CHIMERA

Chimera

Chimera
If you are looking for the original Olympic flame, make your way to Chimera near Olympos. Also known as Burning Rock, it has about a dozen flames that blaze spontaneously from the crevices of the rocky mountainside of Mount Olympos. According to Greek mythology, Zeus had set Chimera (son of the Earth Goddess Gaia) on fire and buried him alive under Mount Etna, thereby creating the volcano. To this day the gas still vents from the side of the rock and flares with the air. Seeing the flames dance in front of you is quite a mesmerizing experience, especially if you come at night time. You can see better the blue flames.

During ancient times, mariners sailing along the Mediterranean coast used the bright flames as a landmark on their voyage. To get to Chimera, there is a stone path uphill, around 250 metres above sea level. It is about a forty-five-minute hike. Asides from viewing the stone field where the flames burst from there are also some Byzantine ruins and a pagan temple dedicated to Hephaestus. Do remember to bring some water up the hike in case the heat from the flames is too much!

From Chimera and in the area of Olympos other points of interest within easy distance are Olympos Beygadlarin National Park, Olympos Ancient City and Phaselis.