Daphni

'Daphni' is one of the 51 officially recognized Vuori locations, and includes a wide variety of areas spanning from Korydallaia Ypsi and the Korydallos Antennae to the areas close to Chaidari Antennae and the heights of Kaskantami. Most of those locations no longer share ground proximity with Poikilo Oros and have been split from it via the road constructions of Leoforos Athinon. However, the lush flora and fauna as well as the ground formations behind the Byzantine monastery of Daphni share a majestic landscape with Diomidis Gardens and all constitute part of the glory of Poikilo, albeit now technically separated from it.

The areas of Daphni belong to Segment E, 'Pera' .

## Various Explorations

Daphni areas were initially visited in the distant 2015, when Vuorior James Kingston trod surrounding areas of Korydallaios Lofos with a friend. Later, he by-passed those grounds with fellow friend and adventurer George Stroubis to enter Korydallaia Ypsi and reach the Dead Eye Rock, the furthest limit a Vuorior has currently walked on, less than 500 meters short of the Far Korydallos Antennae.

Years later, after Vuoriors James Kingston and Sotiris Annis visited the Other Side at Skaramagas and the Koumoundourou Lake, they had made the decision to explore the areas of Daphni, and specifically the landscapes lying behind the Byzantine Monastery. For various reasons, the trip was delayed an additional 3 months.

## Pan Cave

The rocky bas-relief of the Mountain behind the Byzantine Monastery of Daphni gives way to a lush flora of pine trees, olive trees, sarcopoteriums spinosum, urgineas maritima and many more, revealing hidden trails that split the woods surrounding Diomides Gardens into various Broken Treks.

Where the small rivulet that still awaits 'bank cultivation' spreads, the middle dirt road leads to a majestic formation of the ground into a small cave, with a depth of 11 meters. It had been consecrated to the ancient Greek demi-god Panas (Pan) and the place was oft used as a sacrificial ground for many small animals. Whether it was Apollo that was being worshipped in the cave or a deeper connection to the obscure dodecatheistic rituals related to goddess Aphrodite taking place a few kilometers downroad at the Iero Aphaias is present, remains unknown.

The cave itself hosts a plethora of spiders and other tiny insects, and while not explored internally by the Vuoriors, it is known there exist at least 2 rooms to it, abounding in stalactites and plenty of valuable rock formations.

Pan's Cave proved quite a hazard to reach, seeing as it was lost amidst the brushwood and the dangerous, spiky vegetation in the middle of the hill behind Daphni Monastery. However, in the process, the Vuorior team reached the top of Daphni Hill, where, at the borders with Diomidean Garden, another Guardpost was located, offering a stultifying view of the entire Athens Panorama from the East. Small chairs and benches were found inside the Guardpost, and plenty of pictures were taken.

The paths extending from Pan's Cave eventually slope towards the ancient Iera Odos, and finally bifurcate at the Byzantine Monastery's yard, and back out towards the road.

Pan Cave was conquered Sunday, February 16 2020 at 13:58 noon time.