The Origin of the City's Name
Scholars have been trying for years to analyse the etymology of the name "Hania," and
to decide on the time when the name was changed from "Kythonia" to "Hania". The new name
 is first met as "Cania" in the document "Sexteriorum Cretensiu in Militias divisio"
in 1211. Then the name "Canea" is mentioned in the document which relinquishes the
Hania area to the Venicians in 1252. As for the change of the name from "Kythonia"
to "Hania", the most convincing point of view is that of Prof. N. Platonas,
 who associates it with the existence of a big village "Alhania", named after
the God "Valhanos" (Vulcan). The Sarasin Arabs found this name easier to use but
confused it with their own word "Al Hanim" (the Inn). After the departure of the Arabs,
 the syllable "Al", probably taken to be the Arab article "Al" (the), was dropped when
the name was translated into the Greek "Hania" and the Latin "Canea".
Historically and Archaelogically, the hill of Kasteli is one of the most significant
 parts of the city, as it has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The factors which
 contributed to the uninterrupted use of Kasteli as a residential area were : its
geographic position and the fertile plain on the south, both of which contributed to
making the district an important commercial and transport junction. Excavations have
 brought to light remains dating from the first Minoan period (2800-2000 B.C.).
The houses of that period are large with well constructed rooms. The walls and floors are
 painted with a bright red colour. The Kasteli area was also inhabited in the
 Post-Minoan period (1580/1550 - 1100 B.C.).
According to the evidence offered by the clay tablets in Linear
A scripture found on the hill, the area was reserved for royal use.
 Between 1380 and 1100 B.C. it developed into a commercial centre which was
in constant communication with the rest of Crete and Greece.A historically
 significant ceramics workshop, known as "the Kythonia Workshop" has also been
found in the Hania area. It now belongs to the post-royal period.

Write by http://www.chania.gr/endocs/g-history.jsp

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