Ιερό Σπηλαίου Νυμφαίου

Holy Cave Nymphaeum

Useful Information

Location:	Isiodou, Rodos 851 00. (36.444095, 28.213119)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Cave Church
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Holy Cave Nymphaeum, Tel: +30-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Ιερό Σπηλαίου Νυμφαίου (Ieró Spilaíou Nymfaíou - Holy Cave Nymphaeum) is a rather difficult name, and hard to translate. Holy Cave of Nymphaeum is as nonsensical as Sanctuary of Nymphaeum Cave. The official brown sight sign says Σπηλαιώδες Ιερό «Νυμφαίο» and translates «Nymphaeo» Cave Sanctuaries.

And the sight itself is as weird as the name, it is a series of artificial caves, cellar like structures with flat walls and barrel vaults. They have various sizes, some quite spacious, others small. There are staircases cut into the rock which lead down, pits which form a sort of courtyard surrounded by caverns. The site is freely accessible, but several caves are gated with iron bars.

A nymphaeum or nymphaion was a monument consecrated to the nymphs, especially those of springs, and often they are connected to Pan. Such monuments were originally natural grottos which, according to tradition, were attributed to the local nymphs as their habitat. Later artificial grottoes were built for this purpose, and the Romans sometimes used simple niches set into a garden wall. The more spectacular nymphaeums were rotundas adorned with statues and paintings. There was a connection to water, such sanctuaries often had a spring or at least a fountain. During the Roman Age, they were used as recreational space and for weddings. Even if they were artificial, they were intended to resemble caves or at least grottoes.

Here at the northern end of the acropolis of Rhodes, four different sets of caves can be visited. Two are located on both sides of the Akropoleos road, the other two are located on top of the hill. It's best to park on the small car park of the Cave Church of Saint Nicholas. The acropolis is mostly destroyed, only some basements and foundations remain, and this whole hill was used until 1947 by the farmers as an auxiliary pasture.