Crete

Crete (Greek: Κρήτη; Ancient Greek: Κρήτη) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, and the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and Corsica. Crete and a number of surrounding islands and islets constitute the region of Crete (Greek: Περιφέρεια Κρήτης), one of the 13 top-level administrative units of Greece. The capital and the largest city is Heraklion. As of 2011, the region had a population of 623,065.

Crete forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece, while retaining its own local cultural traits (such as its own poetry and music). It was once the center of the Minoan civilization (c. 2700–1420 BC, named after the legendary King Minos), which had its capital at Knossos and is the earliest known civilisation in Europe.

Crete was part of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Republic of Venice, and the Ottoman Empire, before being absorbed into the modern state of Greece in the early 20th century.

Crete in "Occupation Duty"
Tradition held that Crete was the original homeland of the Philistines, who were closely related to the Ellenes of the mainland. Although the two cultures still paid lip service to their ancient kinship, after 3,000 years they had evolved separately to the point where even their languages were no longer mutually intelligible.