1. Where is Lemnos?
Lemnos is considered a somewhat remote island, and that is one of the main reasons for it having retained its authenticity. But where is Lemnos exactly? The closest major Greek city is Thessaloniki, connected by ferries and flights be-tween the two. For reaching Lemnos from Athens, a flight is the fastest way to travel with a journey duration of just an hour or less. It is reachable by ferry too but it is a long journey. Where is Lemnos geographically? It is in the north east-ern part of the Aegean, and islands neighbouring it include Thassos, Samo-thrace, Mytilene, and Chios.
2. The link to the legend of the Amazons
Together with the island of Mytilene (also known as Lesvos), Lemnos has been connected to the Amazons. In ancient times, a folk legend spoke of the island being dominated by women, led by queen Hypsipyle. Both Hypsipyle and Myrina, the name of the capital town of Lemnos, are Amazon names.
3. The homeland of God Hephaestus
Greek mythology makes reference to Lemnos as the island of Hephaestus. He was the fallen son of Zeus and the god of fire and volcanoes. The myth says that Hephaestus fell on Lemnos island when Zeus, after an argument, hurled him from the edges of Mt. Olympus. Hephaestus was wounded by the fall yet he was cared for by the locals and recovered swiftly. In return for their kindness, he then taught them how to be masters in metallurgy. For this great wisdom he be-stowed upon them, the locals of Lemnos built a town in his honour, Hephaestia, now an archaeological site.
4. Kaveiria
The sanctuary of Kaveiria, erected as a place of worship for Hephaestus’ de-scendents via the nymph Kabiro, is charged with energy despite it being in ruins. Kaveirioi were the spirit and or biological children of the patron god of the is-land, who changed the lives of the locals forever with their wielding of metals and mastery over fire. The Kaveiria Mysteries were held for many years to hon-our the god for sharing the knowledge of the art of metallurgy, and although there is no record of what transpired during the Mysteries, the legend suggests there was a strong fire element in the proceedings.
5. Cave of Filoktitis
Below the sanctuary site of Kaveiria you will find the mythological Cave of Filok-titis, that of the tragic figure Filoktitis, a companion of Odysseus who was aban-doned on the way to the Trojan War. The story goes that anchoring in Lemnos for supplies and rest before battle, Filoktitis was bitten by a snake and was later left in that cave by the party since his leg became immensely swollen, he was deemed unfit for the battlefield. The Cave of Filoktitis is partly a sea cave and the waters are so crystalline that you will not resist to dive in. It can be reached by both sea and by foot.