Until 2017 Itanos comprised four local communities (topika koinoteta): Palaikastro, Karydi, Zakros, and Mitato (Μητάτο).

It is generally agreed, however, that Itanos is not a Greek word, whatever it should turn out to be; consequently it is more likely that the peninsula already had the name.

The modern name of the Minoan city is Roussolakkos, "red pit," named after a preceding quarry of red clay, and the ancient Greek city Itanos is now Erimoupolis.

J. Bennet ruled out the possibility that any Linear B tablets found at Knossos referred directly to classical Itanos.

[6] Archaeological investigation discovered a rather large ancient city sprawling over the hills next to the beaches.

Media related to Itanos municipal unit at Wikimedia Commons