A Visit to UNESCO Byzantine Daphni Monastery in Athens

The Byzantine Daphni Monastery, just 11 km from central Athens, is a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back to the 6th century.

It’s famous for its incredible gold-background mosaics, which are honestly some of the most beautiful in Greece.

The monastery sits at the foot of Mount Aigaleo, right along the ancient Sacred Road (Iera Odos). Its architecture is a great example of the 11th–12th century Byzantine style, and the ceiling mosaic of Christ Pantokrator is a real showstopper.

For the past 300 years, it’s been a classic stop on the way to Eleusis and the Peloponnese.

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The Byzantine Daphni Monastery in Athens

Brief History of the Byzantine Daphni Monastery in Athens

It was originally constructed during the early Christian centuries, most likely in the 6th century AD.

In 1080 AD, an unknown individual cleared the ruins of the old Basilica Church and renovated the Monastery. The mosaics of the monastery belong to the Komnenoi Dynasty.

In 1205, the Crusades caused significant destruction to the Monastery.

Subsequently, it was handed over to French monks who reconstructed the exonarthex and added an enclosure around the Monastery.

They remained there until 1456, when Athens was conquered by the Ottomans, who expelled the French.

• In 1458, the monastic complex was once again entrusted to Orthodox monks who constructed two-story buildings with cells, a dining room, storerooms, and a perimeter gallery within the small enclosure.
• In 1821, during the Greek War of Independence, it was sporadically used as a garrison until it was designated as an archaeological site at the end of the 19th century.

The Monastery’s Architecture

The Byzantine Daphni Monastery in Athens is believed to have been constructed on the site of the ancient temple of Apollo Daphnaeus, named after the Greek god Apollo. The word ‘Daphni’ in Greek means ‘laurel.’

The Goths, who invaded Athens in 398 CE, entirely demolished the ancient temple. Today, a solitary Ionic column from the Temple of Apollo still stands, supporting the exonarthex of the monastery.

Edward Clarke and Elgin removed the three remaining columns in 1801 and transported them to England, where they remain (along with so many other Greek antiquities).

What is truly unique about Daphni Monastery is its imposing fortified enclosure wall, standing nearly 20 feet high, complete with towers, battlements, and two entry gates.

Today, the smaller gate serves as the main entrance to the monument. The interior of the Monastery is primarily defined by the Catholicon, the main and most prominent temple.

The Catholicon of Daphni Monastery has been renowned as one of the most beautiful domed churches in Greece.

This splendid structure, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, dates back to the 11th century.

It has a large dome supported by eight pillars symmetrically arranged, with chapels positioned in the corners of the building.

The smooth surfaces of its walls bear witness to the exceptional craftsmanship of the Greek Byzantine school, while the ornate brickwork surrounding the windows will capture your attention.

The exquisite Byzantine architecture is in full harmony with the highly artistic frescoes on the walls of the Catholicon.

Daphni Monastery’s Frescoes and Mosaics

The main mosaic in the center of the Dome is Christ Pantokrator (Ruler Over All), one of the most beautiful scenes depicted in the Greek Orthodox religion, flanked by 16 prophets of the Old Testament.

In the mosaics in the Daphni Monastery in Athens, we see innovations and new iconographic styles.

You may notice that within the Catholicon, there’s a notable reduction in the depiction of individual saints compared to other Greek Orthodox monasteries and churches, with a notable absence of monks and holy women.

At Daphni Monastery, there’s a distinct emphasis on the human aspect of depicted saints, enriched by scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.

The Monastery’s Yard

The main courtyard of the Monastery also contains the cells for the monks, which are now used as offices, as well as a small museum displaying exhibits from the site.

All around the yard, there are also the remains of many wells and various buildings in different states of conservation.

Another project undertaken by the monks was the conversion of the underground area beneath the narthex into a crypt for the burial of the Dukes of the Duchy of Athens.

How to Get to the Monastery of Daphni

You can visit the Daphni Monastery on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 08:00 – 15:00 with free entrance.

You can reach the Monastery from the center of Athens using public transport. Take the Metro (M3 line) and disembark at Agia Marina Station.

Once you arrive at Agia Marina Station, simply walk approximately 40 meters to the nearby bus station, where you can catch any of the following buses: 866, 876, or 811. After an 11-stop trip, alight at Daphni Hospital, and you’ll find the Monastery across the road.

Alternative ways are taxis or renting a car, which will allow you to visit the Temple of Aphrodite, a few hundred meters down the Iera Odos and Eleusis.

UNESCO Monuments in Greece

There are currently 19 UNESCO Monuments in Greece:

• Athens, Attika (1): Acropolis Hill
• Monasteries (3): Daphni in Athens, Nea Moni in Chios, Hosios Loukas near Delphi.
• Northern Greece (4): Vergina, Philippi, Paleochristian, and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki, Mount Athos, and Zagori in Epirus (Monodendri)
• Peloponnese (5): Mystras, Olympia, Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, Mycenae and Tiryns, Sanctuary of Asklepios in Epidaurus
• Islands (5): Delos, Medieval City of Rhodes, Old Town of Corfu, Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos, the Historic Centre (Chorá), the Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian, and the Cave of the Apocalypse on Patmos
• Central Greece (2): Delphi, Meteora Monasteries

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