BASTIONS OF CANDIA (VENETIAN NAME OF HERAKLION)

In the early 17th century, the fortification of Candia had taken its final form and comprised seven large heart-shaped or triangular bastions whose names (from east to west) were: Sabionara Bastion (i.e. of the sand), Vitturi Bastion (named after the Provveditore Generale Giovanni Vitturi), Bastion of Jesus, Martinengo Bastion (named after the Venetian engineer Gabriele Martinengo), Bethlehem Bastion, Pantokratoras Bastion, Agios Andreas Bastion. In their interior, the bastions had arcades that led to various points of the fortification and to the trench surrounding the walls. Those bastions, being the pillars of defence during the siege of Candia by the Ottomans (1648-1669), which was the longest siege in European history, suffered great damage, especially the two seaward bastions (Sabionara Bastion and Agios Andreas Bastion).

The "Bastion System" - A Small Glossary

Exit (sortita): A steep gallery with semicircular ceiling, which started from the "low square" and, passing under the embankments, ended in the trench.

Embankment (terrapieno): Huge quantities of soil that were brought from other areas and after having been dampened and compressed they were placed at the base of the walls. On the outer part, the embankments were covered with masonry, while in the inner part they usually formed a slope (hill) with a mild gradient.

Gunport (cannoniera): The opening where the cannons were placed.

Mine shaft or "Mina" (mina): Underground gallery built by attackers or defenders in order to penetrate the enemy lines.

Square (piazza): Flat terrain in the bastion area that served various defence needs.

Bastion (balurdo bastione): Protruding strong polygonal structure of the fortification walls. The main firepower of the fortress was located in the bastions.

Trench (fossa): A wide and deep ditch around the perimeter of castles. In medieval times, it was full of water, but after the appearance of firearms and cannons, water was not a major obstacle. It was more important to keep the enemy as far away as possible from the walls, thus, in the "bastion system" fortresses the width of the trench increased significantly. In Khándax (Candia), the trench was dry because of the very large size of the fortress.

'Low square' (piazza bassa): An area located lower than the bastion but higher than the trench.

Underground passage (strada soterranea): A passage, in the form of an underground arch-shaped gallery, leading from the city level to the low squares. In some cases, it connected two low squares or other parts of the fortification between them.

"High Square" (piazza alta): An area located at the same level as the bastion.