Description

Journey to the mythical river Acheron. Located between the mountain gorges with clear clean water and surrounded by beautiful nature. The powerful magical energy is tangible. During there are many beautiful views to see as you will pass the oasis of swamps around Amoudia. A stop will be made at Necormanteion Museum, Paramythis, Gliki and Amoudia.

The Nekromanteion was an ancient Greek temple of necromancy devoted to Hades and Persephone. According to tradition, it was located on the banks of the Acheron river in Epirus, near the ancient city of Ephyra. This site was believed by devotees to be the door to Hades, the realm of the dead. The site is at the meeting point of the Acheron, Pyriphlegethon and Cocytus rivers, believed to flow through and water the kingdom of Hades. The meaning of the names of the rivers has been interpreted to be “joyless”, “burning coals” and “lament”, respectively. The word Necromanteion means “Oracle of the Dead”, and the believers came here to talk to their deceased ancestors. Other ancient temples, as the Temple of Poseidon at Taenaron and Argolis, Cumae and Herakleia at Pontos, are known to have housed oracles of the dead, the Necromanteion of Ephyra being the most important. It belonged to the Thesprotians, the local Greek tribe of Epirot. According to Herodotus’s account, it was to the Necromanteion that Periander, the 6th-century BC tyrant of Corinth, sent legates to ask questions of his late wife, Melissa. In Homer’s Odyssey, the Necromanteion was also described as the entrance through which Odysseus made his katabasis. In ancient times, Acheron was believed to be the river crossed by the “soul-bearer” Hermes, according to ancient Greek mythology, who brought the souls of the dead to Charon to end up in the kingdom of Hades. Each soul that passed through Charon’s ferry had to donate an obol for transportation. The return journey is through the Oasis Swamps area.

The Amvrakikos swamp around Amoudia is located between the mouths of the rivers Louros and Arachthos, which is one of the most important areas in Europe and is protected by the Pamsar Convention and has an open connection with the Ionian Sea. Amoudia is a fishing village where the fishermen land their fish straight out of the sea. Amoudia has a beautiful beach and a very cozy harbor with taverns and hangars where delicious fresh fish can be eaten under the hangar, an absolue culinair delight in a special environment.