Mount Kyllini, commonly referred to as Ziria, is the second highest summit of the Peloponnisos. Is is the closest alpine peak to Athens, only one and a half hours by car. The ancient Greeks believed that the Olympian god Hermes was born in a cave near the base of the mountain. In fact, in ancient times, a temple dedicated to the god was built on the summit. Ziria was also the birthplace of the seven Pleiades, daughters of the Titan god Atlas. After their birth, the sisters moved up into the heavens, where they formed the constellation of stars that bears their name. The mountain today has a small ski center on the lower slopes, next to the cave of Hermes. The basic infrastructure in place for the ski center makes Ziria an ideal destination for quick day trips from Athens, for mountain enthusiasts of all ability levels.
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