Elound Crete and Mermaids ? One of my favorite spots on Crete is the town of Elounda (or Elouda / elounta creta krete ), located in northeastern Crete in the Lasithi prefecture. This modern town lies on the shores of a lagoon that contains the sunken remains of the lost city of Olos or olous . On days when the water is calm, the walls of this ancient city can be seen beneath the waves. In summer, scuba diving expeditions through the town are available. Elounda's Lagoon Elounda's lagoon, technically the Gulf of Korthos, also contains the island of Spinalonga and its Venetian fortress, which for many years was used as a leper colony. Sad tales are told of lepers who would try to escape from the "Isle of Tears", using barrels or wooden bed frames for boats. Before Spinalonga was a refuge for lepers, it was also a refuge for Christians during the Turkish occupation, since the Venetians maintained control over the fortress. Elounda's Mermaid It's not recorded if any the desperate escapees encountered the other occupant of the lagoon: Britomartis, who in Cretan myth is said to be a mermaid goddess, possibly the daughter of Carme and Zeus, believed to still inhabit the local waters - she certainly inhabits the local souvenir shops! Known also as Dictynna, Britomartis is identified with Artemis and Diana and is also believed to be the original form of the mermaid goddess of the island of Aegina. Despite Elounda's difficult history of sunken cities and suffering lepers, the waters of the lagoon are strangely calming and peaceful. We felt a gentle joy welling up inside of us, perhaps the gift of the strong, yet playful mermaid who is patroness of the area.