Olous (Olon) — Athenian Arsenal North Slipway (Crete)
Olous Slipway N
Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE)·Bronze–Iron Age maritime·🇬🇷 Crete, Lasithi, Olous, Greece
About
About Olous (Olon) — Athenian Arsenal North Slipway (Crete)
Olous (Olon) — Athenian Arsenal North Slipway (Crete) in Crete, Lasithi, Olous, Greece is a Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE) submerged city attributed to Bronze–Iron Age maritime. Systematic survey and LiDAR document architectural phasing. The site includes a principal enclosure and workshop area. Dimensions grid 210 m × 180 m; mole 85 m long × 7 m wide; area 31.5 ha. Excavation ongoing; condition submerged 3–6 m. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Bronze–Iron Age maritime submerged-city with stratified sequence and landscape setting at -2 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction technique
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
- 02Elite residence hypothesis
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1500 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE)
- Culture
- Bronze–Iron Age maritime
- Purpose
- Submerged harbour and urban insulae under sea
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 1500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 913 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1888
Modern rediscovery and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
35.2600° N · 25.7300° E · -2 m · 4 mapped features
- North Quay MolemoleNorth Quay Mole at Olous (Olon) — Athenian Arsenal North Slipway (Crete) — mole with stratified deposits35.2598° N · 25.7296° E
- Street Grid InsulainsulaStreet Grid Insula at Olous (Olon) — Athenian Arsenal North Slipway (Crete) — insula with stratified deposits35.2605° N · 25.7302° E
- Harbour BasinbasinHarbour Basin at Olous (Olon) — Athenian Arsenal North Slipway (Crete) — basin with stratified deposits35.2599° N · 25.7303° E
- Warehouse TerracewarehouseWarehouse Terrace at Olous (Olon) — Athenian Arsenal North Slipway (Crete) — warehouse with stratified deposits35.2592° N · 25.7291° E
Gallery