La lissè petre in Od. III, 293-296, ed i territori di Gortina e di Festòs in epoca arcaica

This paper deals with a passage of the Odyssey (III, 293-296) and other related sources, regarding the Southern coast of Crete between Gortyn and Phaistos. According to the interpretation put forward, the lissè petre here mentioned corresponds to the Lithinos Cape. It is described as the border between the Gortyn territory and the Phaistos one. As other sources show, the lissè petre was called also Lissès or Lissèn. It does not correspond to the Maleou – mikròs lithos, which is quoted by the same passage of the Odyssey. The latter cape appears to be the small headland, which protects Kommos from South; Kommos was the harbour of Phaistos.
The Phaistos territory included the Western Mesara. Starting from the early Archaic period it extended from the Lithinos Cape Northwards, including the earlier harbour of Phaistos – that was Kommos – and the later one – which was Matala. The latter one became the harbour of Gortyn only after the conquest of Phaistos by Gortyn which happened around the half of the 2nd Century BC.
The Gortyn territory occupied the Eastern Mesara. In the Archaic period it developed from the Lithinos Cape Eastwards. On the coastline the territory of Gortyn included the emporion-harbour of Lebena. This harbour goes back as early as the Iron Age, as a newly identified site shows: it locates behind the headland of Lebena. Along the Southern coast there were other harbours in the territory of Gortyn: Lasaia – Kaloi Limenes, and the polis and hormos of Amyklaion, which has still to be found.