Mount Ida (Crete)

The Psiloritis is located on the water divide between the southern part of Crete, which drains to the Libyan Sea, and the northern basin facing the Aegean Sea. A saddle at 2,321 m East of the summit connects it with Mount Agathias, The Skinakas Observatory of the University of Crete is located on the secondary peak of Skinakas at 1750 m. It has two telescopes including a 1.3 m Modified Ritchey-Chrétien instrument. The Nida plateau is found to the east of the mountain. On the plateau are some shepherd's huts (mitata) built only of local stones, and used both for shelter and for cheesemaking. 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 at Krousonas, has been defined as a Natura 2000 protected area 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. ==Mythology==

Dactyls Ida is the locus for a race of legendary ancient metal workers, the Dactyls. 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, 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. The Old Man of Crete In Inferno 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. ==Gallery==

File:Idian-Cave-20070814-059834.jpg|Mouth of the Idaean Cave File:Psiloritis, east ridge.jpg|Eastern ridge of the summit of Mount Ida. File:Nida Plateau - Mitata.jpg|Shepherd's hut (mitato) on Nida Plateau, eastern side of Mt Ida File:Skinakas observatory.JPG|Skinakas Observatory File:ΙΔΗ ΑΝΩΓΕΙΑ 1.jpg|Near Anogeia ==See also==