Guide to the Dorian City of Lato, Crete, Greece

The Great Temple

The Great Temple at Lato is constructed of huge stone slabs and comprises two rooms, a rectangular prodomos / pronaos (literally 'before church') or antechamber with a pebbled floor and a square sekos or cella.The partial remains of the base of the temple's cult figure have been reassembled in situ at the rear of the sekos. The entrance to the temple, like many others of the period, faces the East (unlike the sanctuary / temple below in the Agora). Although it is not known for sure to what deity Lato's Great Temple was dedicated, as the Goddess Eileithyia played such an important role in the city's identity and culture it may well have been consecrated to her. Archaeologists believe the structure to be of a similar age to the buildings of the Agora, approximately 4th century BC.

^ Looking to the Great Temple and Temple Terrace from above the Prytaneion ^

^ Western corner of the Great Temple ^

^ View of the entrance to the Great Temple in its East wall ^

^ Partial remains of the base of the temple's cult figure. There would have been at least one more level ^

^ View of the sekos with base in place ^

^ View through the two rooms ^

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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