The cave has eight entrances and is more a series of caverns divided by an amazing arrangement of pillars than one cave. The number of stalactites and stalagmites in the cave is small, but offers a wonderful picture.
The chapel of Saint Thomas in the cave was built in 1935 and is celebrated on St Thomas Sunday, one Sunday after the Greek Orthodox Easter.
HISTORY
In February 1823, more than 2,000 women and children hid in the cave together with 150 armed men to avoid the devastating attack of the Turkish General Hassan Pasha and his troops, but they were betrayed. 5,000 Turks were sent to the cave where they met fierce resistance. After two weeks of siege the trapped Cretans were forced to surrender. Although their safe passage out was promised, the Turkish forces killed all the men and sold the women and children into slavery in Egypt.
Later, the bones that remained were gathered together in a monument, a bone-house to the right of the chapel, in memory of the tragic event.
THE CACHE
The cache is a plastic container 12X12X6. It contains a logbook, a pen, the Geocaching note in English and Greek and some goodies to trade.
Mind that the GPS reception is not the best at that spot due to the rocks overhead, so don't hesitate to take a look at the spoiler photos.
PLease, take care that no muggles are watching you and hide the cache well again.
Bring a torch with you if you want to explore the cave.
