Axos: Ancient History, Churches and Woodcarvings

Axos offers several distinct points of interest for a trip focused on culture: the history of the ancient city of Oaxos, early Christian building remains, frescoes in two churches and the Museum of Woodcarving Georgios Koutandou. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you are particularly interested in archaeology and early history, sacred art or woodcarving. This makes it possible to choose your destination based on the subjects you would like to explore during your stay.

From the ancient city to the Early Byzantine period

The ancient city of Oaxos, also called Axos, flourished in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. In the 4th century BC, Oaxos minted silver coins; during the Hellenistic period, the city was the seat of the Cretan Council. Axos was also a bishopric during the Early Byzantine period. Its history thus spans the ancient city’s heyday, its Hellenistic role and the Early Byzantine era.

Among the surviving remains are visible sections of the ancient city wall and remnants of an aqueduct. Several temples in Axos also retain early Christian architectural elements made of marble. Together with the historical milestones, these structures reveal different aspects of the area’s past: ancient fortifications and water supply, as well as early Christian architecture.

Frescoes and the architectural history of the churches

The present-day Holy Church of Agios Ioannis Prodromos in Axos was built on the site of a Proto-Byzantine church. Parts of the arch and mosaic floor from the earlier church have survived. The well-preserved frescoes in the present church date from the 14th century and depict scenes from the life of John the Baptist. Here, the remains of an earlier church stand alongside a later cycle of frescoes.

The Holy Church of Agia Irini has a different design: it comprises a single-aisled, vaulted space with a dome and a narthex added to the west. Surviving fragments of frescoes depict scenes from the Christological cycle and individual saints. Comparing the two churches draws attention both to their different architectural features and to the frescoes that have survived in each.

Woodcarvings in the museum

The permanent exhibition at the Museum of Woodcarving Georgios Koutandou consists mainly of life-size wooden sculptures. The works feature traditional folk forms, depictions of nature, and religious and social themes. Some of the collection is defined by its scale, while other works stand out for the range of their subjects.

The permanent exhibition includes “The Eagle and the Office,” a sculpture approximately six metres long. The artist’s workshop is located in the same building as the museum. Those interested in woodcarving will find a different cultural focus here than at the churches: the permanent exhibition is dominated by sculptures, while frescoes and architectural features take centre stage there.

Axos as a destination for your hotel stay

A simple distinction can help you choose a cultural focus: woodcarvings define the museum, frescoes and architecture the churches, and Oaxos represents the history of the ancient city. If you are looking for a hotel in Axos, you can take this focus into account when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Nithafri, Triopetra, Viranepiskopi, Panormos, Prines, Episkopi, Kerames, Damnoni.

For the broader travel overview: Rethymno.