Arkalochori Cave

The sealed Cave of Arkalochori, also known as the Holy Cave of Profitis Elias (Prophet Elijah), is located southwest of Arkalochori and specifically in the southwestern side of the hill of Profitis Ilias, at an altitude of about 400 meters. A narrow entrance (width 0.70m and height 1.60m) leads inside the cave, in which due to the narrowness of the space, one has to crouch. The roof is supported by three concrete pillars. In ancient times, the cave was much larger, possibly extending even over the entire hill, and was made up of small and large chambers that communicated. The roof of the great cave collapsed in around 1500BC, perhaps due to an earthquake, the eruption of the Santorini volcano or due to the erosion of the rocks by the water. The cave has shrunk further into the 20th century, mainly due to landslides caused by illegal archaeological excavations.