Lycaeus

Lycaeus, also known as Lycaeum or Mount Lykaion, is a sacred mountain in Arcadia, in the central Peloponnese of Greece. It is best known as the site of the sanctuary of Zeus Lycaeus and the location of the ancient Lycaean Games, an early religious and athletic festival in the Arcadian tradition.

Geography and site: The mountain lies in the Arcadian highlands near Tegea. Its summit hosts ruins associated with a major cult complex dedicated to Zeus Lycaeus, including a temple precinct and altars. The sanctuary and its surroundings were an important religious center in antiquity, referenced by several ancient writers and later by scholars studying Arcadian cult practice.

Mythology and cult: The name Lycaeus is connected to the Greek lykaios, meaning wolfish, and to the myth of Lycaon, a king of Arcadia who, in some versions, was transformed into a wolf by Zeus as punishment for impiety. The mountain’s cult of Zeus Lycaeus is frequently linked to this legend, and the epithet Lycaeus appears in Greek poetry and inscriptions as a title for Zeus in Arcadian worship.

Archaeology and legacy: Excavations at Mount Lykaion have uncovered temple foundations, altars, and other ritual remains that illuminate Arcadian religious life and pre-Olympian cult practices. Today the site is a destination for scholars and visitors alike, reflecting its enduring significance in the study of ancient Greek religion and myth.