Mount Lykaion

Whether you’re looking for the birthplace of Zeus, interested in the ancient Lykaion Games, or simply looking for a relatively quick climb to a summit with stunning views, Mount Lykaion has a lot to offer.

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Whether you’re looking for the birthplace of Zeus, interested in the ancient Lykaion Games, or simply looking for a relatively quick climb to a summit with stunning views, Mount Lykaion has a lot to offer. It is on the border between Arcadia and Messenia, and the summit is 1420m above sea level. The mountainous area extends from the Alfeios River to the Gulf of Kyparissia.

Nowadays it is well off the beaten track, but at one point Mount Lykaion was the Arcadians’ sacred mountain and the cradle of Arcadian civilisation. There was a Alter to Zeus on its southern peak and a hippodrome, sanctuary to Pan, guest house and great stoa slightly lower down on the slopes. There is not much left of the Alter of Zeus, but despite this the site on the summit is an evocative and somewhat mysterious place. This was the site of secret sacrifices, and people were forbidden from entering the sacred precinct. Indeed, it was believed that anyone who disobeyed would inevitably die within a year. It was also believed that no animal or human cast a shadow when inside the sacred precinct. The Alter has cast its own long shadow on history, with written sources from the 4th century BC and later mentioning that human sacrifices were made here. There is considerable disagreement over this, but in the summer of 2016 a human burial was excavated in the middle of the altar, adding to the plausibility of this idea. The pottery found at the site was mainly from the end of the Mycenaean era, indicating that the burial probably took place in the 11th century BC. 

The entrance to the Alter was guarded by two Doric columns which at one point were topped by golden eagles - the symbols of Zeus. The bases of these columns have been discovered during excavations, and the ancient road from the hippodrome passed between them. Pausanias mentions the decorative eagles, but he did not see them, leading scholars to speculate that they had been moved to the nearby city Megalopolis when it was  founded. There was also a sanctuary to Zeus in the city, and it is possible that the eagles had been moved there.

Games were held in the area below the Alter. These were centred around the hippodrome, where horse races in honour of Ipiou Poseidon where held. It also functioned as a stadium for athletic events. The area was decorated with fountains and statues.

Systematic excavations have been carried out in the area, and pottery which bears witness to human activity on the hill as early as the Neolithic era and during the Early and Middle Bronze Ages has been found. It seems that the site was an important place of worship during early historical times as well as in the Mycenaean period.

If you want to walk up to the summit of Mount Lykaion you can follow the routes included in the Apollo Trails network. The view from the highest peak is amazing as you can see most of the Peloponnese including the Alfeios valley, Mount Mynthi, Mount Menalo and Mount Taygetos, up to the Ionian, Kyllini and Erymanthos. In ancient times, the Temple of Apollo Epicurius in Phigalea was visible from here.  There are 9 trails  connected by two paths in the Parrhasian Heritage Park. See all trails at: https://apollotrails.com/en/paths/

Lykosoura
To the east of Mount Lykaion, near the modern village of Lykosura, you can see Lykosoura archaeological site. It includes a temple, a large altar on two levels (megaro), where official ceremonies took place, the great stoa, the remains of baths, and the altars of Despina, Demeter and the Great Mother. The surviving ruins are from the 2nd century BC.

Did you know that

The Cultural Association "O Lykaios Dias" in Ano Karyotes has revived the ancient Lykaion Games and since 1973 the games have been held every four years. The 13th games were held in 2022.

Mount Lykaion is about 50 km from Tripoli and 12 km from Megalopolis.

Sources: megalopoli.gov.gr, odysseus-culture.gr, www.archaiologia.gr

Location

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