Situated halfway on the journey from Athens to Eleusis, within the current bounds of Daphni Monastery, stood the sacred site of Apollo. This complex, featuring a temple and a colonnaded stoa, was encircled by a peribolos crafted from finely cut stones, later repurposed by the Byzantines for the Daphni Monastery fortifications.
The temple’s exact layout remains a mystery, as the monastery’s church was constructed directly over it, hindering extensive archaeological exploration. However, the site has yielded a wealth of ancient construction materials, including numerous column drums and capitals in both Ionic and Doric styles, found outside the monastery’s outer narthex. The latter’s southwest corner was originally supported by four Ionic columns, three of which were removed to the British Museum by Lord Elgin in the 19th century, reportedly exploiting a conveniently timed earthquake, as noted by Edward Dodwell, a British traveller.
Apollo’s temple enshrined the deity’s statue, known as Daphnephoros, along with Athena’s. While Pausanias mentions statues of Demeter and Kore within the sanctuary, it’s improbable they were all housed in a single structure due to size constraints. The numerous column drums found suggest the Eleusinian deities may have been placed in a second temple or an arcade.
The founding date of Apollo’s sanctuary is uncertain, but its myth, as recorded by Pausanias, traces back to Cephalus, the Kephalidae’s mythical progenitor. Cephalus, known for his beauty, was abducted by Eos, the dawn goddess, and taken to Syria. After eight years, he returned incognito to Athens, tricking and reconquering his wife, Procris, with lavish gifts. He only revealed himself when she accepted his marriage proposal, and they finally reconciled. Passionate about hunting, Cephalus frequently spent extended periods away. Suspecting infidelity, Procris, informed by a servant about Cephalus calling “Nephele” (cloud) during hunts, decided to track him. Contrary to her suspicions, his shouts were mere requests for cloud cover against the scorching heat. Tragically, Procris’ concealment skills led to her misidentification as an animal by Cephalus, who fatally speared her. This incident compelled Cephalus to depart Athens once more.
A decade of generations post-Cephalus, his descendants, Chalcinus and Daetus, embarked on a voyage to Delphi. Their quest was to seek Apollo’s consent for their return to Athens. Apollo’s directive to them was to offer him a sacrifice at a site in Attica where they would witness a trireme gliding on land. On their arrival at Mount Poikilon, the sight of a snake swiftly entering its nest signified the location. Thus, they performed the sacrificial rites to Apollo and proceeded to Athens, becoming its citizens. It was on this sacred ground that the god’s sanctuary was later erected.
This temple became integral to the Greater Mysteries’ procession. However, it fell to ruin in 395 CE, during the invasion led by Alaric’s Visigoths. Centuries later, in the waning years of the 11th century, the Daphni Monastery’s katholikon was constructed upon this very site, standing tall throughout the era of Frankish dominion.
