| Mount Ida | |
|---|---|
| Psiloritis (summit Ida) | |
.jpg) View of Psiloritis mountains from the west | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,456 m (8,058 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 2,456 m (8,058 ft)[2] |
| Isolation | 439.94 km (273.37 mi) |
| Listing | Ultra |
| Coordinates | 35°13′36″N24°46′21″E / 35.22667°N 24.77250°E /35.22667; 24.77250[2] |
| Geography | |
  Mount Ida Location in Greece | |
| Location | Crete,Greece |
Mount Ida (Greek:Ἴδα),[3][4] known variously asIdha,Ídhi,Idi, andIta (the massif including the mountain is calledPsiloritis,Greek:Ψηλορείτης),[5] is the highestmountain on the island ofCrete, with an elevation of 2,456 metres (8,058 ft). It has the highesttopographic prominence of any mountain inGreece.[2][6] Anatural park which includes Mount Ida is a member ofUNESCO'sGlobal Geoparks Network.
Located in theRethymno regional unit, Ida was sacred to theTitanessRhea inGreek mythology. On its slopes lies one of the caves,Idaion Antron, the Idaean Cave, in which, according to legend, the godZeus was born. Other legends, however, place his birthplace inPsychro Cave on theLasithi Plateau.
An archaeobotanical study was conducted that looked at the different plant bases in Minoan villas during the Neo-palatial time period in Crete. There was a rich range of food plants that were found to contain essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein and sources of vitamins.[7] The study took place on Mount Ida, at the Minoan villa of Zominthos.
The Psiloritis is located on thewater divide between the southern part of Crete, which drains to theLibyan Sea, and the northern basin facing theAegean Sea. A saddle at 2,321 m East of the summit connects it withMount Agathias,[1] while westwards the ridge continues with Mount Stolistra (2,336 m)[8]
TheSkinakas Observatory of theUniversity of Crete is located on the secondary peak ofSkinakas at 1750 m. It has two telescopes including a 1.3 m Modified Ritchey-Chrétien instrument.[9][10]
TheNida 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 atKrousonas, has been defined as aNatura 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]
Kamares cave was used as acave sanctuary in ancient times. The Minoan pottery known asKamares ware was named after the cave, where some of the first examples were found.[15][16]
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 byMinoans andHellenes alike. By Greek times the cave was rededicated toZeus.[17] The cave where Zeus was nurtured is variously stated to be this cave, another of the same name, or theDictaean cave.[18]
Votive seals and ivories have been found in the cave.[19] Like theDictaean cave, the Idaean cave was known as a place of initiations.[20] It may have served as the site of anoracle, symbolized by the frequent depiction of atripod on coins of nearbyAxos, which presumably controlled the territory around the cave.[21]
InInferno XIV,Dante visualizes 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.[22]
