Pyrgos Dirou

For other places named Pyrgos, see Pyrgos (disambiguation).

Pyrgos Dirou (Greek: Πύργος Διρού) is a town in Mani, Laconia, Greece. It is part of the municipal unit of Oitylo. It is around 26 kilometres from Areopoli.

History

The Battle of Vergas (Greek War of Independence, 1824) took place near Diro.

Diro is most famous for its caves, the Diros Caves, located approximately 12 miles south of Areopolis. They form part of an underground river. About 5,000 meters have been exposed and are accessible by small boats and through narrow passageways. One is surrounded by formations of stalagmites and stalactites. Archaeological research has shown that the caves served as places of worship in Paleolithic and Neolithic times and their inhabitant believed that the caves were the entrance to the underworld.[1]


Notes

  1. G. A. Papathanassopoulos, "The Cave of Diros" Athens Annals of Archaeology (1971): 12-26

See also

External links

Coordinates: 36°37′34″N 22°22′55″E / 36.626°N 22.382°E / 36.626; 22.382


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