Cave of Zeus, Naxos

The Cave of Zas, or Cave of Zeus, is an ancient Greek cave located on Mount Zas on the island of Naxos [1]. The cave was occupied from the Late Neolithic to Early Cycladic III periods [1]. Due to the lack of crop processing residue found, archaeologists suggest that the cave was not used for year-round settlement, but for herding animals during the driest period of the year [1]. Excavations of the cave were carried out in 1985-1986 and 1994 [1]. The Cave of Zas is 630m above sea level and located southeast of Filoti, a village at the foot of the mountain [1]. Large stalactites and stalagmites have been found inside the cave [1]. In Agathosthenes' telling of the history of Naxos, Zeus spent his childhood in the cave, in hiding from his father, Cronus [1]. A rock carving found near the cave reads "Zeus Melosios," referring to Zeus as the protector of the sheep [1].