The Paximadia

The islands of Paximadhia Mesaras (Template:Lang-el are two small uninhabited islands in the gulf of Mesaras located approximately 12km south of Aghia Galini in Rethymno Prefecture, in the southern part of Crete. The two islands appear as one island from distance because they are close together.

Name

Locals often refer to the island as Elefantaki because it looks like a baby elephant that is lying down. The name attributed to the islands today is due to their resembling dry Cretan bread known as Paximadhi (the plural being Paximadhia'). In ancient Crete they were also known as Dionysii after the god Dionysus and also as Letoai after the goddess Leto who was worshipped at Phaistos where she was also known as Fitii in ancient times.

Mythology

In Cretan mythology it is believed that the goddess Leto gave birth to the god Apollo and the goddess Artemis on these islands.

Beaches

There are isolated sand beaches on these islands that can be reached via boat from Aghia Galini.

Demographics

The islands are uninhabited.

Literature

The Paximadhia islands played a central role in the German novel Der kretische Gast (The Cretan Hospitality) by Klaus Modick.