Program

A review of current thinking on the origins and interconnections of Europe’s first great maritime civilization and their appreciation of the night sky for both navigation, and time keeping. Dr J. A. MacGillivray, formerly Knossos Curator of the British School at Athens, is co-director of the Palaikastro excavations in Eastern Crete. Suggested material: Sinking Atlantis, The Minoans, The Quest for the Minotaur's Labyrinth, The wave that destroyed Atlantis, Santorini The Doomsday Volcano

Star-gazing night

(in Greek)

M. Perakis & Dr E. Angelakis | Monday June 12 at 20:00 | facebook

With the assistance of the Cretan Friends of Astronomy (SFAK.org) we will observe the night sky. High quality equipment with let us enjoy the marvels of the lunar surface, distant galaxies and exotic planets with the assistance of amateur and professional astronomers.

Guided Tour to the Gournia minoan site

(in English)

Prof. Y. Papadatos (University of Athens) | Wednesday June 14 at 16:00

The archaeological site of Gournia sits on the north coast of the Isthmus of Ierapetra in East Crete. Possessing some 50 well-preserved houses, a system of cobbled streets, a central court, a Minoan palace, and cemetery, Gournia gives the visitor the best picture of what a Late Bronze Age (1500 B.C.) town looked like. Gournia was a regional production center of bronze tools and weapons, domestic objects, and pottery and stone vases, an active trade emporium with overseas connections to other parts of the Aegean and the Near East, and the palatial administrative center for the Mirabello region. Its harbor complex consists of a monumental shipshed, fortification walls with towers, a riverside dam, and a cobbled street running from the coast to Town.

Guided Tour to the Institute for Aegean Prehistory Study Center for East Crete

(in English)

Dr. Tom Brogan (INSTAP) | Wednesday June 14 at 16:00

INSTAP Study Center for East Crete is a unique facility for archaeological research, especially in the area of Aegean Prehistory. The Center is committed to stimulating and facilitating publication in the broader field of Cretan studies, with a focus on archaeology and ethnology. The Center provides storage space for artifacts from American and Greek-American excavations in eastern Crete and offers services for the primary study of excavated material to both member projects and individual scholars. On a broader level, the Center also functions as a base of operations for individuals engaged in a wide range of Cretan research topics unrelated to the member projects. The numerous facilities and services at the Center are available to both individuals and projects.

Conference dinner

at Napoleon restaurant | Wednesday June 14 at 20:00

One of the most traditional and original taverns on Ierapetra water front.

Guided Tour to Ierapetra

(in English and Greek)

tba and tbc | Friday June 16 at tba

We will have a guided tour around the most interesting attractions of the Town including: The Archeological Museum, the Venetian fortress (Kales) and the neighboring church dating from the 11th century, the roman theater recently excavated and the estate claimed to have hosted Napoleon for one night on his way to Africa and of course the Mosque.

Astro-photography contest ceremony | facebook

(in English and Greek)

E. Angelakis (Max Planck for Radio Astronomy) | Friday June 16 at 20:00

We will summarize the conference for the local public and present the astrophotography contest participations. The three best pictures will be announced and a prize ceremony will take place. We will also do a go-through the some of the most exotic processes in the universe through the astro-photos of the contestants that participated in the astro-photography contest of the conference.

Disclaimer: banner image taken from: https://www.ierapetra-hotels.com/en/explore-ierapetra-crete