MIRABLLO, GULF OF

Modern Greek Klpos Mirabllou, deep gulf of the Aegean Sea on the northern coast of eastern Crete, the noms (department) of Lasthi, Greece. It separates Dhkti massif on the west from a range of hills on the east that include Mt. Thripts and Mt. Ornn. The gulf, named after the village of Mirabello, located north of the port of yios Niklaos, is separated on the east from the rmos (bay) Sitas by an indented and blunted promontory. Around the gulf are Olonte (Olus) and Lato, two ruined classical settlements; on the islets of Psra and Mkhlos (Kondha) as well as at Gourni at the head of the gulf are the remains of Late Minoan I (16001450 BC) settlements. Gourni, excavated 190104 by the U.S. archaeologist Mrs. Boyd Hayes, is the only well-preserved Minoan town in Crete.