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Phylaki


Phylaki -- the dromos
Phourni

The LM IIIA tholos tomb was discovered in 1981 a kilometre or so from the village of Phylaki. The tholos is approached by a narrow, deep dromos 11 metres long. Inside the tholos the chamber is almost square and in this it resembles another tholos tomb in Western Crete, at Maleme, though not the nearer example at Stylos which has a circular chamber. The chamber measures 3.40 metres by 3.65 metres and it has been carved out of the soft rock known as kouskoura. The chamber is lined with well-worked, rectangular, limestone stones.

Inside the Phylaki tholos tomb
Phourni

Only a few stones are missing from the tholos where a hurried robbery took place at an unknown date. The largest items were stolen and stones were then thrown onto the floor of the tholos tomb, damaging the smaller items that were left. The tomb was subsequently used by villagers as a rubbish dump where animals -- dead and alive -- as well as the clothes of consumptives were thrown. Its usefulness as a rubbish dump may actually have served to preserve the remaining contents of the tomb from being robbed as well.

At least nine burials were found in poor condition inside the tomb and there was also evidence of burning, which suggests that animal sacrifices may have taken place in honour of the dead.

Entrance to the Phylaki tholos tomb
Phourni

The most important finds in the tomb include: ivory decorations from a wooden box, including the heads of warriors wearing boar's tusk helmets; plaques with sphinxes and wild goats and figure of eight shields. A gold necklace and 15 seal stones were also found as well as amulets and bronze weapons and utensils, though the bronze implements were in very poor condition.

Although the turning to the tomb is signposted from the road which leaves the village of Phylaki in the direction of Kournas, it is not signposted again. The tomb can be found about a hundred metres after taking the turn. On the left there is a dirt track which descends steeply. To the left of this track is a path that leads over even ground to the entrance to the tomb.