Daphni Monastery
because beautifully combines
the ancient myths,
the Classical period and the
Byzantine history of the city.
The monastery ts considered to be
the most important Byzantine
monument in the vicinity
of Athens and its mosaics
are thought to be magterpieces
of the golden era of Byzantine art.
Built on a hallowed ground -
In the 2nd century AD the traveller
Pausanias refers to the temple of
Daphnios or Daphnaeos Apollo,
which stood by the ancient Sacred
Road that led from Athens to
Eleusis. The Goths demolished that
temple in AD 395. When the
Byzantine Emperors forbade the
ancient pagan religion, the
Christians occupied the site and
built a church using the old
temple's material. They chose this
particular site because it stood on
the route to Eleusis, where the
believers in idols continued to go to
celebrate the Eleusinian Mysteries.
In AD 1100 a new church was built
in the shape of an octagon.
Up until the 19th century the
monastery underwent several
alterations. During the 1821 Greek
Revolution it became a shelter for
the Greek fighters.
The myths -
The monastery is situated on the
site where in ancient times stood
the temple of Daphnaeos or
Daphnios Apollo with a sacred
laurel grove. According to one
version the place owes its name to
this ancient temple and its laurel
grove (daphne: laurel). Another
version claims that Daphni was
named after the ancient Queen,
Daphne, whose ship was wrecked
near the bay of Eleusis. Queen
Daphne was saved and expressed
her gratitude to Apollo by building
this temple, which was destroyed
by the Goths in AD 395. Yet another
myth says that this was the place
where the nymph Daphne, fleeing
the unwelcome attentions of the
god Apollo, had turned herself into
a laurel tree.
The mosaics -
Daphni owes part of its fame to
its unique and beautiful mosaics,
which were made in the 11th
century AD. You can see them
on the walls, the dome, the arms
of the cross on the roof and in
the sanctuary. Seventy six of the
themes of the mosaics refer to
the life of Christ and the Virgin
Mary. You will also see mosaics
of figures of saints and prophets.
Christ Pantocrator -
The central figure of the dome is
Christ Pantocrator, inside a circle
that symbolises the sky. The gold
background symbolises Heaven.
His face is severe as he watches
the humans on earth and judges
their acts. He is surrounded by
Old Testament prophets.
The Assumption of Virgin Mary -
This mosaic stands half-damaged
on the western wall of the church.
Notice especially the angel that
comes down from the sky
to receive the Virgin's soul.
He is thoughtful and his hands
are piously covered by a cloth.
Getting there -
Daphni Monastery is 11 kms
along the
National Road
that goes
from Athens
to Corinth.
Top - Virgin Mary
