A dead swordfish in Agia Galini. The name of the species, Xiphias gladius, incorporates the ancient Greek word for swordfish (xiphias), still used in modern Greek, and the Latin word for sword (gladius).

It’s a long climb up the mountain to reach the Psychro Cave in Crete. Visitors who don’t want to walk up to the archaeological site can make use of the local donkey train. (Some animals used on the path are mules, i.e. a cross between a horse and a donkey.)

The Bronze Age town of Gournia is built on top of a hill. It is well preserved, and one does not need a lot of imagination to picture what the town may have looked like during its prime: a conglomeration of dwellings separated by narrow alleys.

This basilica in Gortyna, Crete, was dedicated to the first Bishop of Crete, St Titos. It was founded in the sixth century AD, during the reign of Emperor Justinian (527-565). It replaced an earlier basilica of the fifth century AD. An earthquake in 620 virtually destroyed it, so that it had to be rebuilt.

A view across Quartier Mu in Malia, part of the ancient Bronze Age town that once surrounded the court complex (“palace”). The modern roof preserves the site from the elements.

A view across part of the agora of the ancient Greek city of Lato, built in the mountains. The area with the fence marks the city’s cistern; the broad flight of steps were used as seating for people to listen to whatever was going on in the agora.

The “Throne Room” at Knossos, heavily restored by Arthur Evans. It has been dated to the time of the presumed “Mycenaean” (mainland) takeover of Knossos (Late Minoan II). It is not clear if this room was really used by a king instead of a priest or priestess.

View of the Villa Jovis (“Villa of Jupiter”) on the island of Capri, Southern Italy, photographed from near the entrance to the site. This was a Roman palace built by Emperor Tiberius and completed in AD 27. He lived in this luxurious complex until his death in AD 37.

A view across the Etruscan necropolis known as Crocifisso del tufo near Orvieto. It dates to the sixth century BC.

This picture, taken at the Munich Glyptothek, depicts the sculptures taken from the west pediment of the Temple of Aphaia on Aigina. It depicts a scene from the Trojan War familiar from Homer. The style of the sculpture here is “Archaic”, and on this basis it has been argued that the west pediment is older than the one on the eastern (front) side.