 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(February 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Hymettus | |
|---|---|
 View of Hymettus fromAcropolis. In the central middle-distance is theTemple of Olympian Zeus. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,026 m (3,366 ft) |
| Coordinates | 37°57′47″N23°49′00″E / 37.963°N 23.81667°E /37.963; 23.81667 |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Location | East-centralAttica about 15 km E of centralAthens |
| Parent range | Hymettus |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | climb, road |
Hymettus (/haɪˈmɛtəs/), alsoHymettos (/haɪˈmɛtɒs/;Greek:Υμηττός,romanized: Ymittóspronounced[imiˈtos];Ancient Greek:Ὑμηττός[hymɛːt.tós]), is a mountain range in the Athens area ofAttica, East Central Greece.[1] It is also colloquially known asTrellós (crazy) orTrellóvouno (crazy mountain); the latter originates from the French "très long" (very long) in awe of its winding length of 16 km, as used by French travelers during the occupation of Greece by theOttomans. Hymettus was assigned the status of a protected area in theEU'sNatura 2000ecological network.
The highest point of the mountain range isEvzonas (Εύζωνας) with an elevation of 1,026 m (3,366 ft).[2] The 16 km (9.9 mi) length of Hymettus stretches fromAthens to theSaronic Gulf. It is 6 to 7 km from east to west. In ancient times, the highest point was known as Megas Hymettos and the southern peaks as Elasson (Ἐλάσσων "lesser, smaller") and Anydros Hymettos (Ἄνυδρος Ὑμηττός, "waterless Hymettos"). Today the southern peaks are calledMavrovouni (Μαυροβούνι, "black mountain") and Kontra (Κόντρα). It was noted for its thymehoney.[1]Marble has been quarried since antiquity.[1] The neighboring communities that surround the mountain areAthens (proper),Zografou,Kaisariani,Vyronas,Ilissia (a region of Zografou),Ymittos,Ilioupoli,Argyroupoli,Elliniko,Glyfada,Voula andVouliagmeni in the west,Varkiza,Vari,Markopoulo andPaiania to its east, andPapagou,Cholargos,Agia Paraskevi,Gerakas andGlyka Nera. Most of the forest is in the north, and much of the mountain is rocky, deforested, grassy and made out oflimestone.
The flanks of Hymettos are dotted with caves. The largest and most notable isKoutouki cave [el], which has its entrance on the east flank of the mountain, near Paiania.[3] The smaller Liontari cave has its mouth at the north end of the mountain, west ofGlyka Nera and is named after thelion of Hymettos which is said to have lived on the mountain in the past and to have terrified the inhabitants of the surrounding area.[4]
In antiquity there was a sanctuary toZeus Ombrios ("Zeus rain bringer") on the summit with numerous offerings dating especially to the 8th-7th centuries BC; they are on the site of a military base and not currently accessible. There is also an ancient quarryman's hut on the western slopes of the mountain, one of two buildings inancient Attica which preserves its roof.
A smallgeometric andclassical site was discovered on the mountain in 1921 by J. M. Prindle ofHarvard University;[5]Carl Blegen, then assistant director of theAmerican School of Classical Studies at Athens,[6] made an exploratory excavation there in 1923.[7]T. Leslie Shear excavated the site in 1924, meeting the project's expenses from his own money.[8]
There are several notableByzantine monasteries on the mountain, including:[9]
Major campuses of theUniversity of Athens and theNational Technical University of Athens (collectively called "University Town") are located on the west-facing slope, between theA62 motorway, a ring road connected with theA6, and theurban sprawl of Athens. A transmitter park for several major TV and radio stations, along with military radar is located at the top of the mountain. Built up urban areas almost surround the entire mountain range. Access to the top of the mountain is restricted to authorized vehicles for maintenance of the towers.
Almost all of Attica, Athens' eastern suburbs and the new airport can be seen from the mountain top along with the mountains ofParnitha to its northwest,Penteli to its north andAigaleo to its west. The valley areas that create the lowest passes are to the south and one further south.
The mountain range features about six to seven landfills in the western part and another in the eastern part.
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) (for the details of the discovery);Lord, Louis E. (1947).A History of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens 1882–1942(PDF). Cambridge: Harvard University Press. p. 148.OCLC 648555. RetrievedJanuary 13, 2024.;Hood, Rachel (1998).Faces of Archaeology in Greece: Caricatures by Piet de Jong. Oxford: Leopard's Head. p. 174.ISBN 0-904920-38-0. (for the details of the site).
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
