Juktas peak Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A cache at the minoan sanctuary at the peak of mount Juktas. 
The Iuktas Peak Sanctuary, also known as Psili Korfi, is located 13 kilometres south-west of Knossos, from which point the mountain peak can be seen. To the east of the sanctuary lies the village of Archanes, which was the site of a major Minoan settlement, possibly including a palace. Unfortunately the modern village was built on top of the Minoan site so a complete excavation has proved impossible (cache GC20WE5). When Arthur Evans excavated the Iuktas site he uncovered what he considered to be a priest's house of the early Aegeo-Cretan "but and ben" type.
Soon emerged that what Evans had called a priest's house had, in fact, been the main part of the open air sanctuary which consists of two stepped terraces, oriented north-south. These are reached from the ramp which Evans identified, lying directly to the south.
The excavator of the site concluded that the peak sanctuary was the public open-air sactuary of the Knossos area in the Old Palace period. In MM III however, when the new palaces were built, the connection with the Palace of Knossos becomes clearer because the architectural remains are monumental when compared with other peak sanctuaries that have been excavated. Also, the quality of the finds has a palatial character.
The Iuktas Peak Sanctuary is reached by an appalling dirt track which winds up the side of Mount Iuktas for five kilometres. The Sanctuary is fenced off but can be seen from outside the fence and the views over Archanes and towards eastern Crete from one side and towards Psiloritis and the west from the other side of the peak are absolutely spectacular.
(The description comes from www.uk.digiserve.com)
At the path you will find another spot of the botanic arc of Natural History Museum of Crete.
The cache is located at the southeast part of the area.There are two ways to go to the cache.
a)You park at the given coordinates and you follow the path to the gate of the monument and after you follow the fence to the east . When you arrive to the corner start search for the cache.
b) You go to the cache Anemospilia (GC20KEG) and from there you follow the well marked path which cross the mountain. It is about one hour hike.
You can always read our blog for more information about geocaching in Crete.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oruvaq n uhtr ebpx, haqre fgbarf.