KARYDAKI - Silamos - 2005

Karydaki, Silamos. E. Kanetaki (Athens) reports on work on the Venetian church of Panagia Kardiotissa carried out in 2004–2005. The area is known for its springs, tapped by the Venetians to supply water to Chandax (Herakleion).

The three-aisled basilica church was built in the first quarter of the 13^th century. The narthex is rectangular (4.3 x 2m) with a barrel vault and entrance on the west side, close to the mid-line of the middle aisle. The middle and south aisles (4.3 x 7m) have barrel vaulting: at their southwest corner is tomb containing two skeletons. At the north, the walls of the third and shorter aisle (1.9 x 4.8m) are preserved to a height of 2.5m. Damaged frescoes are preserved in the niches of the north and middle aisles.