Idaean Cave

A sacred cave sanctuary on the eastern slopes of Mount Ida (Psiloritis) in Crete, at 1,538 m altitude, covering 800 sq m across three chambers. Venerated from 4000 BC to the 1st century AD as one of the greatest cave sanctuaries in Crete. In myth, Rhea hid the infant Zeus here, guarded by the Curetes. Excavations by Halbherr (1885) and Sakellarakis (1982) yielded bronze shields with Assyrian influence, gold jewelry, clay figurines, and an Altar of Zeus carved into rock at the entrance. King Minos reportedly visited every nine years to receive laws from Zeus.