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Administrative Region : Crete
Regional unit : Heraklion
Matala (Greek Μάταλα) is a village located 75 km south-west of Heraklion, Crete. Matala is part of the municipality of Tympaki, and Heraklion Prefecture.
History
The artificial caves in the cliff of the Matala bay were created in the Neolithic Age. Matala was the port of Phaistos during the Minoan period. In the year 220 BC. Matala was occupied by the Gortynians and during the Roman period Matala became the port of Gortys. In the 1st and 2nd centuries the caves were used as tombs. One of the caves is called "Brutospeliana" because according to the legend it was frequented by the Roman general Brutus.
Matala was then a fishing village. In the 1960s the caves were occupied by hippies[1] who were later driven out by the church and the military junta. Now Matala is a small village living mainly from tourism.
Canadian folk singer Joni Mitchell's experiences with the Matala hippies were immortalised in her 1971 song Carey.
Mythology
When Zeus seduced the princess Europa in the form of a white bull, he crossed the sea and brought her to the beach of Matala. There he changed into an eagle and flew her to Gortys where he had sex with her.
Coordinates: 35°00′N 24°45′E
References
^ Thompson, Thomas. "Crete: A Stop in the New Odyssey", LIFE, Chicago, 19 July 1968. Retrieved on 2010-05-25.
| Municipal unit Tympaki |
|---|
| Municipal Community Tympaki |
| Αφραθιάς, ο |
| Kokkinos Pyrgos (Κόκκινος Πύργος, ο) |
| Tympaki (Τυμπάκιον, το) |
| Community Voroi |
| Voroi (Βώροι, οι) |
| Community Grigoria |
| Grigoria (Γρηγορία, η) |
| Community Kamares |
| Kamares (Καμάραι, αι) |
| Community Kamilari |
| Άγιος Ιωάννης, ο |
| Kalamaki (Καλαμάκιον, το) |
| Kamilari (Καμηλάριον, το) |
| Community Klima |
| Ελληνας, ο |
| Klima (Κλήμα, το) |
| Community Lagoli |
| Lagoli (Λαγολίον, το) |
| Community Magarikari |
| Kalochorafitis (Καλοχωραφίτης, ο) |
| Kissoi (Κισσοί, οι) |
| Magarikari (Μαγαρικάριον, το) |
| Community Pitsidia |
| Matala (Μάταλα, τα) |
| Νέο Καλαμάκι, το |
| Pitsidia (Πιτσίδια, τα) |
| Community Sivas |
| Sivas (Σίβας, ο) |
| Community Faneromeni |
| Καλύβια, τα |
| Μονή Καλυβιανής, η |
| Faneromeni (Φανερωμένη, η) |
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