Cydonia or Kydonia was an important ancient city-state on the northwest coast of the island of Crete. It is at the site of the modern-day Greek city of Khania. In legend Cydonia was founded by King Cydon, a son of Hermes and of Akakallis, the daughter of King Minos.

Cydonians are mentioned in book 12 of the Aeneid, where their excellent bow skills are used in an extended Virgilian simile describing the Fury's descent to Juturna.

The exact location of Kydonia was not understood until Robert Pashley worked it out based solely on ancient historical literature, without any archaeological recovery; Kydonia was centred around the present day harbour area and Kastelli Hill. Today's archaeological recoveries from the ancient city of Kydonia are largely stored in the Khania Archaeological Museum in present day Khania.

Notable people

• Aristocles (5th century BC) sculptor
• Kresilas (5th century BC) sculptor

See also

• Malaxa
• Lasthenes
• Knossos
• Panares
• Polychna
• Cydonia Mensae, Mars (region named after Kydonia)

Line notes

References

• C. Michael Hogan, Cydonia, Modern Antiquarian, January 23, 2008
• Robert Pashley, Travels in Crete, 1837, J. Murray