The lion of Ioulida and the fountain of Veniamin

On the footpath that starts from Aghios Spyridon area and ends up to Otzias bay, you will meet the renowned Lion, the trademark of the island. It’s an archaic sculpture of the 6th-7th c. B.C. carved on a solid schist rock of approximately 8 m. The lion is connected with many legends related to the drought that had affected the island in the ancient times. According to the most dominant legend, the time when Kea was still called “Hydroussa” because of its abundant waters, a ferocious lion appeared in the forests of the island that until then were populated by Nymphs, the water fairies, and he chased them. Then the urge of the gods caused the drought of the climate in Cyclades and especially in Kea, which was restituted with the arrival of demigod Aristeos from Thessaly, son of god Apollo and nymph Cyrene. Aristeos managed to appease the gods, the drought was significantly confined and the beneficial northern winds of the summer, cool “meltemia”, began.