Traces of ancient human presence and art in the cave of Agios Markos
Southern of Mount Falakro, in the narrow pass between Pyrgos-Petrousa and Granite, the cave of Agios Markos is located. The cave is dedicated to St. Mark, probably from the 11th century, when the remains of the wall which is located in front of the cave are dated, according to the typology of the masonry. Next to the entrance of the cave there are remains of houses (foundations and tiles) and pottery sherds (unpainted and glazed) of the Byzantine period.
Inside the cave, two large chambers are created, which the inhabitants of the area had turned into a place of worship. In the first, there are the ruins of a frescoed church dedicated to Panagia Spilaiotissa (Holy Mary of the cave) and two cisterns created by the conversion of stalagmite deposits and built walls with hydraulic mortar. Even today pilgrims take the water collected in a tank as sanctification. In the second chamber there are inscriptions of the post-Byzantine period (15th century and later). They are located on the west side of the cave and date mostly to the 18th and 19th century while a smaller number dates to the 15th -17th. Some of the inscriptions are in Cyrillic and date to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Of particular importance are the inscriptions with eloquent verses written with pins, achidographs, dating to the 11th and 12th century. The cave is not visitable but on April 23, the day that commemorates St. George, pilgrims visit the cave. From the entrance of the cave the visitor can admire the view of the plain of Drama.
Ephorate of Paleoanthropology - Speleology
Drama, Falakro Mt P.E. Drama
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