Davelis Cave, Archaeological cave in Mount Penteli, Greece
Davelis Cave is a network of passages within Mount Penteli that channels water toward a central pool at its heart. A double Byzantine church marks the entrance, creating a threshold between the cave's inner system and the surrounding landscape.
In ancient times, the site functioned as a sanctuary dedicated to Pan, later becoming a refuge for a 19th-century bandit leader. The cave takes its modern name from this outlaw who used its tunnels to evade capture.
The cave served as a sacred space in ancient times, with pottery depicting Pan and nymphs revealing the religious practices that took place here. These findings show how central this location was to local worship and mythology.
The entrance sits at 720 meters elevation and requires private transportation since public transit does not extend beyond the village of Neo-Penteli. Visitors should prepare for an uphill journey and uneven terrain.
The Greek government sealed the cave in the 1980s for construction work, accidentally leaving behind anti-cancer medications when the project was suddenly abandoned. This quirk turned the site into an unexpected repository of medical history.
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