Papadoplaka
Papadoplaka (Greek: Παπαδόπλακα) is a natural reef islet off the southern coast of the Greek island of Crete in the Libyan Sea. The islet is in a bay between cape Lithino and cape Kefalas, at Kommos, and close to Gortyn which was the ancient capital of Crete. The name can be loosely translated as the priest's rock.[1] It is administered within Heraklion regional unit.
| Native name: Παπαδόπλακα | |
|---|---|
  Papadoplaka | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 34.9194°N 24.7858°E |
| Archipelago | Cretan Islands |
| Administration | |
Greece | |
| Region | Crete |
| Regional unit | Heraklion |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 (2001) |
Group of islets
There are a group of four islets in the bay including Papadoplaka (to the west), Megalonisi (with the lighthouse), Mikronisi (also known as Agios Pavlos), and Trafos.
Minoan era
Papadoplaka was more substantial in Minoan times, due to lower sea levels, and is likely to have offered safe harbour for ships in that part of the bay.[1] J. W. Shaw believes that Papadoplaka is likely to have been linked with the coast via a partially submerged sandy shore. This would make a Minoan harbor at Kommos similar to the harbor at Amnisos.[2]
References
- Reconstructing Murex Royal Purple and Biblical Blue in the Aegean by Deborah Ruscillo.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Amnisos – Harbour town of Minos? by Jorg Schafer, p. 4.