Seeker Bow: The Paggaio Mountain

The one of the summit of Paggaio top called "Abgo" means Egg

Mount Paggaio constitutes a massif, extending at prefectures of Serres and Kavala. Its highest summit is the “Mati” (the “Eye), with an altitude of 1956 meters.

Its contribution is decisive towards preservation of fertility of the region, since many river-channels start from this mountain, in addition to the many springs that also sprout from there.

Mount Paggaio, along with its natural beauty, the large vertical slopes, the wooded steep slopes and the torrents that start from those slopes and in whole with its resemblance to an alpine scenery, was well-known for its luxuriant variety in flora and its rich fauna. And it is not by chance, that in this region, among beeches, oak trees and plane trees were created the theater companies that praised god Dionysus. These companies, with the rich tones of music, composed -along with the Satyrs- ecstatic scenery which was in total harmony with the animal instincts and actions of humans. Today, through more peaceful nature elements, released from the mountain’s orgiastic characteristics, it composes a unique and remarkable ecosystem.

Since Antiquity, this place was famous due to its gold mines, which were a cause for conflict for various cities during the ancient times, while they are said to be the main source of income for the financing for the expedition of Alexander the Great against the Persians. Today, the field of mining is much known in the region and constitutes a large part of the exporting activity. By general consent, Mount Paggaio is the second most historical mountain of Hellas, after Mount Olympus; a mountain filled with gold, as recorded by historical texts.

As far as the natural beauty of Mount Paggaio is concerned, in combination with the divine colors reflected by its summits to neighboring seaside stretches of the region, one could say that they compose a particularly mystical environment, affected by its purely mountain characteristics and inspires the visitors in a unique way, challenging them to explore this gold-bearing mountain, through paths, caves filled with rock paintings and pure elements of alternative tourism.

As for religious tourism in the region of Paggaio, the Monastery of Panagia Eikosifinissa lies on the northern side of the mountain, at an altitude of about 600 meters, built on the slope of a hillock, at the top of which pre-existed an ancient Greek temple. The monastery can be accessed from the western side, through the regional road network of Prefecture Serres.

“Watching over Strymonas Bay on the one hand the cone silhouette of Mount Athos and on the other hand the summit of Paggaio, I have wondered many times which of the two mountains was entitled to bear the title ‘Holy Mountain’ in world history. For, if the State of the Monks in Mount Athos is a unique, worldwide phenomenon of spiritual purification, Mount Paggaio is included in those religious qualities, whose influence shall never be denied by anyone, although it is not easy to appraise it”. (This is how the archaeologist and professor of University of Nancy, Paul Perdrizet prefaced his book “Cults and myths of Paggaio” at the beginning of the 20th century.)

Mythology

The first name of the mountain was Karmanion. It took its present name by the son of the god of war, Ares (Mars) and Kritovouli, Paggaios, who was bound for ever with this place with the tragic event of his suicide; he threw himself from the summit of the mountain, full of remorse for unwillingly provoking incest with his daughter. However, the most important figure known in this place was Dionysus, God of wine, after having been banished to this mountain by Lykourgos the king of Thrace. The God’s revenge towards the king was immediate; he first made him drunk and then tricked him in killing his own son, thinking he was a vineyard at lopping time and, as if that punishment wasn’t enough, he cursed the land to remain fruitless until the king himself was killed. According to the most popular version in mythology, the king was killed in this mountain, tied, with wild horses kicking him to death. There is also reference among the Bacchae and the mountain priests that Orpheus, who worshipped the sun, used to climb up to the summit every dawn and praised it, being the first one of the humans to welcome it.

Climbing

Over the picturesque village of Nikisiani, on the northern side of the mountain commands one of the highest summits, known as Trikorfo. It consists of vertical cliffs and towers, which vary in altitude from 150-250 meters and are described by many experts as a high level climbing field. For more information, visit the Kavala Greek Mountaineering Club (Ε.Ο.Σ.) webpage at www.eoskavalas.gr