Kydonia

The modern city of Chania is built on the ruins of a much older city, Kydonia or Cydonia. Perhaps the name “Chania” is a corruption of “Cydonia”. Kydonia was founded by King Cydon, son of Hermes and Akakallis, King Minos’ daughter. 

It was the most important and powerful city-state of the Minoan Civilization in the west. It was inhabited since the Neolithic Era and thrived around 1800 B.C. – 1500 B.C. It produced bronze, pottery and Linear B writings and was one of the first cities of Europe to mint coinage. Eventually the city became extremely rich from trading its products. Also, the legend says that Cydonians has excellent bow skills. After the Minoan period the city was captured by the Dorians. Archaeological recoveries from the ancient city of Kydonia are largely stored in the Archaeological Museum of Chania. An ancient Minoan Palace still lies underneath the city of Chania.