Apollo is the ancient Greek god of light (his nickname is Phoebus), personifies the Sun. Apollo was the patron of the muses, for which he was called Musaget. He predicted the future and even treated people. Apollo is one of the most revered gods.
On Mount Parnassus, which is called the mountain of the god Apollo, he lives as the god of music and poetry. Apollo is surrounded by nine eternally young muses, who are goddesses of inspiration and creativity; all of them are daughters of Zeus: Thalia, Clio, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Euterpe, Erato, Urania and Calliope. Therefore, the mountain has another name - Mount Muz. It is very common to see springs or fountains in works of art depicting muses. The reason for this is the fact that the muses lived on the Kastalsky Spring. The water from this spring gave them inspiration.
Mount Parnassus is located in Greece in the northern part of the Gulf of Corinth. In fact, Parnassus is not just one mountain, it is a real mountain range, which is one of the parts of the Pindu mountain range. The highest point of this mountain range is Mount Liakura ( Wolf Mountain), rising almost 2.5 kilometers above sea level.
At the foot of Parnassus is the small city of Delphi. In the area of Delphi near Mount Parnassus, the Pythian Games were once held, which were invented and organized by Apollo himself.
According to legend, on Parnassus there was a stone on which two eagles met, released in different sides light by Zeus. This stone was called Omphalus (from ancient Greek - the Navel of the Earth), it was kept in the temple of Apollo (the Temple of Apollo was built later than this stone appeared). Due to the existence of this stone, Parnassus is considered the center of the earth. If you believe another legend, then on Mount Parnassus Deucalion (son of Prometheus) and Pyrrha (daughter of Pandora), who were husband and wife, were saved from the flood. This happened when Zeus decided to eradicate the corrupted human race.
At the top of Parnassus there was a stalactite cave, which the ancient Greeks gave the name Corycian Cave. Bacchic celebrations took place near it. At the foot of the mountain, between two rocks, the Kastalsky spring gushes from a crevice; in ancient times it was a place of pilgrimage.
A huge number of myths, tales, legends and other wonderful things are associated with Mount Parnassus. For example, the nymph Daphne, with whom Apollo was unrequitedly in love, turned to bay tree near the mountain, Apollo himself defeated the dragon Python at the foot of the mountain. There was also a crevice on the mountain from which steam rose. Everyone who inhaled it received the gift of clairvoyance. Another assumption is that Pegasus, a winged horse, lived on Parnassus. In addition to all this, other little-known and insignificant facts from Greek mythology are associated with Parnassus.
Now most of the territory near Mount Parnassus is captured by Parnassus national park. This park is the first national park created in Europe; it appeared in 1938. The peaks of Parnassus are covered with snow, and the rest of the mountains are green thanks to the California spruce trees and other plants growing here. The mountain is home to various animals, including foxes, wild boars, badgers and even wolves.
With the arrival of spring, according to one legend, Apollo and his nymph-muses go to Parnassus. There, on the mountain, the muses sing, and Apollo plays along with them on the golden lyre. At these moments, even nature falls silent to listen to this delightful ensemble; Zeus becomes resigned, and the god Ares forgets about his bloody wars. At this time, peace and absolute calm reign on Olympus and Parnassus.
Parnassus is one of the most famous mountains in the world. In ancient times it was considered sacred mountain Apollo, where the nymphs lived. This is one of the most high mountains in Greece.
Its highest point, Liakoura, reaches 2459 m. In winter, Parnassus and its surroundings are a popular ski resort, visited mainly by residents of Athens, which are located 180 km from Arachova, the center of the ski resort of Parnassus. 25 km from Arachova there is a lift that leads almost to the very top. In summer you can climb to the top of Parnassus. This is a very interesting hike for two or three days, in one day it is still tiring, although there were heroes. But it seems to me that without special sports training or without specially ordered transport, this ascent cannot be accomplished in one day.
To the top of Parnassus - Liakoura
To Parnassus by car
You can climb to the very top of Parnassus, Liakura, from July to the end of September, when it is practically devoid of snow. There are two ways - from Arachova by car to the end of the road, and then to Liakuru for an hour and a half along a rocky path sharply upward. Of course, for such a road trip you need a four-wheel drive jeep.
To Parnassus on foot
The completely pedestrian route begins from a completely different direction - from the village of Tiforeya along the majestic Velitsa gorge. This journey will take about 8 hours one way, so it’s impossible to make it during daylight hours even at the end of June.
It is better to go slowly with a tent and walk the path from Tiphorea to Itea through.
In the Velitsa gorge you can see the huge Tsares waterfalls.
The elevation difference is more than 2400 m, the climb is very steep. This hike is not possible for me without a tent.
The village of Tiforea itself is easily accessible by public transport. Tiphorea is located on the Athens-Thessaloniki railway. Not all trains on this route stop at the small station of Kato Tiforea, so you need to find the right one and arrive the night before. From there it is about 5 km to the village itself. It's not that far - you can walk, though uphill.
In addition, Tiforea is located on the old Athens-Lamia national road, but unfortunately, most buses take a detour along the seashore.
Tiphorea is divided into a station town - Kato Tiphorea and a traditional village on the slopes of Parnassus with stone houses, ancient fortress walls, a castle and a traditional water mill. Ancient walls, castle and mosaic on the floor in the church of St. John dates back to the 3rd - 4th century AD. At the beginning of the Velica gorge there is an old water mill.
The churches of Avva Zosima and St. are also nearby. George and the Cave of Odysseus - there are signs everywhere.
Already from Kato Tiforei the beginning of the Velitsa gorge will be visible. From there, five km along flat terrain, avoiding only fields, and now you are already at the entrance to the gorge. At the entrance to the gorge there is the Church of St. Ilya among the majestic western slopes. Further along the path, which will end at the Church of St. Georg. There you need to turn to the stream, cross it and go to another church - St. John. Locals say that the journey there will take 1.5 hours. From the church you need to go up a little, and the trail will get better. This trail leads to Tsares Falls. It is said to be part of the E4 Trans-European Trail, which leads across Europe from Spain to Athens, and at this point the trail is visible and passable. It will take another two hours to reach the waterfall.
Whether you reach the top or decide to turn back earlier, this walk will be unforgettable - magnificent rocks, wild spruce trees, peace and quiet away from the city.
Descent to Delphi and Kirra along the E4 trail
Having climbed the E4 trail in Tiphorea, you can follow it down towards Delphi, because this trail also passes there. It goes out to the sea in the area of Kirra, from where you can go to Patras, and then to Crete, where the trail actually leads but with a long transport break in trekking - a ferry trip. So, if you decide to go on a multi-day camping trip, plan your first campsite at the end of the forest on Liacourt on the Tiforea side. The next day you will reach the summit and begin your descent to Delphi. To do this, passing the highlands with its steppe and ski resort, you will find yourself in the village of Kalyvia Arachovas. Please note that there will be another attraction nearby just above the village of Kroki - the cave of Korikeo Andro, where the secret sanctuary of Pan was located, where there is an excellent place to stay for the night. The cave itself also deserves attention - you can go down into it and examine the stalactites. It's even more ancient place than Delphi, perhaps. From there it is half a day's journey to Delphi. If you leave the cave in the morning, you can have time to see the ruins of the Delphic Oracle and the museum before they close. You will also have time to go down to the sea - down to Kirra.
Of course, the difference in altitude, and therefore temperature, should be taken into account. In some gorges the snow does not melt even in summer. It is necessary to have closed windproof clothing. You should also take care of insulation for the evening, since as soon as the sun sets behind the slope, the northern cold reigns even on the hottest days of the year. If you are planning to spend the night on the mountainside, then you need to take even more clothes. Take a reliable flashlight with you, preferably two.
Although the local nature cannot be called untouched, since there is a ski station above Arachova and all the associated facilities. The best route for hiking is from Delphi to the Corycian Cave (from April to November, but not in mid-summer, you can go out not at dawn) and the more difficult climb to the top of Llacoura (only from May to October).
If you intend to explore the mountain in more detail, it is worth purchasing Road Editions map No. 42, called “Parnassus,” or Anavasi map No. 1, also called “Parnassus,” such an investment will pay off, although neither map is free from errors. Attached to the “Road” map is a brochure describing the route to the Corycian Cave.
From Delphi to Corycian Cave (Greece)
You will have to devote a whole day to the enterprise - the climb to the cave will take four hours, the descent to Delphi will take a little less time - and you will also need to take with you more food supplies. To get to the trail - to the starting point of the route - you (if you are moving from the side) will first need to find a street going up through the entire village of Delphi - officially Apollonos. Having climbed along its right side to the highest point - at the church, turn right onto the road leading back to the house-museum (daily except Tuesday and Wednesday 8:30-15:00; 2 €), where the poet Angelos Sikelianos once lived – look for his bust and the grave of his first wife, Eva Pamer, near the house.
The exhibition in the museum is mainly dedicated to the revived Delphic festival - this festival was organized by the couple in 1927-1930. From the museum, continue up the winding gravel road until you reach highest point fence surrounding the ruins of the sanctuary. The path will end at a gate, but you don’t need to go inside the fence - it’s better to turn onto the path along your left hand: at the beginning it is indicated by black and yellow rectangles on a white background. Beyond the small peak the trail continues and is clearly visible, but the markers change to black and yellow metal diamonds: this is section of the European Long Distance Trail No. E-4.
At first very steep, the path soon levels out on a grassy knoll above the stadium, after which it goes along a ridge and reaches a line of charred cypress trees. You will soon reach an ancient cobblestone road to an enclosed area, Kaki Skala, which zigzags up the slope above a wide arch. The cobblestones end at the two concrete guarded structures that supply Delphi with water, which are an hour's walk above the village, on top of the Phedriades rock. In ancient times, those accused of blasphemy were thrown from one of several nearby rocks, hence the name Kaki-Skala - the ladder of the unfortunate.
Trail markers for trail no. E-4 are also visible in the valley ahead, where the route extends along a gravel road to the northeast, but you don't go there, but follow the metal sign to the cave, take a right at the fork near the Kroki spring and the water chutes to complex summer houses remained on your right. This road, paved in places, passes through picnic areas and the Chapel of St. Paraskeva within 15 minutes. After a 40-minute descent from the chapel, you will come to another sign for the cave as you emerge from the fir forests (2 hours 40 minutes from Delphi) and views open to the east and ahead to Yerondovrachos Peak (2367 meters) and the Parnassus Massif.
- Corycian cave in Greece
After 15 minutes you will come to the second Holy Trinity Chapel on the left, where there is a spring and a picnic area. To the left rises a steep mountain, on the left slope of which is the Corycian cave. Ignore the pointer (only the Greek) behind the chapel, which stands next to the old bad roads, and walk a few more minutes until you reach the white bilingual sign for new road, marked with orange spots and red triangular pointers. After a 40 minute climb you will reach another dirt road, turn left and walk for about 5 minutes, the road ends just below a clearly visible cave entrance at an altitude of 1370 meters.
The Corycian cave has been known since ancient times, in which it was dedicated to Pan and the nymphs - these deities dominated Delphi during the winter months. In November, rituals were performed in the cave; nymphs were portrayed by women who, with torches in their hands, made the long ascent from Delphi along Kaki Skala. The cave itself is gloomy, but if you shine a flashlight and look closely, you can see ancient inscriptions at the entrance. Without a powerful source of artificial lighting, visibility is poor - no further than 100 meters ahead. Near the entrance there is a stone with round recess- This is probably the altar on which libation offerings were made.
The peak of Lyakura in Greece
Lyakura is the highest and most beautiful peak of the Parnassus massif (2457 meters). You can start the ascent either from Delphi or from the southeastern foot of the mountain. The second option is better: the starting point is Titorea, but to get to the trail, you need to go by bus or train, and then take a taxi - and you’ll probably have to spend the night on the mountain. If you want to look at Parnassus, but don’t really want to suffer, then it’s probably easier to start from Delphi, building a route as a continuation of the foray to the Corycian cave: spend the night after the cave in the village of Kalyvya on the Livadi plateau - it’s a 45-minute walk from the cave to the village. The village has plenty of chalet hotels for skiers and taverns, although many of these establishments are closed in the summer.
More energetic people can try to jump over the entire massif in a day, starting a long hike at dawn to Zemeno, between Arachova and Oedipus Tripath, and descending to Ano Titorea - or vice versa. After Zemeno, where there are a couple of affordable hotels and restaurants, the trail, initially signposted as part of local trail 22, climbs 1,200 meters to Baitanoraha, and then passes a pass known as Sideroporta before joining the mountain path. , coming from Titorea. However, it would be wiser to take with you food for the day, two liters of water per person, and at least the essentials for spending the night in nature: bad weather does not warn of its arrival, there are many springs, but they are scattered over a vast area and are rarely encountered along the road , and the tourist centers for climbers at the top are either closed or very poor.
- To Lyakura - from Titorea through the Velitsa ravine (Greece)
The main route through the virgin Parnassian nature is not complete without a train or bus - otherwise you will not get to Kato Titorea. Then you will need to climb to a village 6 kilometers higher, it is called Titorea and the easiest way to overcome the climb is by taxi. Expect more than six hours, which will take the ascent with a backpack on your shoulders, and the return journey will take about 4.5 hours. The village itself is of indescribable beauty: stone houses, dotted with patches of the ancient wall (including a carefully built tower), and in the Church of St. John the Evangelist, luxurious ancient Christian mosaics have been preserved, located under glass. There are many taverns near the picturesque platia; you can rent a room in Tithorea.
From the main square of Titorei, head north-west and, after passing a church with several graves next to it, go through another, smaller, Andrutsu square (with a bust of the Greek revolutionary for whom it is named - this figure was hiding nearby). Continuing along the stone-paved path, past the last village houses, you come out to a red-on-white diamond on the sign, behind which there is a semicircular platform paved with paving stones with a plane tree, a fountain and a cement proskinitario, and behind the square the huge Velitsa ravine opens up.
The further route mostly passes through the forest, but water will appear only when you have gone more than half the way to the Tsares spring. Just after, the route intersects with the route to Baitonorahi from Zemeno, shortly after the base on Llyakura peak. On the last section of the climb you are in about twenty minutes without special labor you climb to the top, moving more or less along the edge of the ridge. If the day turns out to be clear, then, especially after rain, you will see in the north, the Aegean Sea in the east, and the Ionian Sea in the west, and filling the entire south.
In contact with
There are two large ski centers on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Parnassus Ski Center consists of two divisions, Kellaria and Fterolakka, which together constitute the largest ski resort in Greece. Another small ski center is called Gerontovrahos and is located near Kellaria.
Sports and leisure in Parnassus are the main motive among tourists coming here. Both ski resorts continue to expand and improve, with the first high-speed lift in Greece installed in 1993.
Today ski centers operate with 14 lifts, a 4-seater cable car, a 4-seater high-speed chairlift, the maximum capacity of all lifts is about 5,000 people per hour. Parnassus Ski Center boasts 25 ski slopes and approximately 12 alpine ski runs, with a total length of 30 km (19 mi). The longest ski run is 4 km (approximately 2 miles).
A transport feature of Parnassus is the absence of any transport at the resort other than ski buses. All vacationers travel here with the help of specialized buses or on their own.
The Parnassus resort is small and is a huge ski resort. You can travel between nearby cities and resorts by buses that run on various most popular routes. Independent tourists choose a car as a means of transportation, which can be rented in Athens.
Also as vehicle Motorcycles and bicycles often perform here, but only in summer period time. In winter, you can travel between resorts by car, bus or taxi.
The ancient Greeks believed that the navel of the Earth was located just 150 km northwest of Athens, on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Today, the Navel of the Earth is located near the entrance to the Delphi Museum. The structure dates back to the Roman era, made in the form of a semicircular marble sculpture. Once upon a time it served as a mark of the “zero coordinates” of the ancient universe. A trip to the Navel of the Earth is considered a must on any tour to Delphi. Visiting the museum will take quite a lot of time. Among the exhibits of the museum, a huge impression is made by the figure of a charioteer, cast in honor of the victory of Polizal, the ruler of the city of Gela, one of the winners of the Pythian Games that took place here. It dates back to 475 BC. Here is also the largest antique sculpture made of precious metals - the Silver Bull. According to experts, this is a gift from King Croesus to the oracle.
Apollo was revered in Delphi more than all other gods. We can say that Delphi is dedicated to the god Apollo. According to ancient Greek myth, Apollo became the most revered god in Delphi after he killed the monstrous Python, the son of Gaia (Earth). He guarded the entrance to his mother's temple. Apollo's symbol is a dolphin, hence the name of the city - Delphi. One of Apollo's "residences" was Parnassus. Apollo's retinue consisted of nine muses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. The Muses were considered the patroness of the fine arts and sciences. Hence the second name of Parnassus - Mount of Muses. All muses had the gift of prophecy.
Over the centuries, Delphi has been visited by many pilgrims from all over Greece. The purpose of the pilgrimage was to hear the voice of the deity speaking through the oracle. Delphic Oracle spoke through the Pythia - the priestesses of Apollo. They were chosen by the priests themselves among women over 50 years old. It was believed that Apollo himself endowed them with the ability to predict. The Pythia performed sacred rites in a special underground room, drank water from the Castalian spring and chewed the leaves of laurel, the sacred tree of Apollo. After which they fell into a trance and began to utter fragmentary, incomprehensible phrases. These obscure messages to people were deciphered by the priests. The answers were always ambiguous. For this, Apollo was nicknamed Loxius, which means Ambiguous. The sanctuary, as a place of pagan cult, was closed by Emperor Theodosius I the Great in 393 AD, after Christianity acquired the status of the state religion of ancient Rome.
One of the most beautiful and ancient buildings in Delphi is the tholos, a building round shape, built of white and black marble. Archaeologists consider it part of the sanctuary of Athena and date it back to the 4th century BC.
The Amphitheater of Delphi, it could seat 5,000 people.
Fog over the Parnassus Mountains.
Video: “DELPHI. Delphi is the ancient navel of the earth. Greece". Part 1
Mount Parnassus on the map:
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