Kydonia

The city is known from archaeological remains dating back to the Minoan era as well as literary and historical sources.

In the area of Kastelli Hill, which is the citadel of Chania's harbor, archaeological excavations have discovered ceramic sherds and finds that date from the Neolithic to Late Minoan IIIC.

[1] Scarce finds such as walls and ground floors confirm that the systematic habitation of the hill began during Early Minoan (EM) II period.

The city extended beyond Kastelli Hill as the excavations in Daskalogiannis Street revealed, where a LMI sanctuary or "lustral basin" came to light.

[citation needed] In 429 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, Kydonia was attacked by the Athenians after the accusations of Nikias from Gortyna for pro-Spartan policy.

During the Lyttian War In 220/219 BC both cities joined the alliance of Oreioi (in which Polyrrhenia was a member) and canceled the one with Knossos.

Aggressive policy led to the capture of Phalasarna (184 B.C.E) and 14 years later that of Apollonia, an action criticized by Polybius since they were allies.

[18] The coins of the city-state depict Kydon either as an infant suckling a female Cretan hound or as an archer stringing his bow, accompanied by his dog.

[21] Kydonians are mentioned in book 12 of the Aeneid, where their excellent bow skills are used in an extended Virgilian simile describing the Fury's descent to Juturna.

The editors of the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World suggest that the city also bore the name Apollonia (Ἀπολλωνία, Apollōnía) at some point.[22][when?][why?]

[23] The prosperity of the city during Late Roman times is illustrated by the mosaics of houses found near Agora Square.

This name may have derived from a suburb of Kydonia called Alchania Komi,[clarification needed] where the god Welchanos had been worshipped in antiquity.

[26] The exact location of Kydonia was not understood until Robert Pashley worked it out[27] based solely on ancient historical literature without any archaeological recovery.

[33] Herodotus claims that the city was founded by Samians c. 520 BC, who later on were defeated and enslaved by a coalition of Aeginetans and other Cretans.