Guide to the Dorian City of Lato, Crete, Greece

The Prytaneion

The Prytaneion in reality consists of a number of adjacent but independent structures and buildings that would have been important for both social, administrative and governmental / judicial purposes. Ritual hearth? Peristyle Court? Reclining, seated or standing assembly? Even which of the two rooms actually contains the hearth has been discussed, reviewed and revised over the years with regards to Lato and can only really be interpreted with reference to the evidence on the ground. This summary follows closely the findings of Ducrey and Picard and later writers as to the function of each structure although conjecture can and does still apply. Many of the comments on this page are quoted from respected sources in an attempt to show the far from uniform views regarding the exact purpose of certain buildings and structures in the Prytaneion area. For links to these online sources please see the 'References' page accompanying this feature.

^ Relative positions of the buildings / structures in the photographs below ^

^ The steps, towers and rear rooms (note the standing remains of the doorway) visible in this picture ^

^ The steps showing three distinct wings with two narrow lower staircases ^

^ Closer view of the steps and narrow 'staircase' ^

The steps which could seat approximately 80 people could have possibly served any of a number of different purposes. Perhaps they were akin to the seating of a theatral area, from which to view public entertainment or spectacles in the Agora below, as a place for public discussion and outdoor assembly or even in a more formal manner it has been suggested that they could have been used as an open air bouleuterion, a meeting place for the town council.

^ Remains of the West tower ^

^ Remains of the East tower ^

The towers 'are two massive structures, rectangular in plan, whose appearance is reminiscent of military rather than civic architecture. They were designed to support the platform on which the Prytanaion stood.' (P.Ducrey and O.Picard). They are similarly described on The Hellenic Ministry of Culture's website, 'Two high retaining towers, built of large blocks, surrounded the building and supported the one lying at a higher level.'

^ Further view of the East tower. From ground level ^

^ The East room looking out to the sea - Mirabello Bay ^

^ The East room with low step running round and rectangular structure ^

This rectangle of stone blocks in the Eastern room has been described as a 'large stone-built central hearth or altar' (Haggis) or a 'very large rectangular frame of ashlar slabs (3.00 × 3.98 m), which, according to the excavator, contained the common hearth (koine hestia; Demargne 1903: 216, 218)' (Shaw p.13) although Shaw then continues to state that 'Later investigators at Lato have suggested that the so-called hearth there is really the impluvium of a peristyle court (Ducrey and Picard 1972: 573-76).' One feature, however, that is commonly associated with an impluvium is missing, ie: a cistern underneath. Its purpose, therefore, must remain a contentious issue. Haggis cites Miller who contrary to the belief that this shallow step was used for seating 'suggested that the risers were used for standing (observing formal sacrifices), rather than sitting.' Hartzler concurring with this view states that 'this eastern room of the Prytaneion is a simple peristyle court with a double step along the interior wall upon which people probably stood during deliberation.' Hartzler appears to also agree with the view that the rectangular structure in this room is for water storage.

^ The West room with higher steps and deeper platform plus the remains of a hearth ^

This room, it is generally accepted was the dining room or hestiatorion of Lato's kosmoi / kosmioi / cosmes, the administrative group or magistrates of the city (see the 'Government and Administration' page). It contains a hearth and the platform step around its walls would have been of ample depth to have accommodated members in either a seated or reclining position

^ Further view of the West room ^

^ Looking across the two rooms from West to East, allowing comparison of the 'hearths' and steps ^

^ Rooms to the rear ^

Whilst these rooms to the rear of the Western dining room are often referred to as being for storage their significance was actually far greater. They were used for storing the archives of the city. Important treaties (such as that with Gortyn) would have been stored here in addition to Lato's own records. As a document repository one of these rooms was the chreophylakia where 'you could deposit archives for safe keeping. According to the inscriptions, once your contract was recorded on a stone and deposited in this archive, you could not go against it without penalty.' (Hartzler)

Click on the appropriate link to view pictures and description

Main Gate | Steps | Terraces | Shops and Workshops | Portico / Stoa | Central Cistern | Sanctuary / Temple | Agora | Exedra | Prytaneion | Houses of the Prytaneion | Temple House | Great Temple | Altar | Theatral Area |

Walls / Ramparts | Cisterns | Surrounding Area | Miscellaneous

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