There is a mysterious group of ancient Greek homes in Greece called “drakospita,” or dragon houses even though they have no relation to dragons.
Their architecture is still admired today for its simplicity and endurance.
The drakospita are a group of around 25 ancient homes in Evia in central Greece. It is unknown when exactly they were built, but records of these structures, which are now abandoned, go back centuries.
Due to the massive rock slabs that make up the structure of the dragon homes, some of which weigh thousands of pounds, many theories about the construction and use of these mysterious homes have cropped up throughout the years.
Some argue that the impressive structures served as ancient sanctuaries of the gods, particularly Hera or Zeus, while others argue that they served as military guard posts or defense outposts.
Initially, it was thought that they were devotional buildings, but archaeologists are not certain if that is the case. They are thought to belong to the early Hellenistic times (5th to 4th century BC).
Regardless of the purpose they served or when they were constructed, the Greek dragon homes, or drakospita, were built to last.
The mysterious construction of the Greek drakospita
The dragon houses are built of massive square and oblong stones made of limestone, which have been placed on top of each other without any binding materials, such as mud or cement, supported only by their own weight.
Any gaps in the walls were filled with smaller stones while the roof was elaborately made of huge, thicker stones in a pyramid shape. A long window-like hole in the middle of the façade allows light in or smoke out.
Drakospita still stand near Styra, Karystos as well as the peaks of Mount Ochi. Locals believe they were farmhouses, shelters or military structures.
According to ancient local tradition, the word “dragon” did not only refer to the mythical beast but to any person with superhuman power. This has led many to believe that the origin of the homes stems back to the ancient Greek gods.
Most of the Greek dragon homes are preserved in excellent condition despite the fact that no binding materials were used in their construction. Near the drakospita, archaeologists have found animal bones, vase fragments, and sacrificial remains.
Some of the best preserved ones are located in Styra in the so-called Palli-Lakka complex, which consists of three farmhouses dating back to the Classical and Hellenistic eras. They are made of famous Karystian stone.
The town of Karystos, Evia where the dragon houses are located
Karystos is a must-visit place on Evia island. A small coastal town on the island’s southern shore, it is where ferries from Athens’ coastal suburb of Rafina come and go all day long.
It is home to the thirteenth-century castle of Bourtzi within Karystos town right on the seashore. There is also the eleventh-century Castello Rosso, which sits imposingly against the Ochi mountain range nearby.
At night, traditional tavernas, restaurants and waterfront bars and cafes brim with well-dressed throngs of people. On the weekends, mainlanders flock to Karystos and mingle with the locals, providing an authentic picture of Greeks enjoying the summertime.
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