The ancient city - state of Aptera The ancient city - state of “Aptera”, was founded in the 8th century BC and it is at such a location that it dominates in the gulf of Suda. It is a part of the wider area of the Municipality of Suda in Chania. Aptera as a very important city-state of Chania has played frequently a decisive role in the history of Crete, and the interior and external policy. Nevertheless the period during which Aptera enjoyed its greatest prosperity was the early Hellenistic age. The foundation of Aptera takes place in the geometric era. It was one of the most important cities-states of Crete. According the myth, it was named by the Sirens who lost their wings out of their sorrow for their loss in a music competition with Muses that took part at the same location. In reality, the town must have been named after the homonymous characterization of goddess Artemis who
was worshipped in the area and she is illustrated in the coins of the town. About four kilometers long of the walls of town Aptera is salvaged. It was built in the 3rd century BC and its strong masonry shows the great prosperity of the town during the Hellenistic period. Passing through the walls, in about the middle of the place, there is a guarded part from where one can see the ruins of a small two-part temple of the classic era (end of 5th-4th century BC). Close to the ancient monuments two fortresses are salvaged of exquisite historic interest that were constructed during the period of the Turks domination; i.e. the “Palaikastro” fortress that was built by the Turks with the pretense of the 1866 revolt and the “Itzedin” fort in the location of Kalami which was built in 1872 and it had barracks, a hospital and other premises.