Many legendary great treasures in Greece are hidden from the world.
The treasure of Lykos is one of them, involving the two Lykos bandits and the fate of the gold treasure they acquired.
The legend of the gold treasure of Lykos
The most famous gold treasure, linked to the bandit Lykos, is in Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula and dates back to the Turkish occupation. Over the years, numerous golden artifacts have been uncovered in the region which is full of Mycenaean ruins and Classical Greek temples.
According to an old local press publication, in the 19th century, the robber Lykos hid vast sums of golden coins in the underground galleries of Mainalos Mountain, while there is a rumor that Captain Perdikas (of ELAS – the Hellenic Liberation Army, which fought the Axis occupying forces) hid gold coins there, as well.
The Lygos bandits: Robbery and reputation
Many legends blend with real stories when referring to the Lygos bandits, who captured and robbed the wealthy or usurers.
Giorgos Lygos and Anastasis Lygos, uncle and nephew, were among the most infamous robbers of the 19th century, operating in the Peloponnese and Central Greece.
They carefully gathered information on the financial standing of their potential victims and demanded about one-fifth of their property. “We’ll take it, but we’ll let you live as well.” old man Lygos used to say.
If they received an unusually high ransom due to an informant’s grudge, Lygos would sometimes return a portion of it.
Their generosity, if it can truly be called that, earned them the respect and possibly even the affection of the villagers. Rumors suggested that even the local gendarmerie sympathized with them. Some of those captured by the robbers were not harmed, but were also financially supported by them. Their motivations however, may not have been purely philanthropic.
The cave of Goura and the search for treasure
One of the most renowned sites linked to Lygos’ treasure is in Goura, Corinth, Greece. Above the ruins of Saint Spyridon, near Kapsimalis’ inn, lies a cave where, in 1870, Giorgis Lygos held Sotirios Sotiropoulos—a former Finance Minister and future Prime Minister—during his final 36 days in captivity.
Sotiropoulos was kidnapped, with the cooperation of the bandit Mitsos Lafazanis, on July 28, 1866, from his estate in Filiatra.
People still sought after the treasure in Goura. Years ago, an old local chief shepherd was asked, “Where is the treasure of Goura, old man”? He replied, “I know where it is, but I won’t say. The treasure should never come out.”
Though Giorgis Lygos, “the grandfather,” has passed, the gold of Goura remains hidden. About 40–45 years ago in the small village of Psari, Peloponnese, a group of villagers (five or six people) formed a group to find the treasure. While it’s unclear exactly where they searched, it is certain they explored the surrounding areas. They also explored ravines and Goura for several years.
Modern expeditions in search of Lygos’ gold
The legend lives on, with the Mainalos region being a prime target for treasure hunters. In Western Mainalos, near the route from Zygovisti to Elati, lies the cave of Lygos near the Bourboulistra spring. The remains of walls within the cave suggest it was once used as a hiding place.
Further south, near the border with Vlacherna, is a location called Lygos. There was a bloody clash between the gendarmerie and his gang there.
Logic suggests—and legend confirms—that Lygos must have hidden priceless sums of money (in gold, no less) in the underground passages of Mainalos.
In the summer of 2000, two Greek American businessmen, originally from Arcadia and Laconia, conducted a search in the caves and sinkholes of Mainalos. They were looking for the treasure of Lygos and Heliotis, the robbers. However, they found absolutely nothing.
The mystery of Lygos’ gold persists, tempting adventurers and enthusiasts alike to continue the quest.
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