Taygetus

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Taygetus
Elevation:	2,410 m (7,900 ft) (Profitis Ilias)
Latitude:	36.954/36°57'15" N
Longitude:	23.352/23°21'5" E
Location:	eastern Messenia western Laconia
Length:	approx. 50 km, north to south approx. from 10 to 20 km from east to west
Easiest route:	climb

Taygetus or Taygetos (Greek: Ταΰγετος), also Taigetos is a mountain range of the Peloponnesus, Southern Greece, extending about 65 mi (100 km) north from the southern end of Cape Matapan in the Mani Peninsula. It rises to about 7,900 ft (2,410 m) at Mt. Hagios Ilias (Mt. St. Elias or Prophitis Elias). The mountain is named after Taygete. In Byzantine times and up until the 19th century, the mountain was known as Pentedaktylos (Greek for five-fingered). The mountain range includes the prefectures of Arcadia, Laconia and Messenia.

Taygetus pyramid

The highest peak of the mountain has the shape of a pyramid. Some researchers are convinced that this structure, found on one of the peaks of mount Taygetus, was carved by the hand of man, in remote antiquity, to form this pyramid shape. Others, however, believe that this is nothing but a natural rock formation. No erosion mechanism has been suggested (to date) which could create this shape naturally. Particularly curious are the strange shadows cast at dawn and sunset. It is said that in ancient years, Spartans built a temple of Apollo at the peak. A church of the prophet Elias (προφήτης Ηλίας) can be found at the same place. The international path E4 also leads there.

The valley of the Evrotas River lies to the east, while the Ionian Sea lies to the south and west along with the Gulf of Kalamata or the Messenian Gulf and Arcadia to the north.

Almost all of the Evrotas valley, the Parnon mountains and half of Laconia can be seen from the eastern slope. The western slope's panorama includes Kalamata and the eastern half of Messenia. Most of the southwestern part of Arcadia can also be seen.

Part of Skoteini Plevra

The central part of the mountain range is commonly called "Skoteini Plevra" which means "the dark side" because the villages that are in the Taygetus don't receive as much sunshine, especially in the morning and the pre-dusk hours. Much of the area is forested and in higher areas, deforested with grasslands, meadows and flowers. The area receives sunshine only during the afternoon hours. The length is about 4 to 5 km and the width is approximately 1 km.

1 Geographical features
2 Places on the Taygetus
3 Nearby places
4 Miscellany
5 External links

[edit] Geographical features

Kouakiou river
Rintomo gorge [1]
Viros gorge

[edit] Places on the Taygetus

Artemissia (pop: 291)
Piges (pop: 103)

[edit] Nearby places

In order of ascent, example north to south in the west.

West:
- Areopoli
- Neochori
- Kalamata
- Pefko
North:
- Neochori
- Pellana
East:
- Sellasia
- Sparta
- Mystras
- Magoula
- Arna
- Gytheio
South:
- Mani Peninsula

There are a few creeks in the range including two running within GR-82.

As an aside, but unconfirmed there is a naturally occurring pyramid on this mountain, perhaps one of the few naturally occurring pyraminds in the world. Taygetus also has a resort. Climate has cool summers in the central part with snowy winters. Most of the eastern half is grassy while the rest of the mountain is covered with Pine trees.

An ancient road linking Messene along with the rest of Messenia and Sparta ran in the southern part of the mountain in ancient and medieval times. The modern highway is Greece Interstate 82, the Kalamata to Sparti Highway running in the northcentral part with a pass of about 1,060 m. It is the only highway that runs through the Taygetus ranges.

A Trail is situated in the south central part of the range west of Mystras.

[edit] Miscellany

This is the mountain on which the Spartans would leave their unfit children to die. In the antiquity, male Spartan newborns were abandoned here if deemed unfit after examination for vitality. Most likely, the children were thrown off the mountain. Sparta was a warrior city and physical weakness was not tolerated, because of the Spartans' way of life.