The old city of Gortis or Gortys on Crete

Gortis, just outside Agii Deka on the Messara plane, was originally inhabited by the Dorians, who built temples for Athena and for Apollo here. Gortis was often at war with Knossos and Festos /Phaestos and after a victory over Festos Gortis had two harbours for a short period of time (Levin and Matala).

Under Roman rule Gortis became the capital not only of Crete, but of the Roman province of Cyrenaica, that included Egypt and parts of northern Africa. It contains many buildings amongst which the impressive Titus church (6th century), a theatre - the Odeon, a stadion, several sanctuaries, and the "laws of Gortis" that date from the 5th century AD (the first written laws in Europe, that dealt with criminal law, family law, inheritance and other isues) that are placed in a wall. From the beginning of the Roman invasion the the town of Gortis had chosen the side of the new rulers and this is why the town was spared and made capital of Crete. In the 9th century the town of Gortis was destroyed by the Arabs.