The Cave of Pythagoras () or Pythagoras' Cave () is a cavern on the slopes of Mount Kerketeas, the highest mountain on the island of Samos. The cave is believed by island folk tradition to be a location where

Pythagoras Pythagoras of Samos (; BC) was an ancient Ionian Greek philosopher, polymath, and the eponymous founder of Pythagoreanism. His political and religious teachings were well known in Magna Graecia and influenced the philosophies of P ...

once lived and taught in the 6th century BC. The cave is at an elevation of about 300 meters above sea level, west of the village of

Marathokampos Marathokampos () is a town, municipal unit, and a former municipality on the island of Samos, North Aegean, Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsul ...

. It is said that Pythagoras retreated to the cave from the city to escape the anger of the island's tyrant

Polycrates Polycrates (; ), son of Aeaces (father of Polycrates), Aeaces, was the tyrant of Samos from the 540s BC to 522 BC. He had a reputation as both a fierce warrior and an enlightened tyrant. Sources The main source for Polycrates' life and activi ...

. He is reputed to have both lived and taught his students there. A spring at the site is also said to have provided him with drinking water. The knowledge that Pythagoras lived on the island in some cave comes from antiquity and is known from

Iamblichus Iamblichus ( ; ; ; ) was a Neoplatonist philosopher who determined a direction later taken by Neoplatonism. Iamblichus was also the biographer of the Greek mystic, philosopher, and mathematician Pythagoras. In addition to his philosophical co ...

's work "De Vita Pythagorica (On the Pythagorean Life)". However, it is impossible to confirm whether this is indeed the same cave.

Caves and Chapels

The location known as "Pythagoras Cave" actually includes three different caves with several branches and "rooms." Additionally, there are two chapels at the site. A road leads close to the caves, with the final 200-300 meters being a steep path.

Pythagoras Cave

The main Pythagoras Cave is the lowest of the caves. A smaller path branches off the main path to the right, leading to the cave. Because of this, many visitors overlook it entirely. To reach the cave, one must climb about 2.5 meters up a steep, rugged rock, aided by a rope present at the site. The cave entrance is narrow. Inside, there is a larger lower chamber and a smaller upper chamber. The upper chamber has a large "window" that offers a view to the south.

Ágios Ioánnis Theológos

Further up from the main path intersection leading to Pythagoras Cave is the chapel dedicated to

John the Evangelist John the Evangelist ( – ) is the name traditionally given to the author of the Gospel of John. Christians have traditionally identified him with John the Apostle, John of Patmos, and John the Presbyter, although there is no consensus on how ...

().

Panagía Sarantaskaliótissa and its Caves

Even higher along the main path, at the top of the stairs, is another chapel dedicated to the "Virgin of the Forty Stairs" () also known as "Virgin Mary the Revealed" (). It was built during the

Byzantine period The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...

in the 11th century when monks sought refuge in the area. Behind the chapel are two caves, the Panagía Sarantaskaliótissa Caves (), with the left one being smaller and the right one larger. These caves descend up to 90 meters deep and contain

stalactites A stalactite (, ; , ) is a mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or man-made structures such as bridges and mines. Any material that is soluble and that can be deposited as a colloid, or is in suspension, or is ca ...

and

stalagmites A stalagmite (, ; ; ) is a type of rock formation that rises from the floor of a cave due to the accumulation of material deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings. Stalagmites are typically composed of calcium carbonate, but may consist o ...

. Most visitors explore these caves as they are at the end of the path and more easily accessible, thus often being referred to as "Pythagoras Cave."

References

External Links

{{Commonscat-inline, Pythagoras Cave, Pythagoras Cave Landforms of Samos Caves of Greece Pythagoras