Ear of Dionysius. Syracuse

The Ear of Dionysius is an artificial limestone cave carved into the rocks of Temenite in Syracuse. The name of this tourist attraction comes from its resemblance to the shape of the human ear.

Probably, the Ear of Dionysius was formed on the site of an ancient quarry for which the city was famous. The cave is 23 meters high, and its length deep into the rock is 65 meters. If you look at it from above, you can see that the cave has a bend in the shape of the letter S. And the entrance to the cave has the shape of a drop. It is because of this shape that the cave has incredibly good acoustics - even a quiet whisper can be heard throughout the room.

The cave received its name in 1586, and it was coined by none other than the great Italian artist Caravaggio. The name refers to the tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius I. According to legend (possibly also invented by Caravaggio), Dionysius used this cave as a prison for his political opponents and, thanks to the wonderful acoustics, eavesdropped on their plans and learned their secrets. Another, more terrible, legend says that Dionysius ordered the cave to be knocked out in the shape of an ear so that it would amplify the screams of the captives who were subjected to cruel torture here. Unfortunately, today it is no longer possible to enjoy that magnificent acoustics, since access to its central point is closed.

By the way, the Ear of Dionysius is also a type of ear tube with a flexible hose, and is also a term used to refer to surveillance, especially for political purposes.

But in general there are very serious reasons to believe that the cave is still of natural origin. Because it is located on a low hillside made of hard rock, it may have been formed by the action of rain in prehistoric times. Similar canyon-shaped formations can be seen in abundance in the American state of Utah. The narrowness of the upper part of the cave and the widening in the lower part, along with the serpentine-shaped shape, are also characteristic of slot canyons. And literally polished walls serve as further proof of the long-term effects of water. Such a natural feature, coupled with incredible acoustics, most likely led to the site being considered sacred by ancient people, which is why it is well preserved.

December 8, 2013

The Ear of Dionysius is the name of one of the most interesting and unusual caves in Italy. It is located on the island of Sicily in the city of Syracuse. The cave is rightfully considered a real miracle.

Shape and size of the unusual “Ear”

The cave has an interesting shape. It resembles a human ear. Its height is about 23 meters. The cave stretches almost 65 meters deep into the huge cliff. The vaults of the cave narrow upward very strongly and form a drop shape.

The acoustics here exhibit incredible properties. The unique effect of sound propagation appears thanks to this particular form of organization of space. Even the most quietly spoken word, but always pronounced in a strictly defined place, will be heard in another part of the cave, located closer to the exit. Thanks to such unusual acoustic properties of the cave, it is famous throughout the world.

The Legend of the Origin of the Italian Ear-Shaped Cave

This strange name was given to the cave by the famous painter Caravaggio back in 1586. He came up with a story that in ancient times the tyrant of Syracuse, whose name was Dionysius I, built a prison in this cave, where he kept opponents of the government and prisoners. The prisoners were placed in a strictly designated part of the cave, and thanks to the amazing acoustics, the cunning Dionysius could hear from a distance and expose the plans of those who were opposed to him.

Another legend tells that the cruel Dionysius ordered a huge cave shaped like an ear to be hollowed out in a limestone rock. Where the sound phenomenon was located, he placed a torture chamber, and he listened to the screams of the victims to the side. It's creepy, of course.

Scientists are more inclined to believe that the origin of the cave is natural. Since the entrance to this cave is located precisely on the slope of a limestone massif, as a result of erosion - both water and wind - this miracle of nature appeared. This hypothesis is confirmed by the shape of other similar caves in different parts of the world. The walls of the cave are very smooth, which confirms the version that water polished the surface for many years.

The natural phenomenon that is the ear-shaped cave of the island of Sicily, unfortunately, is slowly being destroyed over time. This is because limestone is very susceptible to environmental factors. Nowadays, the amazing effect of sound propagation is practically inaudible, since the focal point where the sound should come from is inaccessible to visitors due to internal destruction.

The Ear of Dionysius remains one of the incredible attractions that many strive to visit. Even if it is impossible to hear all the sounds inside the cave, is it really worth missing out on the opportunity to get to know the amazingly shaped cave. And the ringing waterfall flowing from somewhere deep adds magic and attractive power to this beautiful place.

“Ear of Dionysius” - an amazing cave photo

It has been my long-time dream to visit Syracuse, the birthplace of Archimedes. Of course, when we were vacationing in Sicily, in Taormina, I had to visit this legendary Greek city. Below on the map are the attractions we visited.

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1 . Archaeological Park - Quarries ( Ear of Dionysus), Greek theater of Syracuse, Roman amphitheater, 2. Source of Arethusa, 3 . Cathedral square Piazza del Duomo, 4. The Temple of Apollo is one of the first in Syracuse, 5 . Archimedes Square, 6 . Catacombs of St. John

Ruins of the Temple of Apollo - the first in Greek Syracuse.

A little history of Syracuse.

Syracuse- one of the first Greek colonies on the island. This ancient city was founded by the Corinthians around 735 BC. e. The settlement arose on the island of Ortigia, around the freshwater spring of Arethusa. There is a legend associated with this source. According to which Arethusa is a nymph. She chose to become a source rather than submit to the river god Alpheus.

Dionysius the Elder

Syracuse became famous for its tyrants. By the way, a tyrant is a person who forcibly seized power. One of them was Dionysius the Elder(405 – 367 BC)

He arrested his rich enemies. And he divided their lands among the ruined poor. With the remaining money, he recruited mercenaries, drove out the Carthaginians and united two-thirds of Sicily under his single rule. Dionysius had the best scouts and informers in Greece.

The famous Syracuse quarries served as a prison for Dionysius, where he kept his opponents. Here people suffered for years and decades, gave birth to children, and when they grew up and were released into the wild, they shied away from the sunlight. These old quarries are called "Ear of Dionysus" Because of that these quarries had excellent acoustics and everything that the prisoners said among themselves became known to Dionysius.

One of the legends is connected with Dionysius’s friend Damocles. One day he expressed a desire: “I wish I could live like tyrants live!” Dionysius replied: “If you please!” They dressed Damocles luxuriously, seated him behind a magnificent steel, and began to serve him. Damocles was enjoying his meal when he noticed a horsehair sword hanging from the ceiling above his head. And then the piece got stuck in his throat. He asked: “What does this mean?”, and Dionysius replied: “This means that we, tyrants, always live like this, on the verge of death.” This is how the expression “Sword of Damocles” appeared.

Dionysius was an amateur poet. His advisor was the lyricist Philoxenus. One day Dionysius read his poems to him. And Philoxenus listened and said: “Bad!” Then the tyrant became angry and ordered him to be thrown into a quarry. They say that when Dionysius called him again and read new verses, Philoxenus sighed, turned to the chief of the guard and said: “Lead me back to the quarry!” This time Dionysius laughed and forgave him. One of the faces in the Syracuse quarries was called Philoxenova.

Under Dionysius I, Syracuse consisted of four quarters. The population reached 500,000. At the highest point of the city was the acropolis. Now this is Cathedral Square. On the site of the cathedral stood the temple of Athena. The remains of its columns can be seen inside the cathedral.

Capture of Syracuse and death of Archimedes

Syracuse supported Rome in the war with Carthage. However, in 215 BC. e. After the death of King Hieron II, Sircusa entered into an agreement with Carthage. This was a big mistake. Because in 214, the Roman military commander Marcellus approached Syracuse with an army and besieged it from sea and land. The famous scientist Archimedes died during the capture of Syracuse.

Archimedes born 287 BC in Syracuse. He studied in Alexandria and his first works were devoted to mechanics. Archimedes was not only a mathematician and mechanic, but also one of the greatest engineers and designers of his time. For example, he invented the “Snail” machine for watering fields, a water-lifting screw (Archimedes screw), and various military vehicles.

When the Romans laid siege to Syracuse, it was Archimedes' turn. The Greek historian Plutarch wrote: “At the double attack of the Romans (from land and from sea), the Syracusans were speechless, struck with horror. That they could resist such forces, such a powerful army? Archimedes set his machines in motion. The land army was struck by a hail of projectiles and huge stones thrown with great speed. Nothing could oppose their cause; they overthrew everything before them and brought confusion into the ranks. As for the fleet, suddenly, from the height of the walls, logs, due to their weight and natural speed, fell onto the ships and sank them.”

The Ear of Dionysius is a limestone cave in the vicinity of Syracuse, widely known for its extraordinary acoustics. According to one version, the cave was carved out of the rock by stonemasons, and it was intended to store water; according to another, the cavity is of natural origin. Noteworthy is the narrow and high entrance, reminiscent of the gates of a cathedral.

The height of the Ear of Dionysius is 23 m, and the width in different places varies from 5 m to 11 m. The only passage of the cave goes 65 m deep into the rock, and it has an S-shaped bend. This determines excellent audibility inside it. The unusual name of the cave is associated with the legend of the Syracuse tyrant Dionysius, who imprisoned his political enemies, literary critics and slaves in it. Suffering from immense suspicion, he approached the entrance to the cave and eavesdropped on the prisoners’ conversations (according to other sources, he enjoyed the screams of the tortured). Among his captives was the famous Greek philosopher Plato. Currently, the acoustic effect is weaker, since part of the cave is closed due to the threat of collapse.

Ear of Dionysius on the map

Type: Caves Address: Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, Siracusa, Sicilia, Italia. Opening hours: daily 9.00-18.00, on days when there are performances in the amphitheater nearby, access to the cave is closed at 16.30. Cost: visiting the cave is included in the price of the ticket to the Archaeological Park of Naples (10 €). How to get there: from Syracuse railway station take buses No. 21, 22, 23, 27.