Apesokari

Apesokari Απεσωκάρι
Location
Apesokari
Coordinates	35°1′N 24°57′E
Government
Country:	Greece
Region:	Crete
Regional unit:	Heraklion
Municipality:	Gortyna
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Village
- Population:	131
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)

Apesokari (Greek: Απεσωκάρι) is the archaeological site of an ancient Minoan cemetery. It is also a modern village with a population of 131 (2001) and is built at 155 m above sea level. It is in the municipality of Gortyna in the south of Heraklion regional unit, Greece.

Population

Year	Population
1981	156
1991	186
2001	131

Archaeology

Apesokari was first excavated during World War II by Germans, and a small tholos tomb, a cult room and an outdoor altar was excavated. Later, Kostas Davaras excavated a second tomb to the east of the first.

The tomb is notable for the fact that burials did not only take place inside the tholos tomb, but also took place in some of the outer rooms which join the tholos tomb as well. It also had a cult room, most likely a pillar crypt, since it had a wooden pillar on a stone base. A small bench altar was built in a niche to the right of the entrance. A cult image, formed from natural rock, was found on this altar. There was also a large altar outside, surrounded by a paved area.

Again there was a large circular tomb with numerous rectangular side rooms. A Minoan settlement originally existed nearby.

See also

• List of places in the Heraklion prefecture

References

• Swindale, Ian http://www.uk.digiserve.com/mentor/minoan/apesokari.htm Retrieved 11 February 2006

External links

• http://www.uk.digiserve.com/mentor/minoan/apesokari.htm (Excellent Photographs)
• Apesokari at the GTP Travel Pages