AY8EE4 Panagia Hrysospiliotissa Chapel of our Lady of the Cavern incut to Acropolis Walls Athens Greece
AY8EE4
Panagia, Hrysospiliotissa, Acropolis, Athens, Greece, grotto, originally, dedicated, to, Dionysos, as, a, temple, by, Thrasyllos, worship, faith, belief, christian, greek, orthodox, cave, worship, Jesus, Christ, icon, iconography, travel, Chapel, of, our, Lady, of, the, Cavern, incut, Walls, wall, grotto, originally, dedicated, to, Dionysos, as, a, temple, by, Thrasyllos, worship, faith, belief, christian, greek, orthodox, cave, worship, Jesus, Christ, icon, iconography, travel

Alamy Stock Photo

Panagia Hrysospiliotissa


A grotto in the cliff face, the Choragic Monument of Thrasyllos was built here around 320 BC. In the Christian era it became the Chapel of Our Lady of the Cavern; old pictures and icons cover the walls. Above the chapel two slender Ionic columns are the remains of Thrasyllos' monument. It's open only on 15 August, the day of the Dormition of the Virgin.

It's above the Theatre of Dionysos, accessible by a path east from the Asclepieion. The path gives a good view down on to the theatre; you can make out the marble diamond pattern on the stage.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Theatre of Dionysos

0.02 MILES

The tyrant Peisistratos introduced the annual Festival of the Great Dionysia during the 6th century BC, and held it in the world's first theatre, on the…

2. Stoa of Eumenes & Asclepieion

0.05 MILES

From the stage of the Theatre of Dionysos, the path leads uphill and west to the top of the long Stoa of Eumenes, a colonnade built by Eumenes II, King of…

3. Parthenon

0.05 MILES

Designed to be the pre-eminent monument of the Acropolis, the Parthenon epitomises the glory of Ancient Greece. Meaning 'virgin's apartment', it's…

4. Acropolis

0.07 MILES

The Acropolis is the most important ancient site in the Western world. Crowned by the Parthenon, it stands sentinel over Athens, visible from almost…

5. Erechtheion

0.09 MILES

Although the Parthenon was the most impressive monument of the Acropolis, it was more showpiece than working sanctuary. That role fell to the Erechtheion…

7. Anafiotika

0.11 MILES

Clinging to the north slope of the Acropolis, the tiny Anafiotika district is a beautiful, architecturally distinct subdistrict of Plaka. In the mid-1800s…

8. Propylaia

0.13 MILES

The Propylaia formed the monumental entrance to the Acropolis. Built by Mnesicles between 437 BC and 432 BC, it ranks in architectural brilliance with the…