Milos Catacombs: A must-see attraction of great historical value

These catacombs are among the most important burial chambers discovered worldwide.

The Catacombs of Milos, in Milos Island, are located in the area of the modern settlement of Trypiti, at a close distance from the archaeological attractions of the ancient agora and the ancient theater.

Dating from the 1st – 5th century, these catacombs are among the most important burial chambers discovered worldwide. They were found in 1844 and they are believed to be a small part of a vast necropolis at the foothills of the village of Trypiti.

The name of the village (“drilled” in Greek) derives from the fact that the surrounding area is full of caves cut into the porous volcanic rock. These caves were used by the early christians first as a burial sites and later also as a place of worship and a refuge from Romans persecutions.

The catacombs consist of several galleries, ranging from 1 m to 5 m in width and from 1.60 m to 2.5 m in height. In addition to the tombs cut into the walls, there are also many graves cut into the ground and covered with irregular stones.

3 sections have been unearthed so far, spanning a total length of 183 meters in several passages and it is estimated that more than 2,000 Christians have been buried here.

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