The Vari Cave

Introduction

Located in the sprawling Hymettus Mountain Range are approximately 300 caves. Each varies in size, with some having been occupied by humans and others remaining untouched. One within the 300 has provided scholars with fascinating archeological evidence through its writings on the walls and distinct shrines. Numerous minds have synthesized the cave's aesthetics and there are theories about the cave serving as influence to the likes of Plato and other legendary Greek figures. While at first glance the cave does not provide much to the blind eye, please let this webpage serve as your enlightenment to its importance.

Occupation

First populated from the sixth to second century BCE
Populated for a second time from the second to sixth centuries ADE
Script on the walls revealed that the cave was built by the Archedemus of Thera

Location

Located on the Western side of the Attika
Situated in the Mountain Hymettus Range
The granular limestone that the mountains are made up of provides perfect "cave forming" conditions
300 meters above sea level
There are numerous other caves in the area

Inside the Cave

Immediately stairs upon entry which descend vertically
2 rooms within the cave
- First room is located at the bottom of the first set of stairs
- After descending down another steep staircase, there is a larger room (incredibly dark at this point)
- Three stonecut statues in the second room
Numerous inscriptions on the walls around the cave

Archedemus of Thera

Created the writings within the caves
Utilized the "relief technique"
Lived in the fifth century BCE
Was a stoneworker
Potentially a statue of himself in the second room

Plato's "Allegory of the Cave"

Many notable Athenian figures were born in the area surrounding the caves, the most notable of these being Plato. While it is not known if he visited in the Vari Cave specifically or the hundreds of others in surrounding the topography some of his work allows the assumption that he did explore nearby. His "Allegory of the Cave" certainly alludes to his exposure to this area during his youth. Scholars have attempted to link this to the Vari cave through a few different connections they have found in the aforementioned allegory. First, he references darkness and shadows, both of which can be found in the second room of the cave. Second, Vari has has two levels and only one exit which is consistent with Plato's usage in his allegory.

Writings on the Cave Walls

"Archedemos of Thera" is the most repeated inscription in the cave (5 times)
Inscriptions were created using a local languages, rather than the unified greek alphabet
Due to the varying languages it appears likely the inscriptions were made by both stonecutter and native Doric speakers

Why the Vari Cave is Important

The Vari caves provide are important historically for a few reasons. First, as mentioned above it had an influence on those who explored them along with other caves in the area. While there is limited concrete proof tying individuals to having visited the caves, there is plenty of archeological evidence such as the writings on the wall, that prove that people at one time did frequent the cave. While no specific innovation or philosophical achievement has been connected to the cave, there is no doubt the cave's writings and structure impacted numerous Athenians from the fifth century BCE and on. The cave also provides scholars with insight into the fifth century BCE in the region. The alphabet used in the inscriptions coupled with the shrines created in the second room have assisted in their understanding of Athenian culture during this select time period. While the impact of the Vari Caves along with those in the surrounding is more theoretical than tangible, they still play an important role in today's understanding of Attika.

Bibliography

For Information

Chandler, R. 1776. Travels in Greece, or, An Account of a tour made at the expense of the Society of Dilettanti. 150–3. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RHBBAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA150&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Laferrière, C. (2019, October 01). Sacred sounds: The Cult of Pan and the Nymphs in the Vari Cave. Retrieved April 7, 2021, from https://online.ucpress.edu/ca/article-abstract/38/2/185/109250/Sacred-Sounds-The-Cult-of-Pan-and-the-Nymphs-in?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Loy, M. (2018, July 19). Pan, Plato, and the Nymphs: Exploring Vari Cave. Retrieved April 20, 2021, from https://resgerendae.wordpress.com/2018/07/19/pan-plato-and-the-nymphs-exploring-vari-cave/
Pierce, N. 2006. ‘The Archaeology of Sacred Caves in Attica, Greece.’ MA Thesis, McMaster University https://macsphere.mcmaster.ca/bitstream/11375/10306/1/fulltext.pdf
Welder, C. H. (1903, Summer). The Cave at Vari. I. Description, Account of Excavation, and History. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
Wright, J. H. 1906. ‘The Origin of Plato’s Cave.’ Harvard Studies in Classical Philology.

For Images

https://crewsproject.wordpress.com/2018/07/20/pan-plato-and-the-nymphs-exploring-vari-cave/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129199972@N04/32764869090
https://ecotourism-greece.com/attractions/cave-of-nympholyptos-or-archedimos-vari-hymettus/
https://www.google.com/maps/search/hymettos+mountains/@37.9757723,23.5288453,10z/data=!3m1!4b1?hl=en

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