While pyramids are undeniably associated with Egypt, Greece also boasts its own mysterious pyramids, with confirmed documentation. At least two known pyramids exist in Greece—structures that have piqued the interest of archaeologists, historians, and proponents of alternative history alike.
The Pyramid of Elliniko, located in the Argolis region, near the village of Elliniko, between Argos and Tegea, is one of Greece's most enigmatic and controversial archaeological sites. Its distinctive pyramidal shape has sparked considerable interest and led to various theories about its age and purpose.
The ancient writer Pausanias, in his 2nd-century work Description of Greece, mentions a pyramid-like structure in his book "Corinthian Antiquities." However, it is unclear whether he was referring to the Elliniko Pyramid or the nearby Pyramid of Lygourio.
Dating the Elliniko Pyramid: A Disputed Topic
The dating of the Elliniko Pyramid remains a contentious issue among researchers. Some archaeologists place its construction in the 4th century BCE. In 1991, Professor Ioannis Lyrintzis and his scientific team conducted a study using a new dating method. Their findings directly contradicted previous conclusions made by an archaeologist from a 1938 American mission, with the new results suggesting that the pyramid dates back to the mid-to-late 3rd millennium BCE, as opposed to the 3rd-4th centuries BCE.
Professor Mary Lefkowitz has disputed these conclusions, arguing that stones measured in the study may have been recycled from older buildings, and that earlier research conducted in the 1930s, later confirmed in the 1980s by archaeologist Helena Fracchia, was overlooked. Lyrintzis responded in a scientific journal article, claiming that Lefkowitz misunderstood and misinterpreted the scientific method applied in the study.
Professor Adamantios Sampson, an archaeologist, has written that it has already been proven that the monument was built on the foundations of a building from the Early Helladic period, indicating that the pyramid was constructed at a later time. Furthermore, the masonry of the pyramid, similar to that of the Lygourio pyramid, points to the Classical or Late Classical period. According to Sampson, the dating provided by Lyrintzis' team cannot be accepted.
The pyramid is made of hard, gray limestone from the region, with its outer sides sloping inward to form the pyramidal shape. The interior consists of a narrow corridor leading to a square room with approximately 7-meter sides.
The Pyramid of Lygourio
The second pyramid is the Pyramid of Lygourio, located in the Argolis region, near the village of Lygourio, at the foot of Mount Arachnaio. This ancient structure, although largely damaged today, retains its base as the main preserved section.
It has a pyramidal shape, with uneven sides. Today, it is severely damaged, with only its base remaining, and the materials from the pyramid were later used in the construction of other buildings. Pausanias mentions it, suggesting that it was a small fortification for military garrisons. More recent researchers consider it to be a funerary monument or a beacon tower (fryktoria).
Important Clarification
It is essential to note that these structures are not pyramids like the Egyptian ones. They are buildings with slanted sides, forming a sort of conical shape, and were not intended for the burial of pharaohs or similar purposes.
