Choros Kaveiriou, Lemnos, Greece

The ancient temple of Kavirio on Lemnos is situated 3 kilometers from the archaeological site of Ifestia, just opposite to Tigani Bay. It is an ancient sanctuary dedicated to the two gods Kaviri, mythical gods of northern Aegean with mystic ceremonies.

The sanctuary of Kavirio, which was assumed to have been built around the 6th or 7th century BC, is older than the one in Samothraki, where this particular god was also worshiped. There is also a belief that Kaviri were sons of god Hephaestus. They were thought to be talented technicians and they were worshiped as gods of the sea, the vineyards, and fertility. Kaviria Mysteries were celebrated every year and they were associated with the revival of nature.

The site of Kavirio was brought to light in 1937. The excavations can be seen separated by a trench. There was a telestirio or else initiation hall, a palace and an arcade on one side. On the other side, there is a larger telestirio with twelve Doric columns. The sanctuary contained many inscriptions that gave information about its construction and the history of the island.

References:

greeka.com

Address

Lemnos, Greece

See all sites in Lemnos

Details

Founded: 7th century BCE
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Greece

More Information

www.greeka.com

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Hephaestia (2,6 km)

Myrina Castle (26,9 km)
Temple of Artemis (25,6 km)
East Mudros Military Cemetery (12,9 km)
Panagia Kakaviotissa (23,7 km)
Poliochne (14 km)

User Reviews

Zo Tsi (2 years ago)
A must when in Lemnos island. Better go early. It close at 15:30.

V Bar (2 years ago)
Lovely archeological site in the main Lemnos route so no dirt off-roads involved to reach this beauty. Recently renovated entry area which is equipped with a valuable baby changing table! Absolutely what we needed! Thank you! Unfortunately not normally accessible by sunset which would be a gorgeous time to visit. Bring water.

ioannis giavasis (3 years ago)
Nice archaelogical site, althought the are only few ruins left to see. The sea views and especially the cave of Filoktitis make it a must-visit place.

Terzidis Dimitrios (3 years ago)
You should also visit the cave of Philoktitis. Request the tablet that will help you know about every spot in this monument. If you want to enter Philoktitis cave you must enter the water.

Stacy Garrett (3 years ago)
We took a guided tour organized by Seaborn Cruises. The history is very rich and a must visit if you are at all interested in learning about pre Christian religious practices.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Christian Lauw

Historic Site of the week

Wieskirche

The Pilgrimage Church of Wies (Wieskirche) is an oval rococo church, designed in the late 1740s by Dominikus Zimmermann. It is located in the foothills of the Alps in the municipality of Steingaden.

The sanctuary of Wies is a pilgrimage church extraordinarily well-preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley, and is a perfect masterpiece of Rococo art and creative genius, as well as an exceptional testimony to a civilization that has disappeared.

The hamlet of Wies, in 1738, is said to have been the setting of a miracle in which tears were seen on a simple wooden figure of Christ mounted on a column that was no longer venerated by the Premonstratensian monks of the Abbey. A wooden chapel constructed in the fields housed the miraculous statue for some time. However, pilgrims from Germany, Austria, Bohemia, and even Italy became so numerous that the Abbot of the Premonstratensians of Steingaden decided to construct a splendid sanctuary.

Choros Kaveiriou