Gortyna

Gorty'na (Γόρτυνα; in classical writers, Γόρτυν or Γόρτυνα; on a coin, Κόρτυνα [Κορτυνίων]), a city of Crete, mentioned in the Apocrypha in the list of cities to which the Romans sent letters on behalf of the Jews, when Simon the Maccabee renewed the treaty which his brothers Judas and Jonathan had made with Rome (1 Macc. 15:23; comp. 1 Macc. 8, 1 sq.; 12:1 sq.). There is no doubt that the Jews were settled in great numbers in Crete (Josephus, Ant. 17:12, 1; War, 2:7; Philo, Leg. ad Caium, sec. 36), and Gortyna may have been their chief residence. Ptolemy Philometor, who treated the Jews kindly, and who had received a numerous body in Egypt when they were driven out of Judaea by the opposite party (Josephus, Ant. 13:3; War, 1:1, 1), rebuilt part of Gortyna (Strabo, 10, Didot. ed., page 411). When Paul, as a prisoner, was on his voyage from Caesarea to Rome, the ship, on account of a storm, was obliged to run under the lee of Crete, in the direction of Cape Salmone, and soon after came to a place called Fair Havens, which was near a city called Lasaea (Ac 27:8). Lassea is probably the Lasia of the Peutingerian Tables, and is there stated to be sixteen miles east of Gortyna. It is very uncertain how long the vessel was detained at Fair Havens, though "much time had been spent" (Ac 27:9), not since they had sailed from Caesarea, but at the anchorage (Alford, ad loc.). Doubtless the sailors, soldiers, and prisoners had frequent intercourse with Lasea, and perhaps Gortyna. Paul may then have preached the Gospel at one or both of these places, but of this there is not the slightest proof (comp. Conybeare and Howson, Life of St. Paul, 2:394- 396). SEE PAUL.