Ellanio Mount Aegina

The Ellanio Mount is classified as a Landscape of Special Natural Beauty. It is a Protected Area of 655.6 hectares, with a total perimeter of 11.9 km and a maximum altitude of 532 m. The characteristic of the area is the volcanic rocks that come from an extinct volcano with forest vegetation. Its aesthetic value lies in the interesting natural, ecological, geomorphological elements and the panoramic view from its top towards the beaches and the sea, the city of Aegina and Agistri. The archeological interest is also profound, since Mount Ellanio is associated with the worship of Hellenic Zeus, to whom the mythical first king of Aegina, Aeacus, prayed, to end the drought that afflicted Greece. It is also called "Analipsis" or Prophet Elias due to the chapel located on the top of the mountain. In the place where the chapel stands today, there was the temple dedicated to the worship of Hellenic Zeus. Large carved stones built into the chapel are possible parts of that temple. Also, inside the temple there are volcanic rocks connected to the ancient temple. A Mycenaean settlement was found on the top of the mountain and Mycenaean tombs were found in the neighboring village of Lazarides, while on the west side at the location of Sfirichtres, the remains of buildings from the Hellenistic era were found as well as the ruins of the Byzantine monastery of Saint Nicolas (today there is the temple of Taxiarches built in the 14th century). The access is not particularly easy but the view from the top compensates the visitor.