Chanioporta

Since its creation around the middle of the 16th century, Pantokratoras Gate was the entrance and exit to the walled city of Chandakas, today's Heraklion, from and to western Crete. The largest and most important city in the west of the island was Chania, which gave the gate its most-used nickname, “Chanioporta” (Chania Gate). The name “Pantokratoras” (that means “Almighty”)comes from the Latin inscription “Omnipotens”, as well as from the relief carving of the divine figure. The triangular halo and the length of the beard give us room to speculate that this “Almighty” may not in fact be Jesus Christ, but a rare representation of God. Just below is the winged Lion of Venice, a symbol of ark the Evangelist, patron saint of the Republic of Venice. The open book held by the lion, with the inscription “Pax Tibi Marce Evangelista Meus” (meaning “Peace to you, Mark the Evangelist”) that has been erased by the passage of time, indicates that the fortification was created in a time of peace and prosperity. For centuries, pedestrians and animal drawn vehicles alike passed through the small and controlled gates, and the large arched opening for motor vehicles was formed in 1915. The lateral galleries of the wall have turned into spaces for artistic exhibitions and cultural events; in many parts of the stonework, observant visitors will be able to spot bullet marks from handguns and machine guns, a reminder of the fierce clashes that took place at this spot during the Battle of Crete.