The mysterious Megalithic Monuments of Karystia
The unique Dragon Houses that are made of natural stone from Karystos and have stood proudly for more than 2800 years!
Karystos in South Evia a place carved from slate with roots lost in the depths of the centuries as Karystia was associated with the mining of marble known as Karystia Lithos ( cipollino & Marmor Karystium). The natural rocks of Karystos were highly valued by the Romans where they were used extensively. With this, the famous “Dragon Houses” were built. These peculiar buildings made of local slate, examples of excellent megalithic architecture dating back to the 6th century. E.G. ! According to tradition, these huge structures were built by Dragons! It is also claimed that the king of the Cyclops lived there. According to Herodotus, the Dryopes built the ‘’Dragonhouses’’, as a cult sanctuary of Hera, Zeus and Hercules. They got their name from their enormous size, they are made of large slates with no foundations, no binders to join their giant slabs, no windows with a gabled entrance, and their roof is pyramid shaped!
Common features of the Dragon Houses are the steep and observational location, the construction details of the megalithic masonry and the characteristic 3d, in the shape of a P, their entrance. To this day they remain in amazing condition. The most impressive is built on the top of Mount Ochi, above Karystos, at an altitude of 1398 meters. It has been built without a foundation, only with large boulders that have been cut from the surrounding area, chipped and fitted harmoniously without any binding material.
