Aphidnai

Ancient Attic settlement northeast of Athens, mythologically linked to Theseus and Helen, with excavated wall remains on Kotroni Hill.

Aphidnai was one of the twelve original settlements of ancient Attica, belonging to the Attic tribe Aiantis. According to legend, Theseus hid Helen of Troy here before the Dioscuri invaded and freed their sister. Remains of the so-called Fortress of Theseus have been excavated on the 366-metre Kotroni Hill, three kilometres south of modern Afidnes, from where the entire Attic plain can be surveyed. The modern village of Afidnes preserves the ancient name; the hill with its wall remains invites quiet archaeological exploration well off the main tourist routes.