LILAIA (KATO AGORIANI)
Lilaia (Kato Agoriani), is a beautiful traditional village, with about 200 inhabitants, in the north foot of Mount Parnassus and in a height of 320m. The village has lots of flowing waters and lush. It maintains its traditional colors as most of the houses are made from stone with paved courtyards. In the East and West sides of the village are located the two “Kefalovrysa” the waters of which feed the Boeotian Κifisos. The shadow of the hundreds years old plane trees which were planted there, is the ideal place to get in touch with nature and relax.
“Lilaia has a theater, a market, baths. There are also sanctuaries of Apollo and one of Artemis with upright statues of Pentelic marble, Attika style” Pausanias.
Right next to the village “Agorianitis” river is rushing down, the waters of which used to help the mills of the village work. Today you can still find remains of the old mills. The old name of Lilaia was Kato Agoriani because it was created with the relocation of the inhabitants of Agoriani (Eptalofos) in the 19th century. It owes its current official name to the ancient city of Lilaia for which Pausanias writes: “Lilaia has a theater, a market, baths. There are also sanctuaries of Apollo and one of Artemis with upright statues of Pentelic marble, Attika style”.
They say that Lilaia was one of the Naiades, daughter of the river god Kifisos. It is said that the city was named after this nymph. Lilaia was destroyed by Philipp II, father of Alexander the Great, in 364 B.C. The ancient city of Lilaia flourished between 7th and 10th century B.C. The city walls were square shaped and stretched from the plain to the foot of Mount Parnassus. Its towers were many and some of them still keep their windows and fighting openings. Findings from the archaeological site are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Delphi and Athens. At the top of the hill the main tower can be reached through a path on foot or with a jeep. The view from there is stunning as you can see the whole plain and the surrounding villages. Lilaia was burnt to the ground in 1943 by the conquerors and for this reason it was named “Martyr Village”.
