The Pyramid-Like Peak of Mount Taygetus in Greece

The pyramid-like peak of Mount Taygetus (or Taygetos) in the Peloponnese in Greece has been captured in all its glory by a drone video.

The name of the mountain is one of the oldest recorded in Europe, appearing in the Odyssey. In classical mythology, the mountain was associated with the nymph Taygete, and it was named after her.

The Taygetus Massif is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) long, extending from the center of the Peloponnese to Cape Matapan, its southernmost extremity. It contains the tallest mountain in the Peloponnese, the Profitis Ilias summit, reaching a height of 2,405 meters (7,890 feet).

This is probably the classical Mount Taléton mentioned by Pausanias. The summit is an ultra-prominent peak.

 

Mount Taygetus under protection in Greece

Taygetus overlooks the cities of Sparta and Kalamata, whose skyline it dominates.

The slopes of Taygetus, which have been inhabited since at least Mycenean times, are heavily forested, primarily with Greek fir and black pine. Devastating fires in 2005 and 2007 consumed much of the forests on the central western slopes, and only about half remain.

The highest point, Profitis Ilias, is a popular hiking destination, and the European walking route E4 runs along the lower slopes of the range.

The view from Profitis Ilias includes most of the Evrotas Valley and the Parnon range to the east, while the view towards the west includes Kalamata and the eastern half of Messenia. Most of the southwestern part of Arcadia can also be seen from there.

Today, Taygetus is included in the “pristine mountains” list, and all construction activity there is banned to control the overexploitation of the environment.

History of the Mountain

The slopes of Taygetus have been inhabited since at least Mycenean times. The site of Arkina near the village of Arna contains three beehive tombs and is still unexplored.

Taygetus was important as one of Sparta‘s natural defenses. The Spartans threw criminals into a chasm of Taygetus known as Ceadas or Caeadas. Recent evidence, discovered by the University of Athens, includes remains of adult individuals. These appear to confirm that Ceadas was mainly a place of punishment for criminals, traitors, and captives.

According to an Open University online course, “The first century CE writer Plutarch explains that Sparta had a ritual by which newborn babies were judged by the elders and those thought unfit to be allowed to live were left at the foot of Mount Taygetos.”

“However, no other source tells us this about Spartan practices, and no infant remains have been found at this site,” the Open University materials reveal. While bones have been found at the site, a study determined they all belonged to adolescents and adults.