The Melidoni cave is located approximately 1.800 meters northwest of the homonymous village at Mylopotamos region, to an altitude of 220 meters, on the south side of Mount Kouloukonas.
The also known as “Gerontospilios” is interesting due to its archeological findings. Also the cave has played a tragic role in the history of the Cretan revolution against the Turks.
Ancient times
So far, the evaluation of excavation data indicate that the cave was used uninterruptedly from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Roman period. Many findings are exhibited to the Archeological Museum of Rethymnon.
Although the cave was initially used as a place of establishment (in 1928 Neolithic tools were identified) during the Middle Minoan period (2100-1600 BC) it was converted into a place of worship (at 1940 a bronze ax was found during illegal excavations).
It seems that during the Minoan era the mythical bronze giant Talos who was responsible for the safety and protection of the island from enemies, was worshiped there. The giant robot toured Crete twice a day. The legend says Medea pulled of the nail that sealed the unique vein of the robot, thus spilling all its vital liquid “the ichor” and destroying it.
During the daedalic period (7th century BC) it appears that a female deity was worshiped there while an inscription of the Roman times that was located in the 15th century to the wall at the entrance, linked the cave with the worship of Talaieus Hermes.
The Holocaust
Apart from its archaeological importance, the cave is of a great historical importance also, as it is connected with one of the greatest tragedies of Greek History. In October 1823, 340 women and children and 30 men from Melidoni barricaded themselves in the cave to avoid the Turkish army who settled to the village for the winter. When Hussein Bey was informed of their hiding place he circled the cave and asked the Cretans to surrender but they refused.
By January 1824, the Turks made several unsuccessful raids to capture the cave. They decided to clog the cave entrance with branches and other flammable materials and set in on fire. All the women children and men died a tragic death from asphyxiation caused by smoke. In the main hall of the cave an ossuary with the bones of the heroes was placed to remind the drama of the Melidoni cave.