Lato is a well-known archaeological site near Lassithi, Crete, which is considered the cradle of Minoan civilisation. Agios Nikolaos is situated on the remnants of the ancient city of Lato. Lato is assumed to have existed before the Doric Descent, and is one of the most prominent Doric city-states in Ancient Crete. The site of old Lato, constructed between two hills, provides a spectacular view of Mirabella Bay and served as natural defense against invaders in the past.
The city-state of Lato, named after Leto (Lato in Doric dialect), the mother of Apollo and Artemis, was a prosperous city and a member of the League of Cretan Cities, but it was often at odds with Olous, a nearby city-state. Archaeologists F. Halbherr, L. Mariani, and A. Taramelli worked together in the second part of the nineteenth century to identify the current site as Ancient Lato. The first comprehensive excavation of the site was carried out by a French team of archaeologists between 1899 and 1901.
A twin acropolis stood in ancient Lato. People lived in basic dwellings with two square rooms in the center and a fireplace in the middle. To suit the demands of the families, rainwater was collected and stored in subterranean cisterns carved into the rock. To get to the Agora (public square, a place of assembly, and the center of civic life) from the internal courtyards, one had to climb 80 stairs. The Agora contained a tiny column-less temple, from which several figurines dating from the 6th century B.C. had been found.
The Prytaneion, or seat of government, is a massive seven-tiered edifice that resembles an old theater and is separated into three wings. The complex’s center chamber, which seats 80 people and has a continually glowing fireplace, was utilized as a meeting room and dining room for the city’s notable inhabitants. The ruins of the city’s huge temple and an open-air theater with seating for 350 people are among the other notable structures on the site.
