Mount Aigaleo
Mount Aigaleo rises among the Municipalities of Kamatero, Petroupoli, Peristeri, Chaidari, Korydallos, Aigaleo and Aspropyrgos. In an area of 20,250 acres, it is protected as a permanent wildlife refuge for the protection of rare, unique, threatened or endangered species of the native flora of the area as well as for the nesting, feeding and living of wild fauna species. Its peaks do not exceed 500 m. Despite its small size, its limestone slopes hide several caves, the most important of which are those dedicated, since ancient times, to Afaia, Pana and the Nymphs.
Great value has the birdlife of the mountain with appearances of partridges and various types of predators. Even more important, however, is its flora consisting of many endemic species of Greece, which exceed 650, according to a relevant study. Among them viola hymettia, fritillaria graeca, silene corinthiaca and many varieties of crocuses and orchids. It was once covered by forests and was a “”museum”” of Attic flora and fauna. Today, the pine-covered parts of the mountain are few. One of them, about 160 acres, is located in Saint Barbara. Due to the smooth terrain, an extensive network of dirt roads has been created that can meet the demands of hiking as well as mountain biking. The view from its peaks towards Piraeus and the southern suburbs is unlimited, while its historical presence has been remembered since ancient times as it formed the natural border of Basin with the Thriasian Field and Elefsis. On its northern side, at the passage with Poikilo Oros, the Iera Odos passed, while there were also the Sanctuary of Aphrodite and the Sanctuary of Daphne Apollo. This passage was walled for the safety of the city of Athens. In 480 BC, the Persian king Xerxes watched the naval battle of Salamis, victorious for the Greek fleet and disastrous for his own fleet, from his throne, which was set up on top of the mountain, opposite the island of Salamis. In Byzantine times, the holy Monastery of Daphne was founded in the area on the ruins of the ancient temple of Daphne Apollo.
Mount Aigaleo rises among the Municipalities of Kamatero, Petroupoli, Peristeri, Chaidari, Korydallos, Aigaleo and Aspropyrgos. In an area of 20,250 acres, it is protected as a permanent wildlife refuge for the protection of rare, unique, threatened or endangered species of the native flora of the area as well as for the nesting, feeding and living of wild fauna species. Its peaks do not exceed 500 m. Despite its small size, its limestone slopes hide several caves, the most important of which are those dedicated, since ancient times, to Afaia, Pana and the Nymphs. Great value has the birdl…
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Sanctuary of Aphrodite at Daphne
Pausanias mentions the existence of a temple of Aphrodite along the route of the ancient Sacred Way (Iera Odos). The site…