From the Archive - Phalasarna Resurfaced
A pirate haven that once threatened Rome’s might, the rediscovery of Phalasarna has been shaped by natural disasters, ground-breaking technology and deeply personal connections.
Honor Frost's Map of Crete (1970) by Honor Frost Honor Frost Foundation
Phalasarna was once just one of many ports mentioned in historic texts detailing the geography of the Mediterranean and how ancient traders could navigate it.
“across from Lakedaimon as far as to the promontory of Crete upon which is the city Phalasarna"
Scylax (4th century BCE)
These accounts simply described a harbour on the far west of Crete with an artificial closed design.
"in Crete town called Phalasarna, situated toward the sun. It has a close harbour and a temple dedicated to Artemis”
Dionysius of Calliphon (2nd Century CE)
But the story of how this site went from relative obscurity to offering an unique insight into Cretan piracy is not only found in academic publications. Documents primarily sourced from the Honor Frost Archive at the University of Southampton's Archive & Special collections (in the Hartley Library) show the personal communications which in many ways allowed each generation to build on the perceptions of the previous.
Honor Frost's site drawing of Phalasarna (1970-09) by Honor Frost Honor Frost Foundation
Phalasarna’s first mention in the archive is in Frost’s 1970 Crete journal. This account is the first to note parallels between the site and Phoenician-built double harbours such as Amrit and Seleucia Prima, a sheltered design allowing for year-round harbouring in all weather.
Tectonic Map of Phalasarna (1972) by Nick Flemming Honor Frost Foundation
The journal also builds on the ongoing geologic research at the site, with Frost noting further evidence that the harbour seabed had been raised 6 metres out of the water since antiquity. This change is widely viewed to have been caused by the 8.5 magnitude earthquake of 365 CE.
Hajidaki at the excavated Phalasarna (1988-12-14) by Elpida Hajidaki Honor Frost Foundation
Beyond the journal, discussions of Phalasarna can be found in Frost’s correspondence with Dr Elpida Hajidaki, who led the first ever excavations of the harbour in 1986 and 1988 and continues to serve as the site's Director of Excavations.
Updated site drawing of Phalasarna (1986) by Elpida Hajidaki Honor Frost Foundation
Hajidaki’s team found further evidence linking Phalasarna with Phoenician-built ports, excavating an artificial channel linking the main port with a smaller secondary one, echoing the layout found at the military harbour of Carthage.
Phalasarna artistic recreation (2025) by VisitFalassarna Honor Frost Foundation
The prevalence of military defences, its strategic location at the West Aegean’s entrance and the excavation of several grand public buildings and temples led them to believe that Phalasarna had gained its wealth through piracy, something widely practiced across ancient Crete.
Sea level change at Phalasarna (Circa 1990s) by Frank J. Frost Honor Frost Foundation
Their theory also argued that the site had been destroyed by the Roman anti-piracy campaign in 67 BCE, based on the lack of evidence younger than the 1st century BCE, and the blocking of the port's main channel using large ashlar blocks from the city's walls.
Despite not directly taking part in any of these findings, Frost's impact can still be seen across the multiple letters where she championed Hajidaki's work and criticised those who undervalued it. This not only reflected her view of the site's importance, but also how it was just one aspect of her close friendship with Hajidaki, with their letters intermixing discussions of archaeology with personal matters
Throne of Phalasarna (2017) by Elpida Hajidaki Honor Frost Foundation
In 1989, Hajidaki personally invited Frost to write about the Throne of Phalasarna, a structure at the site whose role had been debated since 1837. Arguments had included that it was an oratory bema, used in the worship of the Cretan goddess Dictynna, or dedicated to Poseidon.
The Throne of Astarte (circa 1990) by Honor Frost Honor Frost Foundation
Whilst never published, Frost was the first to confirm that it was an altar to Astarte, the Phoenician goddess of sailors. This was based similarities she had noted to similar thrones now on display in the Louve, helping to prove Phoenician influence went beyond the port’s design.
The final discussion of Phalasarna between Hajdiaki and Frost in the archive is from 1994. But even beyond their archived letters discussing Hajidaki’s initial excavations, the impact of their friendship can still be seen in how the way Phalasarna is discussed today centres around 3 lessons Frost gave to Hajidaki:
Help the younger generation, be fearless and passionate, do serious and lasting work.
Phalasarna in magazine and tourism brochure publications (1988-03) by Elpida Hajidaki (Tourism Brochure) and Frank J. Frost (The Athenian Article) Honor Frost Foundation
Hajidaki’s work not only changed Phalasarna’s understanding among archaeologists, with Greek and English-speaking magazines and guidebooks, and her interviews local TV and press enshrining Phalasarna’s value as a heritage site for both the local community and global audience.
Phalasarna AR Recreation (2018) by Elpida Hajidaki and Gunnar Liestøl Honor Frost Foundation
She also pushed the use of Augmented Reality at the site. Now visitors can view recreations of the ancient harbour via an app as they walk around and “dive” a World War 2 wreck just offshore, with latter particularly showing how the site’s archaeology continues to be redefined.
Hajidaki once noted the struggle in recognising the contributions of those who came before. Her work at Phalasarna not only shows how we build off each other’s research, but that perceptions of sites we share with the world are forged as much by personal ties as scientific finds
Created by Isaac Davey as part of an HFF Internship
Additional Materials on Honor Frost and Phalasarna:
Application of AR technology on Phalasarna's Second World War Wreck: https://youtu.be/IVPiPVrlSV0?si=E7zkb9_Ju4vu_1if
In the Footsteps of Honor Frost, edited by Lucy Blue (Read online): https://www.sidestone.com/books/in-the-footsteps-of-honor-frost
Honor Frost Archive, Special Collections, Hartley Library, University of Southampton.
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