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Modern Description: A marked but difficult trail leads to the cave on the E/S bank of the Gura stream flowing W from Parnitha. The final approach is by a climb down rock-cut footholds. There are various niches for offerings to Pan and the Nymphs. More than 2000 Late Roman lamps, the latest from the 7th c. CE, were found on the cave floor, prompting its popular name, Λυχνοσπηλιά. Mostly unpublished, with both pagan and Christian symbols. Some reliefs with pagan themes were found broken, with mutilated faces, in Early Byzantine fill. This is a good candidate for the sanctuary of the Nymphs in Phyle, site of Menander's comedy Dykolos (317/16 BCE). A fragmentary Late Roman verse inscription by Nikagoras IG II2 4831 seems to confirm Menander on the arduousness of reaching the spot, but the site offers no scope for houses beside it.
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyle_Cave
Wikidata ID: Q15266173
Trismegistos Geo: 60799

Info: ToposText editors

(JBK)

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