coins were found with Europa representations on the back, showing that the people honored Europa as a great goddess. The Odyssey According to Book III of Homer's The Odyssey, Menelaus and his fleet of ships, returning home from the Trojan War, were blown off course to the Gortyn coastline. Homer describes stormy seas that pushed the ships against a sharp reef, ultimately destroying many of the vessels but sparing the crew. Notable people Thaletas (7th century BC), musician Saint Titus (d.107), Bishop of Crete and saint Philip of Gortyna (d.180), Bishop of Gortyn and saint References External links Hellenic Ministry of Culture: Gortyna Hellenic Ministry of Culture: Odeion of Gortyn Gortyn or Gortys History of Gortyn and the Law inscription Internet Ancient History Sourcebook: The Law Code of Gortyn (Crete) Photos of Gortyn The Labyrinth cave system near Gortyn ~ Written in 1909. Uninformed, judgmental and superficial but good on the aspects relating purely to the church. Minoan sites in Crete Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Crete Cretan city-states Municipalities of Crete Roman towns and cities in Greece Roman sites in Greece Spartan colonies Populated places in ancient Crete Former populated places in Greece Roman Crete Neolithic sites in Crete Locations in the Iliad Populated places in Heraklion (regional unit)