Taygetus or Taygetos (Greek: Ταΰγετος), also Taigetos is a mountain range of the Peloponnesus, Southern Greece, extending about 65 mi (100 km) north from the southern end of Cape Matapan in the Mani Peninsula. It rises to about 7,900 ft (2,410 m) at Mt. Hagios Ilias (Mt. St. Elias or Prophitis Elias). The mountain is named after Taygete. In Byzantine times and up until the 19th century, the mountain was known as Pentedaktylos (Greek for five-fingered). The mountain range includes the prefectures of Arcadia, Laconia and Messenia. Basic Definition In geography, the elevation of a geographic location is its height above mean sea level (or some other fixed point). ... Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi, , gives the location of a place on Earth north or south of the equator. ... Longitude, sometimes denoted by the Greek letter λ (lambda),[1][2] describes the location of a place on Earth east or west of a north-south line called the Prime Meridian. ... Messenia (Greek: , in Modern Greek Messinia; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a prefecture in the Peloponnese, a region of Greece. ... Laconia (; see also List of traditional Greek place names), also known as Lacedaemonia, is a prefecture in Greece. ... Distance is a numerical description of how far apart objects are at any given moment in time. ... Southern and northern Mount Everest climbing routes as seen from the International Space Station. ... The Himalaya as seen from the International Space Station A mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands or separated from other mountain ranges by passes or rivers. ... Peloponnesos (Greek: Πελοπόννησος, sometime Latinized as Peloponnesus or Anglicized as The Peloponnese) is a large peninsula in Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Isthmus of Corinth. ... Cape Tenaro (Greek: Ταίναρο) also known as Cape Tainaro (older forms: Tenaron and Tainaron) and Cape Matapan is situated in Mani, Laconia, Greece. ... Map of Greece highlighting the Mani peninsula. ... In Greek mythology, Taygete (Greek: Ταϋγέτη, in Modern Greek Taygeti, Taigeti) was a nymph, one of the Pleiades according to Apollodorus (3. ... Byzantine Empire at its greatest extent c. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Arcadia or Arkadía (Greek Αρκαδία; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a region of Greece in the Peloponnesus. ... Laconia (; see also List of traditional Greek place names), also known as Lacedaemonia, is a prefecture in Greece. ... Messenia (Greek: , in Modern Greek Messinia; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a prefecture in the Peloponnese, a region of Greece. ...

Taygetus pyramid

The highest peak of the mountain has the shape of a pyramid. Some researchers are convinced that this structure, found on one of the peaks of mount Taygetus, was carved by the hand of man, in remote antiquity, to form this pyramid shape. Others, however, believe that this is nothing but a natural rock formation. No erosion mechanism has been suggested (to date) which could create this shape naturally. Particularly curious are the strange shadows cast at dawn and sunset. It is said that in ancient years, Spartans built a temple of Apollo at the peak. A church of the prophet Elias (προφήτης Ηλίας) can be found at the same place. European walking route E4 also leads there. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A pyramid is any three-dimensional structure where the upper surfaces are triangular and converge on one point. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Elijah in the wilderness, by Washington Allston Elijah (Hebrew: אליהו, ) was a prophet in Israel in the 9th century BCE. He appears in the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Mishnah, Christian Bible, and the Quran. ... Map of european long-distance paths The European long-distance paths are a network of extremely long distance footpaths across Europe. ...

The valley of the Evrotas River lies to the east, while the Ionian Sea lies to the south and west along with the Gulf of Kalamata or the Messenian Gulf and Arcadia to the north. The Evrótas (Greek: Ευρώτας) is a river in the Peloponnese in southern Greece. ... The Ionian Sea. ... The Messenian Gulf (Greek: Μεσσηνιακος Κόλπος Messiniakos Kolpos) is a sea that is part of the Ionian Sea. ... Arcadia or Arkadía (Greek Αρκαδία; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a region of Greece in the Peloponnesus. ...

Almost all of the Evrotas valley, the Parnon mountains and half of Laconia can be seen from the eastern slope. The western slopes panorama includes Kalamata and the eastern half of Messenia. Most of the southwestern part of Arcadia can also be seen. Parnon or Malevo is a mountain ridge on the east of the Laconian plain. ...

Part of Skoteini Plevra

The central part of the mountain range is commonly called "Skoteini Plevra" which means "the dark side" because the villages that are in the Taygetus don't receive as much sunshine, especially in the morning and the pre-dusk hours. Much of the area is forested and in higher areas, deforested with grasslands, meadows and flowers. The area receives sunshine only during the afternoon hours. The length is about 4 to 5 km and the width is approximately 1 km. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x734, 49 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Taygetus ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x734, 49 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Taygetus ...

Geographical features

• Kouakiou river
• Rintomo gorge [1]
• Viros gorge

Viros Gorge is situated in the Outer Mani region of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. ...

Places on the Taygetus

• Artemissia (pop: 291)
• Piges (pop: 103)

Nearby places

In order of ascent, example north to south in the west.

• West:
  • Areopoli
  • Neochori
  • Kalamata
  • Pefko
• North:
  • Neochori
  • Pellana
• East:
  • Sellasia
  • Sparta
  • Mystras
  • Magoula
  • Arna
  • Gytheio
• South:
  • Mani Peninsula

There are a few creeks in the range including two running within GR-82. Areopoli (Greek: Αρεόπολη) is the second largest town in Mani. ... Kalamata (Greek, Modern: Καλαμάτα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ai), older forms: Kalamai is a city in southern Greece, on the Peloponnesos, by the Mediterranean. ... Pefko or Πευκο is a small but scenic Greek village in Messenia, west of the Tayegetus Mountain and in between Sparta and Kalamata, in Messenian Mani. ... Pellana or Pellene or Pellane (Greek: ἡ Πέλλανα, Paus. ... Sellasia, Selasia or Selassia (Greek: Σελλασία) rarely Arakhova is a village and a municipality which this town is the seat of the municipality of Oinounta, Inounta or Inouda (Greek, Modern: Οινούντα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ous), ancient form... Sparta (Doric: Spártā, Attic: SpártÄ“) is a city in southern Greece. ... For a village in the prefecture of Ioannina, see Mystras (Ioannina), Greece The Vale of Laconia seen from the battlements of Mystras Mystras (also Mistra, Mystra and Mistras Greek: Μύστρας , Μυζηθράς Mizithras or Myzithras in the chronicle of Morea ) was a fortified town in Morea (the Peloponnesus), on Mt. ... City Hall of Mystras, Magoula Sainopouleio Theatre, located in Magoula Magoula is a district of modern Sparta city, capital of Mistras(Mystras) municipality. ... The village of Arna lies on the eastern slopes of the Taygetos mountain range, at an altitude of 700m to 850m (2,300 to 2,800 feet). ... Gytheio (Greek, Modern: Γύθειο, Ancient/Katharevousa: -on), also Gythio, Githeio or Githio is a town of Laconia in Greece, long known as the seaport of Sparta some 30 miles inland. ... Map of Greece highlighting the Mani peninsula. ...

As an aside, but unconfirmed there is a naturally occurring pyramid on this mountain, perhaps one of the few naturally occurring pyramids in the world. Taygetus also has a resort. Climate has cool summers in the central part with snowy winters. Most of the eastern half is grassy while the rest of the mountain is covered with Pine trees. Subgenera Subgenus Strobus Subgenus Ducampopinus Subgenus Pinus See Pinus classification for complete taxonomy to species level. ...

An ancient road linking Messene along with the rest of Messenia and Sparta ran in the southern part of the mountain in ancient and medieval times. The modern highway is Greece Interstate 82, the Kalamata to Sparti Highway running in the north-central part with a pass of about 1,060 m. It is the only highway that runs through the Taygetus ranges. Messene (Greek: Μεσσήνη Messínî or Messénê ) was an ancient Greek city, the capital of Messenia (until the modern prefecture was created). ... Messenia (Greek: , in Modern Greek Messinia; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a prefecture in the Peloponnese, a region of Greece. ... Sparta (Doric: Spártā, Attic: Spártē) is a city in southern Greece. ... Greece Interstate 82 (Pylos - Kalamata - Sparti) is a west to east highway linking Pylos with the GR-9/E55, Kalamata and downtown Sparta with GR-37/E???. The highway begins in downtown Pylos and runs through the southwestern part of Messenia and through curvy roads and through Lykodimos and intersects...

A Trail is situated in the south central part of the range west of Mystras. For a village in the prefecture of Ioannina, see Mystras (Ioannina), Greece The Vale of Laconia seen from the battlements of Mystras Mystras (also Mistra, Mystra and Mistras Greek: Μύστρας , Μυζηθράς Mizithras or Myzithras in the chronicle of Morea ) was a fortified town in Morea (the Peloponnesus), on Mt. ...

Miscellaneous

This is the mountain on which the Spartans would leave their unfit children to die. In the antiquity, male Spartan newborns were abandoned here if deemed unfit after examination for vitality. Most likely, the children were thrown off the mountain. Sparta was a warrior city and physical weakness was not tolerated, because of the Spartans' way of life. Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, which begins roughly with the earliest-recorded Greek poetry of Homer (7th century BC), and continues through the rise of Christianity and the fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century AD... Sparta (Doric: Spártā, Attic: Spártē) is a city in southern Greece. ...

External links

• Official website of the Taygetus
• mani.org.gr on Taygetus
• http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cee/therevid/2000KCH_3.html
• http://www.gianniskofinas.com/Vouna/t1/taigetos1.htm (in Greek)
• http://www.oreivatein.com/page/mountains/q_z/taygetos/tayget.htm (in Greek)
• http://www.papagiannakos.com/lakonia/taygetus.htm (in Greek)
• http://www.mountains.gr/geographia/taygetos.html (in Greek)
• Traveljournals.net - Location of Taygetus on worldmap
• GTP - Taygetus
• Map and aerial photos:
  • Street map: Street map from Mapquest, MapPoint or Google
  • Satellite images: Google - image not yet available
• Coordinates: 22°18′0″E, 37°6′00″N