Taygetus

P1P5

Seen Taygetos from Sparta from

The Taygetos (Greek Ταΰγετος ) is a mountain range in the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece. He is in the countryside and separates Laconia Mani Messenia from. The highest peak is the pyramidal Hagios Ilias ( Prophet Elias or ) with 2,407 m, which is also the highest mountain in the Peloponnese.

The mountain consists mainly of limestone from the Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous, which is mostly stored horizontally. However, it is crossed in the longitudinal direction of a strip crystalline shale. This is considerably more overgrown as it provides better soil and water conditions.

At the northeastern edge of the Taygetos mountain range lies the ruined city of Mystras, founded by Frankish princes at the time of the Crusades.

To the Taygetos entwine two events from Greek mythology: Zeus and Leda Here are said to have fathered the Dioscuri. Additionally, this mountain is said to have served as a place of death for weak children from Sparta: The fathers of children who were born with defects, were obliged to plunge into a crevice of the mountain near the present-day Sparta.

The name was given the mountain of the nymph Taygete, daughter of Atlas and Pleione the Oceanid.

Tourist Taygetos is now well developed. Many hiking trails such as the European long distance path E4 are ideal for long trips.

Vegetation line: limestone (left), shale (right)

Rise to the summit of Prophet Elias

View over the mountains from the summit of Prophet Elias

Swell

• Greece: E4 - Peloponnese. Stone, Werl, ISBN 978-3-86686-221-0.