Mount Lycabettus (), also known as Lycabettos, Lykabettos or Lykavittos (, ), is a

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...

limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

hill in the

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

capital

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

. At 277 meters (908 feet) above sea level, its summit is the highest point in Central Athens and

pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. ''World Flora Online'' accepts 134 species-rank taxa (119 species and 15 nothospecies) of pines as cu ...

trees cover its base. The name also refers to the residential neighbourhood immediately below the east of the hill. The hill is a tourist destination and can be ascended by the Lycabettus Funicular, a

funicular railway A funicular ( ) is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to opposite ends ...

which climbs the hill from a lower terminus at

Kolonaki Kolonaki (, ), literally "Little Column", is an upscale neighborhood in central Athens, Greece. It is located on the southern slopes of Mount Lycabettus. Its name derives from the two metre column (located in Kolonaki Square) that defined the area ...

(The railway station is at Aristippou street). At its two peaks are the 19th century Chapel of St. George, a theatre, and a restaurant.

Mythical and legendary stories

Lycabettus appears in various legends. Popular stories suggest it was once the refuge of wolves (lycos in Greek), which is possibly the origin of its name (means "the one he hillthat is walked by wolves"). Another etymology suggests a

Pelasgian The name Pelasgians (, ) was used by Classical Greece, Classical Greek writers to refer either to the predecessors of the Greeks, or to all the inhabitants of Greece before the Greeks#Origins, emergence of the Greeks. In general, "Pelasgian" h ...

, pre-Mycenean, origin (''Lucabetu=mastoid hill''). Mythologically, Lycabettus is credited to

Athena Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretism, syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarde ...

, who created it when she dropped a limestone mountain she had been carrying from the Pallene peninsula for the construction of the

Acropolis An acropolis was the settlement of an upper part of an ancient Greek city, especially a citadel, and frequently a hill with precipitous sides, mainly chosen for purposes of defense. The term is typically used to refer to the Acropolis of Athens ...

after the box holding Erichthonius was opened.

Theatre

The hill has a large open-air

amphitheatre An amphitheatre (American English, U.S. English: amphitheater) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ('), meani ...

near the top, which has housed many Greek and international concerts. In 2008 it closed due to safety concerns. By 2022 the city of Athens suggested renovating and reopening the theatre. After being closed for 15 years, the theatre was reopened in September of 2023. Among the artists who have performed at the Lycabettus theatre are

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Gen ...

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, B.B. King,

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, Paco De Lucia,

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, John Mc Laughlin, Gary Moore,

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, Bjork, Dead Can Dance,

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, Deep Purple,

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Placebo A placebo ( ) can be roughly defined as a sham medical treatment. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like saline), sham surgery, and other procedures. Placebos are used in randomized clinical trials ...

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, Slipknot,

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, Vanessa Mae, Bryan Ferry,

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, Buena Vista Social Club, Orishas,

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, Blackmore's Night, Scorpions, Mathame, Adriatique, Rotting Christ, Echonomist, Nick Jojo and Human Rias.

Gallery

File:Mount Lycabettus.jpg File:Blick vom Lykavittos auf Athen - View from Lykavittos Hill over Athens.jpg, View from Lykavittos Hill over

File:The_Acropolis_of_Athens_at_Night.jpg, View of the Acropolis at night File:Athens Francis Bedford 1862.jpg, View from the Acropolis by Francis Bedford, 1862 File:Lykavittos1880.png, Lycabettus -80, without St. George's Chapel and before the modern planting of pine trees File:Chapel of Saint George.jpg,

Saint George Saint George (;Geʽez: ጊዮርጊስ, , ka, გიორგი, , , died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was an early Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to holy tradition, he was a soldier in the ...

's chapel on top File:Attica 06-13 Athens 46 View from Lycabettus.jpg, Theatre of Lycabettus File:Athens view2007.jpg, View of

References

* Boguslawski, Alexander (2000).
Lykavittos Hill
." Retrieved August 30, 2005.

External links

Lycabettus Hill Website
* *High-resolution 360° Panorama o
Mount Lycabettus , Art Atlas
Lycabettus Outdoor theatres Tourist attractions in Athens Neighbourhoods in Athens Pelasgian words {{Athens-geo-stub

Mythical and legendary stories

Theatre

Gallery

See also

References

External links