Euvoia

Southern Evia hosts one of the most intriguing mysteries of archaeology: the famous Dragon Houses, named due to the massive scale of their construction. These remarkable structures, a total of 25, with their unique wall construction and unknown, even today, use by their creators, are scattered across the entire southern part of Evia.

Common characteristics of the Dragon Houses include the steep and panoramic locations where they were built, the construction details of the megalithic masonry and their entrances, and especially their roofing system, which follows the corbelled system: large, heavy slate slabs converge in layers between two opposing walls. Each layer of slabs protrudes slightly further than the one below it, forming a pyramidal roof. Other architectural elements found in most of these buildings are the monolithic doorposts and lintels, niches, and stone shelves preserved inside some of them, projecting from the walls. The dimensions of the Dragon Houses range from approximately 5 to 13 meters.

Numerous theories have been proposed regarding the use, purpose, construction, and dating of the Dragon Houses. Some believe they were ancient shrines dedicated to Zeus, Hera, or Heracles. Other theories suggest they might have been watchtowers, signal posts, or quarry workers’ shelters. However, their enormous size and construction technique remain a captivating and unsolved puzzle.

The Dragon House of Ochi

The most important and impressive of the enigmatic Dragon Houses of Evia is constructed at the top of Mount Ochi, above Karystos, at an altitude of 1,398 meters. It was built with large stones quarried from the surrounding area, which were carved and harmoniously fitted together without the use of any bonding material! The thickness of its walls is approximately 1.5 meters. The internal dimensions of the structure are nearly 5 x 10 meters. The entrance is notably trilithic, in the shape of a “P,” made of large columns. The slab above the entrance measures 4 meters in length, 2 meters in width, and 0.3 meters in thickness! This slab, weighing about 10 tons, how was it moved? How was it lifted to a height of 2 meters? What purpose did such a meticulously constructed building serve at an altitude of 1,400 meters in such a rugged area? The answers are well hidden in a foggy past, which many archaeologists and researchers have tried to uncover.

In 1959, excavations by Professor Nik. Moutsopoulos at the Dragon House of Ochi uncovered pottery, shards (one of which bears an inscription in an unknown script), and other objects that are now housed in the Archaeological Museum of Karystos.

Civilization

Hiking in the Dragon’s Footsteps

The ascent to the top is a life-changing experience. Mount Ochi is one of the most beautiful and pristine landscapes in Greece. The area has been included in the Natura 2000 program due to the unique beauty of the landscape and its significance as a wildlife refuge. Ochi hosts an exceptionally rare flora that has survived in isolation for millennia. As an ecosystem, it is considered one of the oldest on the planet. From the village of Mylos in Karystos, we head towards the mountain refuge at 1,100 meters altitude.

The air is fragrant with thyme and wild mountain tea, and a forest of towering, millennia-old chestnut trees in the area of “Kastanologgos” offers us wonderful views. From the refuge, a marked accessible trail begins that will lead us to the summit through the steep, bare mountainsides. A necessary stop is at the small chapel of Prophet Elias, carved into the rocks, to admire the unobstructed view of the surrounding area. With a breath, we face the ancient “Cyclopean” structure, the Dragon House of Ochi.