The second tallest hill of Athens owns its existence to goodness Athena, the god and protector of the city. According to the legend, Athena was carrying a rock from Pallini to Acropolis. Her intension was to use the rock to protect the holly rock; however on her way to Acropolis a crow brought bad news to her. She was so shocked that the rock fall off her hands and thus Lykabetous Hill was created.

On the other hand there are several explanations about the origin of the word Lycabettus. The most prominent, that makes sense to whoever has been on the top of the hill on a sunrise (believe me we are many of those), is that comes from the word “lycofos”. That means the place (rock) where the light rushes from the moment the sun rises.

Picture on the left: Lycabettus in 1887 seen from Exarchia; Picture on the right: Lycabettus in modern time.