Also called Davelis Cave, the Cave of Penteli is located just north of Athens on the slopes of Mount Pentelicus.The cave marks the opening to a series of tunnels that run through the mountain and lead to a pool of water in the centre. These natural formations are also linked to the mischievous god Pan. Archaeologists excavated various ceramics from the mountain which depict Pan and his nymphs, suggesting a long-standing connection between the site and the god. Visitors to Athens can now find these ancient treasures at the Archaeological Museum. There is also a double Byzantine church built directly into the rock.
The cave became the subject of increasing discussion after a bandit reportedly hid in the tunnels with his men back in the 1800s. The lead bandit was called Davelis, hence the name of the cave today.There are numerous tales of strange or abnormal activity that has taken place in and around the cave. Stories tell of electronics that stop working, of water which flows the wrong way and even mysterious disappearances of explorers who enter the cave never to emerge again. On the left wall, you can see the etchings of past travelers, including several nineteenth- and early twentieth-century English writers.
