| Cranae | |
| Native Name: | Κρανάη |
| Native Name Lang: | el |
| Sobriquet: | Marathonesi |
| Nickname: | --> |
| Pushpin Map: |
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| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Relief: | y |
| Coordinates: | 36.7542°N 22.5739°W |
| Area M2: | 51.6 |
| Area Km2: | or |
| Area Ha: | --> |
| Length M: | 413 |
| Length Km: | --> |
| Width M: | 17 |
| Width Km: | --> |
| Coastline M: | --> |
| Elevation M: | 124 |
| Country: |  Greece |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | Region |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Peloponnese |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | Regional unit |
| Country Admin Divisions 1: | Laconia |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 2: | Municipality |
| Country Admin Divisions 2: | East Mani |
| Country Area M2: | or |
| Country Area Ha: | --> |
| Country1 Area M2: | or |
| Country1 Area Ha: | --> |
| Population: | 0 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Density Km2: | 0 |
| Timezone1: | EET |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | EEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +3 |
Cranae or Kranai (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Κρανάη in Greek, Modern (1453-); pronounced as /kraˈnai/) (also Marathonisi) is an island off the coast of Gytheio (ancient Gythium) connected to the land by a causeway built in 1898.
Some believe that the etymology for the name Cranae (Kranai) comes from the legendary king of Athens Kranaos, the successor of King Kekropas (Cecrops) as Athens was also known as "Kranaa". However the word Kranaos according to Homer it has the following meanings: 'Rocky', 'ragged', 'hard'. Therefore, some believe that the word Kranai literally means 'rocky', 'rock'.
The name "Marathonisi" translates to 'fennel-island', as the herb fennel was naturally growing on this island.
According to legend, when Paris of Troy abducted Helen from Sparta they spent their first night in Cranae. When Gythium became the major port of ancient Sparta, Cranae became a resting spot for traders.
When Greece became a part of the Ottoman Empire, the beys of Mani fortified Cranae with a Maniot tower. The tower built by the Tzannetakis family in 1829, now houses the Historical and Cultural Museum of Mani.
On the island there is a chapel dedicated to St Peter (Agios Petros) which is favored by many couples to use on their weddings due to its beautiful views of the city of Gytheio and picturesque location. There is also a prominent 23m-high lighthouse built in 1873 with high-quality marble from the area of Tainaro in south Mani peninsula.