Mount Lykaion, Sacred mountain in Arcadia, Greece

Mount Lykaion rises to 1,421 meters and features two distinct peaks called Stefani and St. Ilias set within Arcadia's varied terrain. The site contains multiple archaeological zones including an ash altar, stadium, bathhouse, fountains, and ancient structures spread across the slopes.

Excavations by K. Kontopoulos in 1897 and K. Kourouniotis between 1902 and 1909 first uncovered the altar, stadium and sanctuary of Pan. Work resumed in 2006 under David Gilman Romano and Michalis Petropoulos of the American School of Classical Studies. Their 2007 findings at the altar pushed ritual use back to the Early Helladic period, around 3000 BCE, and in August 2016 a burial of the 11th century BCE was found at the altar's centre.

The name Lykaion likely comes from the root lyk, meaning light. The Lykaia games, held every four years, included footraces for men and boys, chariot races, boxing, wrestling and a pentathlon; victors were crowned with olive branches and received a bronze prize. The last modern Lykaia took place in 2017.

The mountain is accessible but visitors should bring sturdy footwear and water, especially during warmer months. Multiple archaeological areas can be explored at varying difficulty levels depending on your chosen route up the slopes.

The site preserves evidence of Bronze Age rituals predating the classical Greek civilization most people recognize. This discovery shows that sacred practices at this location spanned thousands of years longer than once thought.