Elyros

Coordinates: 35°17′33″N 23°47′45″E / 35.29250°N 23.79583°E / 35.29250; 23.79583 Elyros (Ἔλυρος in Greek) is an ancient city, located in southwest Crete, in Kefala Hill, near the village Rodovani. It has not been excavated. Elyros was flourishing at least as early as the Greek Classical Period, e.g. 500 to 350 BC. In the Classical Period Elyros was the most important ancient city in southwestern Crete, having about 16,000 inhabitants. It was an industrial and commercial city with large weapons production. Syia and Lissos were its harbours. Apollo, Phylakides and Philandros, sons of Apollo and nymph Akakallida, were worshiped there.

In the 3rd century BC, Elyros was at war with Kydonia, an important center of Cretan power, located in the modern city of Chania. The citizens of Elyros sent to the Delphi Oracle, a bronze votive complex that represents a goat feeding the sons of Apollo when they were infants. It is also one of the thirty cities that signed the decree with Eumenes B’ in 183 BC.