Recent archaeological excavations at the Temple of Demeter in Phalasarna, Crete, have uncovered significant artifacts shedding light on ancient worship practices. The temple, situated on a rocky hill between two mountain peaks, was originally located in a natural cave abundant with water, which later collapsed. Following the destruction of the cave, the site functioned as an open-air sanctuary dedicated to a chthonic deity associated with earth, water, and fertility. This is evidenced by numerous clay figurines of female figures, enthroned deities, heads with headdresses resembling the goddess Demeter, miniature water jars, and water-carrying women, all typical finds in sanctuaries of the ancient goddess Demeter.
The architectural structure of the temple that survives today was rebuilt with stones in the late 4th or early 3rd century BC on the same rock where the cave and the earliest worship existed. The temple is defined by an enclosure that survives for the most part, except for a part that seems to have been destroyed by a huge boulder. A monumental staircase led to two single-room buildings with a common intermediate wall and a common retaining wall on the north side. The eastern building was the main temple building, while the western one probably served as an auxiliary building. A door in the eastern part of the inner sanctum led to an outdoor area where sacrifices were performed.
The sanctuary of the temple had a paved floor, like the rest of the temple floors. On the floor were five cases for depositing offerings, inside of which were revealed vases of good quality with elegant shapes, some of ritual character, one of which was inscribed in the Doric dialect with the name of the goddess to whom the temple was dedicated: "Akestoi dedicates to the goddess Demeter." The temple was in the Doric style, built on natural rock with two fluted columns, parts of which have been preserved. The roof was of the Corinthian type with clay sleepers and coverings. Based on the study of the excavation data and the architectural members, it seems that the graphic restoration of the monument will be possible, as well as the future restoration of the temple.
The rocky areas and the ancient deposits in pits excavated revealed findings mainly from Archaic times. Daedalic art seems to have dominated the Early Archaic period (650 BC) in the form of nude female figures with Daedalic headdresses and high poles. From the findings of the 6th century BC, objects of Egyptian and Phoenician glass, clay pendants of birds and animals, arrowheads and spears, miniature vases, enthroned female figures, as well as a female figurine holding a poppy and a pomegranate stand out. Regarding the findings of the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, the hydriai stand out, a rhamphostomous ritual with a red-figure representation of flying love, iron spikes, and alabaster vases.
The geophysical explorations were carried out by professors G. Tsokas and G. Vallianatos with teams from the Mediterranean University of Crete. Tomographs depicted in the subsoil architectural relics, and their shape at the bottom appeared to be semicircular. However, in the upper part, the picture did not clearly show the semicircular layout for the recognition of the ruins as belonging to an erstwhile public building, e.g., theater or bouleuterion. Only excavations will complement the picture given by geophysical prospecting and lead to its full interpretation.
The excavation was carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the support of the Director of the Ephorate of Chania Dr. E. Papadopoulou, while the archaeologist of the Ephorate Dr. Michalis Milidakis and the master craftsman K. Mountakis. Archaeologists also took part in the project: Dr. Michael Benton, K. Borboudakis, P. Zervoudakis, and G. Apostolakis, and the architects Th. Nakasis and N. Michaelidis. In maintenance worked E. Katsoulakis, and K. Nikolakakis. As laborers were P. Hyseni, N. Kounelakis, M. Markakis, E. Selimi, X. Musa, III. Charalampakis, and E. Partali. The project was carried out with the kind sponsorships of the Aegeas Foundation AMKE (Thanasis and Marina Martinou), the Ministry of Merchant Marine (General Secretariat of the Aegean) with the personal interest of the Minister Mr. I. Plakiotakis, and the Association of Friends of Ancient Falasarna.