of Mount Ida.
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  Shepherd's hut (mitato) on Nida Plateau, eastern side of Mt Ida
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  Skinakas Observatory
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  Near Anogeia

• Idaea
• Mount Kedros
• List of mountains in Greece

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mount Ida, Crete.

• Greek Mountain Flora Archived 2021-09-10 at the Wayback Machine