Penteli Cave (Davelis’ Cave)

The Penteli cave, also known as Davelis' cave, but also as the cave of the Amomon because it was where ascetics found a retreat in the Byzantine years, is located on the southwest side of the mountain, at an altitude of 700 meters. It was a sanctuary dedicated to Pan. It was discovered by the ancient Greeks when they were quarries for the production of the Pentelic marble, while it was fully explored by speleologists Ioannis and Anna Petrochilou. The impressive entrance leads to a descending chamber 112 meters long, with a vertical chasm of 15 meters. At its current entrance are two small, impressive churches, the chapel of Saint Spyridon and the chapel of Saint Nikolaos. On the right is the hermitage of Saint Nikolaos with frescoes from the 13th century and the hermitage of Agios Spyridonos. They are the only visitable areas of the cave. The churches have been restored and preserved and the frescoes are exhibited in the Byzantine Museum of Athens. It got the name “Davelis cave” from the dreaded bandit, although there are some who believe that Davelis was unaware of the existence of the cave. It was also called the “quarry of the Cave” because during the quarrying of marbles the existence of a cave was revealed there. Her entrance is impressive. The cave, due to its location, also serves to train some people for climbing.