Prominence 2,456 m | Elevation 2,456 m Listing Ultra-prominent peak | |
 | ||
Similar | ||
Mount Ida, known variously as Idha, Ídhi, Idi, Ita and now Psiloritis (Greek: Ψηλορείτης, "high mountain"), at a height of 2,456 m (8,057 feet), is the highest mountain on Crete. Located in the Rethymno regional unit, it was sacred to the Greek Titaness Rhea, and on its slopes lies one of the caves, Idaion Andron, in which, according to legend, Zeus was born. Its summit (Timios Stavros) has the highest topographic prominence in Greece. A natural park which includes Mt. Ida is a member of UNESCO's Global Geoparks Network.
Contents
- Map of Mount Ida Kouloukonas 740 51 Greece
- Features
- Idaean Cave
- Mythological origin of the Jews in classical antiquity
- References
Map of Mount Ida, Kouloukonas 740 51, Greece
Features
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.
Mount Ida is the locus for a race of legendary ancient metal workers (Dactyls), whose roots are also associated with Cyprus.
The Nida plateau is found to the east of the mountain.
On the summit of Ida is the little chapel of the Holy Cross, Timios Stavros.
On the plateau are some shepherd's huts (mitata) built only of local stones, and used both for shelter and for cheesemaking.
Idaean Cave
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. The cave where Zeus was nurtured is variously stated to be this cave, or another of the same name, or the Dictaean cave.
Votive seals and ivories have been found in the cave. Like the Dictaean cave, the Idaean cave was known as a place of initiations. 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.
Mythological origin of the Jews in classical antiquity
In his Histories, the Ancient Roman historian Tacitus reported a belief, popular in antiquity, regarding Mount Ida and the origin of the Jews, complete with conjectural etymology: