Dafni
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For a tiny city of the suburb of Athens that has this name (rarely Daphni), see Daphne, which is the smallest municipality. An important archaeological site, UNESCO World Heritage site.
Dafni or Daphni (Greek Δάφνι before the spelling change, Dafnion Δάφνιον or Daphnion) is a monastery 11 km NW of downtown Athens in Chaidari, south of Athinon Avenue (GR-8A). It is situated near the forest of the same name, on the Sacred Way that led to Eleusis. The forest covers about 15 to 20 km². It was built about the late-5th century and 6th century, Christianizing the site of the Sanctuary of Apollo Daphnaios that had been desecrated by the Goths in 395, and reusing the Ionic columns of the ancient temple of Apollo in its portico; only one remains, the others having been removed to London by Lord Elgin. It hosts a famous wall mosaic of ''Christ Pantocrator, from the 11th or 12th century.
See also
External links
- The Daphni Monastery (http://culture.gr/2/21/212/21201a/e212aa03.html)
- Daphni Monastery (http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/Greek/daphni.html)
- Dafninet (http://www.dafninet.gr/)