Males: Ancient History and Byzantine Church Art

Males offers several distinct points of interest in history and natural history. The village of Μάλλες lies on the site of the ancient city of Μάλλα; the Byzantine church Παναγία has well-preserved frescoes dating from 1431. Nature trails also lead from Μάλλες to named destinations. This gives you specific themes to consider when planning your trip: the history of the ancient city, Byzantine church art, and a range of trail destinations.

The Ancient City and Its Independence

The modern village of Males (Μάλλες) lies on the site of the ancient city of Μάλλα. Around 2,500 years ago, the ancient city of Μάλα was an autonomous city-state: it minted its own coins, had its own army, and worshipped its own deities. These three features shed light on different aspects of the community—political independence, military organization, and religious practice. This makes it possible to place its ancient history in context not only chronologically: the city is also characterized by its own institutions and its own cult. Its status as a city-state is therefore based on specific characteristics, not merely its age.

Byzantine Frescoes

Another historical point of interest is the Byzantine church Παναγία in Μάλλες. It has well-preserved frescoes dating from 1431. Frescoes are wall paintings; the date places them in the 15th century. Unlike the ancient city, whose independence is the main focus, the emphasis here is on a work of church art. This distinguishes the historical references: the ancient city is associated with an approximate age, while the frescoes are associated with a specific year. These two time frames put local history in context without assigning both examples to the same period.

Nature Trails and Their Destinations

Nature trails from Μάλλες lead to the Katharo Plateau, the Ρετικού spring, Παναγία τη Μεσσοχωρίτισσα, a Palaiologan church, Άγιος Νικόλαος, and the double-aisled church Άγιος Χαράλαμπος και Αφέντης Χριστός. The destinations include natural sites as well as religious buildings, offering a range of themes to explore. The iconostasis at Άγιος Χαράλαμπος και Αφέντης Χριστός is particularly noteworthy; it is the work of woodcarvers from Νιταδώροι in Lasithi. An iconostasis is a screen decorated with icons that separates parts of a church interior. Παναγία τη Μεσσοχωρίτισσα is distinguished by its Palaiologan classification, while the focus at the double-aisled church is its artisan-crafted iconostasis. This makes it possible to distinguish the church destinations by their different historical and craft-related associations. The plateau and spring, in turn, are different types of destinations from the churches.

For your trip planning, this comparison offers a simple benefit: if you are interested in history, you can focus on the ancient city or the frescoes; the nature trails, by contrast, offer a way to explore several named destinations. This lets you choose Males based on the actual theme of your trip and start looking for a hotel with a clear idea of what interests you about the area.

Discover more destinations: Roussa Ekklisia, Makris Gialos, Makrylia, Aghia Pelagia, Mílatos, Pilalimata, Sitia, Agios Georgios

For the broader travel overview: Lasithi.