city-state

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Ancient theatre of Aptera

This theatre is part of the archaeological site of Aptera, near present-day Chania, in western Crete. The ancient coastal city-state was once one of Crete’s most important commercial centres, at its peak in the Hellenistic period (late 4th-3rd centuries BC).…

Above The Law Code of Gortyn, a large inscription at the Cretan site, details the running of the court and how to deal with a range of legal issues. It is written ‘as the ox ploughs’, with lines in alternating directions. IMAGE: Dreamstime

The Great Inscription: law and order at Gortyn

The Cretan site of Gortyn may be overshadowed by the palace-complex of Knossos, also on the island, but among its varied remains is an important legal document that offers insights into the ancient city. Diana Bentley is our guide.