A cultural discovery has recently impressed the world: On Kofinas, the peak of Asterousia Mountains, remains of a School of Aristotle’s Philosophy were spotted. The School, which functioned during the Venetian occupation of Crete, was founded by the priest and philosopher of that time, Joseph Philagris.
The School was housed in a small church built in the 14th century that belonged to Koudouma Monastery. The Monastery used to be a center of spiritual and political resistance against the Venetians and their plans to ban the Greek Language, education and the Orthodox Church. Philagris then left Heraklion and went into the Asterousia Mountains to teach Philosophy, Astronomy, Grammar, Theology and Medicine.
At the same time, Philagris, who had studied in Constantinople, formed a workshop, where Greek ancient texts were copied and commented. These copies travelled to Constantinople and all over Europe. In these way they significantly contributed to the survival and spreading of the ancient Greek Thinking during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment.
Aristotle brought up the issue of direct democracy, political equality, the liberation of slaves, social justice and freedom along with scientific methods of analysis in sciences. Codes of his copies have been found in the National Libraries of London, Paris, Vienna and Bucharest.
To reach the cache area, you can either drive along a neither excellent nor too bad dirt road from Kapetaniana, or walk for about 3 km. Afterwards, you can continue to Kofinas and Moni Koudoumas caches.
The cache is close to the remains of the church. Don’t hesitate to open the gate.
Thank you Wind&Water for the very good translation.