GORTYNA or GORTYN, in Ancient Geography, a large and important city on the southern side of the island of Crete. It stood on the banks of the small river Letheus at a short distance from the sea, with which it communicated by means of its two harbours, Metallum and Lebena. Near the town was the famous fountain of Saurus, inclosed by fruit-bearing poplars; not far from which was another spring, overhung by an evergreen plane-tree which marked the scene of the amours of Jupiter and Europa. Gortyna was, after Cnossus, the largest and most powerful city of Crete. The two cities combined to subdue the rest of the island; but when they had gained their object they quarrelled with each other; and the history of both towns is from this time little more than a record of their feuds. Neither plays a conspicuous part in the history of Greece.