Styx Waterfall in Kleitoria, Greece
Near the summit of Mount Chelmos along the Peloponnese lies a mythical secret to immortality.
Chelmos mountain is situated a few miles from the neighboring city of Kalavryta, known for its ski resort, the oldest monastery in Greece, and the impressive Cave of the Lakes. Also perched atop this mountain is the Aristarchos Telescope, named after Aristarchus of Samos, the first astronomer to propose a heliocentric model of the solar system.
Below the telescope on the peak of Neraidorachi is the origin of the Krathis river, known as Ydata Stygos or the Styx Waterfall.
In Greek mythology, Styx is known as the river that connects Earth to Hades. The water was feared for its deadliness — drinking it was fatal to humans. Only horses’ hooves could withstand the water’s potency, which the gods used as a vessel to drink the water.
It was in these waters that the goddess Thetis submerged her son Achilles to make him invincible to harm. However, because Thetis held Achilles by his ankle during the process, this one body part remained exposed. His vulnerability became known as the metaphorical “Achilles’ heel” in modern times.
Mythologically speaking, touching these waters (or drinking it, for the braver souls), is said to bestow the same benefit upon mortals.
