The cave system on Mt. Kerdis, on the island was once home to the famous mathematician and philosopher, Pythagoras. He fled here when he was pursued by the tyrant Polycrates at around 400 B.C. The cave is located at the site of an extinct volcano. Some say that there are time portals in those caves. After all, Pythagoras was a master of mysticism as well as the father of mathematics. There are in fact two caves,  Pythagoras’s ‘living cave’ and a classroom for his teaching. The chapel of St. John was later built at one of the caves.