Historical approach
On the southwestern coast of Crete in the Minoan era, 3,000 years ago, there was the ancient city of “Phoenix”, whose name comes from the mythological bird of the same name. To this day, the exact place where it was built has not been established. Today, two kilometers from Stefanos Village, there is the location of “Fonikias”, whose name survives the distant past through popular tradition. Our Municipality is also called “Municipality of Phoenix”.
It is known that the “Phoenix” is the mythical bird that is reborn from its ashes. In ancient times, the Phoenix was a sacred symbol for many cultures, such as the Egyptian, the Hebrew, the Ancient Greek, etc., as well as religions, such as Hinduism, Early Christianity, etc. In ancient Greece it was associated with the worship of Helios and the god Apollo. Herodotus (Greek historian of antiquity) refers to the unique ability of regeneration and immortality of the mythical Phoenix as well as to its extraordinary powers.
The ancient city of Phoenix was destroyed and its traces were lost. Much later, after about a thousand years, in the same area where Plakias Bay is located today, a new city, “Apollonia”, was born. Its name comes from the ancient god Apollo, patron of music, light, and the Arts. He is the god of harmony and order, but also of villages and “comes”, small places characterized by the same sense of harmonious balance.
Over time, this city was also destroyed. After about 2,000 years, the small fishing village of Plakias was born, which hosted the few houses of fishermen. However, the small fishing village grew, became more numerous, and its needs changed. Thus, today Plakias has evolved into a beautiful, picturesque tourist resort that in the summer is bustling with visitors who come to visit this magical destination.
Conclusion
We can say that the names of the two ancient cities were not accidental, but the result of the intuition of the ancient man who was closer to nature and who thus symbolically expressed his personal feeling for the quality of the natural environment of the area. These names are directly connected to light, brilliance, energy, in general with the life-giving forces that man draws from nature. The Phoenix symbolizes the power of man to be reborn from his difficulties even stronger. Apollonia symbolizes the harmony of nature and the harmony between man and nature.
Proposal
With inspiration and a vision to share this experience with as many of our fellow human beings as possible, we created Stefanos Village. We invite you to visit the wonderful accommodation and urge you to do nothing else but immerse yourself in the tranquility and enjoyment of nature. The positive energy of the natural landscape will fill you with new strength to continue your creative life like a reborn “Phoenix” until the next time you feel the need to rejuvenate.
We at Stefanos Village generously offer our traditional hospitality so that you can enjoy a carefree and joyful stay in an ideal environment with top-notch services, absorbing the positive energy of the captivating landscape.