Human activity traced back to the prehistoric period
Archaeological excavations have brought to light blades and pieces of obsidian rock, tools which were common during the Neolithic period.
In classical antiquity, the wider area of Hymettus appeared to be the center of worship of the ancient gods and a place of well-being, due to the springs of Mt. Hymettus which had therapeutic properties.
Two temples dated to the 6th century B.C. were discovered at the hill of ‘Profitis Ilias’, however, there is no indication that they are associated with those of Zeus and Apollo. The cave of ‘Nympholiptos’ also known as the “Cave of Pan” is perhaps the only cave in Greece which has carved sculptures (relief sculptures) in its interior. The explorer Pafsanias tells of a statue of Zeus on Mt. Hymettus and of altars to Zeus Omvrios (Zeus the Rain God) and Apollo Proopsios (Apollo the Foreseer).
Moreover, according to historical reports, there was a Sanctuary of Aphrodite, located within today’s Kalopoula Kaisariani.
The 2nd-century traveller, Pafsanias confirms that the vegetation of Mt. Hymettus was suitable for apiaries as well as agriculture and livestock.
At the southern end of Mt. Hymettus, in the region of Vari, there is a small cape, ‘Zoster’ (Girdle) as the ancient Greeks called it, because that, according to mythology, was where Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis, discarded the girdle tightening her stomach when it was time to give birth.
At this exact location, on ‘Lemos’ (Neck) of Vouliagmeni, in the 6th century B.C., was where the Temple of Apollo Zoster (Girt) was built. Its position was strategic, offering a vantage point from which one could observe the sea and connecting it with the sanctuary of Apollo on the island of Delos, as ships filled with pilgrims would leave from that exact point to reach the island.
According to some researchers, marble was quarried on Mt. Hymettus long before similar activities began in Penteli. The grey marble quarried on Mt. Hymettus was of lesser quality than the marble quarried in Penteli, however it was very popular.
The gray “Hymettian marble”, as Strabo calls the marble quarried in Kakorema (used mainly during the Hellenistic and Roman periods), as well as the yellow tinted limestone quarried in Kareas, known as argillaceous rock from the name of the adjacent municipality, were renowned in antiquity.
The first Christian temples were built on Mt. Hymettus, during the 5th and 6th centuries. The ruins of some of these temples still survive to this day.
Subsequently, during the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods, the monasteries of Mt. Hymettus were founded, which are considered important monuments. A Byzantine tower, known as the tower of ‘Anthousa’ or ‘Koula’, is preserved to the north of the road towards the Monastery of Asteri.
In modern times, the Shooting Range of Kaisariani, which was a place of martyrdom during the Axis occupation of Greece, is also noteworthy.
Human activity traced back to the prehistoric period
Archaeological excavations have brought to light blades and pieces of obsidian rock, tools which were common during the Neolithic period.
In classical antiquity, the wider area of Hymettus appeared to be the center of worship of the ancient gods and a place of well-being, due to the springs of Mt. Hymettus which had therapeutic properties.
Two temples dated to the 6th century B.C. were discovered at the hill of ‘Profitis Ilias’, however, there is no indication that they are associated with those of Zeus and Apollo. The cave of ‘Nympholiptos’ also known as the “Cave of Pan” is perhaps the only cave in Greece which has carved sculptures (relief sculptures) in its interior. The explorer Pafsanias tells of a statue of Zeus on Mt. Hymettus and of altars to Zeus Omvrios (Zeus the Rain God) and Apollo Proopsios (Apollo the Foreseer).
Moreover, according to historical reports, there was a Sanctuary of Aphrodite, located within today’s Kalopoula Kaisariani.
The 2nd-century traveller, Pafsanias confirms that the vegetation of Mt. Hymettus was suitable for apiaries as well as agriculture and livestock.
At the southern end of Mt. Hymettus, in the region of Vari, there is a small cape, ‘Zoster’ (Girdle) as the ancient Greeks called it, because that, according to mythology, was where Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis, discarded the girdle tightening her stomach when it was time to give birth.
At this exact location, on ‘Lemos’ (Neck) of Vouliagmeni, in the 6th century B.C., was where the Temple of Apollo Zoster (Girt) was built. Its position was strategic, offering a vantage point from which one could observe the sea and connecting it with the sanctuary of Apollo on the island of Delos, as ships filled with pilgrims would leave from that exact point to reach the island.
According to some researchers, marble was quarried on Mt. Hymettus long before similar activities began in Penteli. The grey marble quarried on Mt. Hymettus was of lesser quality than the marble quarried in Penteli, however it was very popular.
The gray “Hymettian marble”, as Strabo calls the marble quarried in Kakorema (used mainly during the Hellenistic and Roman periods), as well as the yellow tinted limestone quarried in Kareas, known as argillaceous rock from the name of the adjacent municipality, were renowned in antiquity.
The first Christian temples were built on Mt. Hymettus, during the 5th and 6th centuries. The ruins of some of these temples still survive to this day.
Subsequently, during the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods, the monasteries of Mt. Hymettus were founded, which are considered important monuments. A Byzantine tower, known as the tower of ‘Anthousa’ or ‘Koula’, is preserved to the north of the road towards the Monastery of Asteri.
In modern times, the Shooting Range of Kaisariani, which was a place of martyrdom during the Axis occupation of Greece, is also noteworthy.