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Didyma is a historic village in the prefecture of Argolida in Greece. Until World War II, the village was called Didymoi, which means twins in Greek. The origin of the name is explained in two ways. Either that it came from Mount Didymos or that it was adopted by the Twin Caves just outside the village. The two large caves are crater-shaped and impressive due to their size. They were probably formed by landslides and are about the same diameter. Therefore, the locals called them ‘Twin Caves’, ‘Twin Craters’ or ‘Dolines’.
The largest cave is located at the foot of the mountain and is called Big Cave, and the other, in the plain, is called Small Cave. Prehistoric people took refuge there to protect themselves from natural phenomena. During the Turkish occupation, the inhabitants of the area transported nitro from the animals’ urine from the Big Cave and made gunpowder for their weapons.
The Small Cave of Didyma
When you arrive at the area, just outside the village (you should follow the relevant signs), you meet first the Small Cave. Then you reach it through a small cavernous entrance, carved into the rock. The crater has a depth of 80 metres in the alluvial layers, and its diameter is 150 metres. Inside, you will find a striking contrast in vegetation compared to the surrounding area, alongside two small churches, Agios Georgios and Metamorfosis, which have also been carved into the rock.
The Byzantine church of Agios Georgios, which is the first you meet, right next to the entrance, dates back to the 13th century. It has a historical inscription that marks the passage of Thomas the Palaiologos, Hegemon of the Peloponnese, as well as an old stone font. The second church, Metamorfosis, is located on the north side of the crater, and its construction could not be dated. In addition to the two churches, in the cave, you could also see a deep hole in the ground, which is called Askitario. According to the local tradition, it was created by the spear of Saint George (Agios Georgios) and was used from the 11th century as a place of solitude for monks.
Another tradition connects the Small Cave of Didyma with the Homeric Odyssey. It said that it was the cave where Odysseus and his companions hid after their escape from the cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus before they continued their journey to Ithaca. Although this tradition seems a bit exaggerated, it adds another interesting aspect to the cave.
The Big Cave of Didyma
The Big Cave, a few hundred metres after the small one, offers an impressive spectacle with its size. However, it does not house monuments. It is used as a refuge by many species of birds. During a walk in it, you could admire the huge granite walls around you.
Both caves are easily accessible by car (you could find them easily on Google Maps here) and there is no entrance fee.
Finally, this is a short video from our visit to the Small Cave.
Previous articles on our website about Argolida :
5 + 1 restaurants in Nafplio you should try
4 easy “unknown” excursions from Nafplio
