Paximadia

At first glance, Nisi Paximadia is an island located approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles or 6.5 nautical miles) off the south coast of Crete. However, depending on the angle of approach, it becomes clear that Nisi Paximadia actually consists of two, uninhabited, islets. The span of both rocks combined, is approximately 3 kilometers (1.9 mi - 1.6 nm).

History

Once dominated by Phaestos, a very strong, rich, populous and independent city, the little islands were called the Islets of Dionysoi, after Dionysos, the god of wine. It is said that the goddess Artemis, together with the nymph Vritomartis, often hunted in this area. Another name for these two rocks was Litoai or Letoae, after the goddess Lito, mother of Apollo and Artemis.

Nowadays, the two rocky lumps are called Paximadia, because they resemble the shape of this ancient food. Paximadia is a traditional dry bread, named after the Hellenistic cook Paximus. This bread is so dry, that it cannot be eaten, unless dipped in water. It is protected by EU as a product of Crete, where it was developed many years ago for the sheep herders, when they would go up into the mountains for longer periods of time.

Location

Paximadia is located in the Gulf of Messara, which is part of the Libyan Sea on the Eastern side of the Mediterranean sea. The exact location is N 35º 00’ 29.79” and E 024º 35’ 43.23”. Goto the Google Map to see it.