Eileithyia Cave, Greek sanctuary cave in Amnisos, Greece
Eileithyia Cave in Amnisos is a sacred site with a main passage extending approximately 64 meters in length and varying between 9 and 12 meters wide. The interior features multiple chambers connected by ascending pathways throughout the site.
References to the cave appear in Linear B tablets from Knossos dating to the 14th century BC. The site remained an active place of worship until the 5th century AD.
Women left offerings of milk, honey, oil, and wool at the stone altar, where two cylindrical stalagmites represent a mother and child. These gifts reveal how visitors showed devotion to the goddess associated with childbirth.
The cave entrance is marked by an old fig tree near the site. Visitors need special permission from local archaeological authorities before entering and exploring the interior.
Archaeological digs uncovered artifacts from Syria, Palestine, and Egypt at this location. These discoveries show how widely connected this site was to distant trade networks in ancient times.
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