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Porto Rafti through time:

         From the depths of prehistory to the peak of the Mycenaean world, the area of Porto Rafti is not merely a modern seaside destination – it is a land deeply rooted in history, with continuous habitation and activity spanning millennia. Since prehistoric times, the natural geomorphology of the bay has provided a safe haven for vessels and people, with the landscape bearing witness to geological and historical journeys across the ages.

The cave of Schismeni Petra in Vravrona has been inhabited since as early as 10,000 BC, at a time when the sea level was at least 15 meters lower. Over the centuries, the region developed into a hub for trade and cultural exchange with Euboea, the Aegean islands, and the coasts of the Eastern Mediterranean. The area's strong Mycenaean presence (circa 1600–1100 BC) is impressively reflected in the large cemetery at Perati, the most important in Attica, with 219 chambered family tombs. Artifacts discovered there from Egypt, Babylon, and the East confirm contact with the civilizations of the Pharaohs and Mesopotamia.

At the same time, findings in areas such as Pounta, Prasonisi, and the islet of Raftis show continuous habitation dating back to 3000 BC, including settlements that may now lie submerged beneath the sea. The Raftis islet – whose name dominates the modern bay – hosted a Mycenaean settlement, as evidenced by surface finds and pottery. The well-known marble Roman female statue atop the islet connects the site to later historical periods as well.

The sanctuary of Apollo Delios at Prasies, founded during the Mycenaean era and flourishing in the Classical period, is further proof of the region’s cultural and geostrategic significance. Porto Rafti, along with the ancient demes of Prasies and Steiria, formed a crucial link in the network of influence of the Athenian state.

Nearby Merenta and Vravrona complete the historical landscape. Merenta is a protected archaeological site, while Vravrona hosts the sanctuary of Artemis and the impressive cemetery at Lapoutsi. In the same area, the famous kouros and the Kore of Phrasikleia sculptures were discovered – significant examples of the artistic peak of the Archaic period.

Today, archaeologists continue their scientific study of the region, revealing new evidence of the scale and importance of the Mycenaean and later settlements. Porto Rafti, therefore, is not just a picturesque bay – it is a living archaeological and cultural treasure of Attica, deserving of exploration and protection.

References: Olga Kakavogianni (On the Antiquities of the Region,
Article by the archaeologist in Fractal magazine – 20.11.2019)

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