The Dikteon Cave (or Dikteon Andron) is one of the most important and famous of the 3,000 caves in Crete.
The Dikteon Cave is found in the Mount Dicte range in East Crete, on the Lassithi Plateau.
The impressive Dikteon Cave, rich in stalagmites and stalactites, is where Zeus was born according to legend. This is why the Dikteon Cave was already famous in antiquity, dedicated to the worship of the greatest of the gods, as the many offerings found there indicate.
On entering the Dikteon Cave, you find yourself in the antechamber and immediately notice the difference in temperature. The sun’s rays cannot penetrate into the cave and the humidity, as in all caves, can reach 85%, while absolute silence prevails.
These ideal conditions make the Dikteon Cave an important habitat, rich in animal life. In the antechamber roost rock doves and other birds, while deeper in live species from arthropods to the Long-Eared Bat.
In the antechamber of the Dikteon Cave were discovered the foundations of a built altar and the remains of offerings.
The Dikteon Cave consists of five chambers large and small. The most impressive sight is the lake at the lowest point, surrounded by massive stalactites and stalagmites.