Do the Inscriptions Confirm a Connection Between Sylla Cave and the Roman General?

No. The available evidence does not support such a conclusion.

Our review of ancient literary sources, archaeological publications, and the Greek epigraphic corpora shows that the two marble statue bases standing outside Sylla Cave are Roman honorary monuments dedicated to Emperor Hadrian and Emperor Septimius Severus. They were erected around AD 131–132 and AD 195–198, more than two and nearly three centuries after Lucius Cornelius Sulla visited Edipsos.

The inscriptions make no mention of Sulla, the grotto, the thermal springs, or the construction of baths. They simply record the dedication of honorary monuments by the authorities of Histiaia (modern Istiaia) in honour of the two Roman emperors.

This does not mean that Sulla never visited the area where the grotto stands today. Plutarch confirms that he came to Edipsos to use its thermal springs. However, no surviving ancient source connects his visit with this particular grotto or with any specific structure.

For this reason, the common claim that the inscriptions prove the existence of baths built by Sulla or establish a direct connection between the Roman general and Sylla Cave is not supported by the available historical or epigraphic evidence.

The most likely explanation is that the name "Sylla Cave" originated as part of a later local tradition inspired by Sulla's documented visit to Edipsos, while the marble statue bases are independent Roman monuments from the Imperial period.

Conclusion

✔ Plutarch confirms that Lucius Cornelius Sulla visited Edipsos and used its thermal springs.

✔ The two marble statue bases outside Sylla Cave are authentic Roman monuments dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.

✔ Their inscriptions are dedicated to Emperors Hadrian and Septimius Severus.

✘ They do not mention Lucius Cornelius Sulla.

✘ They do not provide evidence that Sylla Cave formed part of baths built by the Roman general.

Practical Information

📍 Location

Sylla Cave is located in the northern part of Edipsos (Loutra Edipsou), just a short walk from the famous thermal springs that flow directly into the sea. The grotto is easily reached via the seaside promenade.

GPS coordinates: 38.85504, 23.04761

🚗 Parking

Public parking spaces and roadside parking are available throughout central Edipsos. From there, it takes only a few minutes to walk to the cave.

🚶 Access

The walk to the grotto is short, flat, and suitable for almost everyone. No hiking or special equipment is required.

⏱️ Visiting Time

Allow 5–10 minutes to see the grotto itself. However, it is worth spending more time exploring the nearby thermal springs and the scenic waterfront.

🐕 Visiting with Dogs

Dogs are permitted, as the site is an open public area. During summer, be mindful of the heat and keep pets away from the extremely hot thermal spring outlets.

⚠️ Safety Tips

Although access is easy, rocks near the thermal springs can be slippery because of mineral deposits. Exercise caution around the spring outlets, where water temperatures can exceed 80°C (176°F).

📸 Best Time to Visit

Morning and late afternoon offer the most comfortable conditions and the best light for photography. In summer, the area can become very hot around midday.

Ancient Statue Bases at the Entrance to Sylla Cave

Standing just outside the entrance to Sylla Cave are two massive marble statue bases bearing ancient Greek inscriptions. Many visitors pass them by without realizing that they are genuine Roman monuments rather than decorative fragments.

Research published in archaeological studies and the Greek epigraphic corpora has shown that both bases originally supported honorary statues erected by the city of Histiaia (modern Istiaia), whose territory included ancient Edipsos.

The first base was dedicated to Emperor Hadrian around AD 131–132. Its inscription honours him as Olympian Augustus, Saviour and Founder and records that the monument was commissioned by the council and people of Histiaia. Centuries later, the reverse side of the same base was reused for an inscription dedicated to a member of the Constantinian dynasty.

The second base, dating to AD 195–198, commemorates Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus. Its inscription lists his imperial titles and states that the monument was financed by the city of Histiaia.

Both inscriptions are published in Inscriptiones Graecae (IG XII,9), while the inscription of Septimius Severus also appears in Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum (SEG 29, 802). Their identification was confirmed by the American archaeologist Timothy E. Gregory, who studied the monuments in Edipsos in the late 1970s.

Gregory also noted that both statue bases had previously been reused in the same wall before being placed in front of the present-day cave. Although their original location remains unknown, he considered it unlikely that such massive monuments had been transported from far away, suggesting they originally belonged to the Roman public monuments of ancient Edipsos.

The inscriptions, however, reveal one important fact: neither mentions Lucius Cornelius Sulla, the cave, or the construction of the thermal baths. Since both monuments were erected more than two centuries after Sulla's visit to Edipsos, they cannot be regarded as evidence that Sylla Cave formed part of baths built by the Roman general.

How We Verified the History of the Ancient Inscriptions

Two marble statue bases with ancient Greek inscriptions stand at the entrance to Sylla Cave. Many websites claim that these inscriptions prove a connection between the cave and Lucius Cornelius Sulla, or even that they are remains of thermal baths built by the Roman general. We decided to find out whether the historical evidence actually supports these claims.

Rather than relying on a single source, we compared information from archaeological publications, ancient literary texts, and epigraphic databases, testing each hypothesis against the available evidence.

Our Research Process

• We examined photographs taken on site, attempting to read the surviving Greek inscriptions.

• We compared multiple photographs of the same inscriptions taken from different angles and under different lighting conditions.

• We used digital image enhancement to improve readability, while bearing in mind that such processing can sometimes distort letter shapes and lead to incorrect readings.

• We compared the physical characteristics of both statue bases. Both are carved from marble and share similar letter height, carving style, and engraving depth, suggesting they were created during the same period or belonged to the same group of monuments. However, these similarities alone do not prove that they originally stood side by side.

• We searched catalogues of Greek antiquities and publications relating to the archaeological collection of Edipsos.

• We examined the epigraphic corpora Inscriptiones Graecae (IG) and Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum (SEG).

• Finally, we located the publication by archaeologist Timothy E. Gregory, who identified both monuments, published their catalogue numbers, and provided complete transcriptions of the inscriptions.

What Did We Discover?

By comparing all available evidence, we were able to identify both monuments as Roman statue bases dedicated to Emperors Hadrian and Septimius Severus.

At the same time, we found no historical or epigraphic evidence linking the inscriptions to Lucius Cornelius Sulla or suggesting that they are remains of thermal baths built by him. On the contrary, the inscriptions date to more than two centuries after Sulla's visit to Edipsos and relate exclusively to the Roman Imperial period.

How Was Sylla Cave Formed?

Sylla Cave is not a classic limestone cave formed by karst processes. Instead, it is a small geothermal grotto whose formation is closely linked to tectonic activity and the thermal springs of Edipsos.

In this part of northern Euboea, rainwater seeps deep underground, where it is heated before rising back to the surface along tectonic faults. The thermal springs reach temperatures of up to 84°C (183°F) and are rich in dissolved minerals. Over thousands of years, these minerals have been deposited on the surrounding rocks, forming layers of travertine and gradually reshaping the landscape.

The grotto itself most likely developed where hot mineral-rich water exploited natural fractures in the rock, slowly enlarging them over time. Rather than being a typical cave, Sylla Cave is the result of long-term geological processes taking place in one of Greece's most active geothermal regions.

Sylla Cave – A Mysterious Grotto and Ancient Inscriptions in Edipsos, Euboea

At first glance, Sylla Cave in Edipsos appears to be nothing more than a small grotto beside the island's famous thermal springs. Yet the two monumental marble statue bases standing at its entrance immediately raise questions about the site's past. Are they really connected to Lucius Cornelius Sulla, the Roman general whose name the cave bears? Or do they tell an entirely different story?

To answer these questions, we went beyond the legends and tourist guides. We examined ancient literary sources, archaeological publications, and the Inscriptiones Graecae (IG) and Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum (SEG) corpora to uncover what is actually known about Sylla Cave and the remarkable monuments standing before it.

Why Is It Called Sylla Cave?

The name Sylla Cave refers to Lucius Cornelius Sulla, the Roman general and statesman who visited ancient Edipsos in 86 BC, after the end of the military campaigns in Greece. This visit is recorded by the Greek historian Plutarch in his Life of Sulla. According to Plutarch, Sulla, who was suffering from painful leg ailments, crossed to Edipsos to bathe in its renowned thermal springs and recover his health. He also mentions that Sulla spent his time there enjoying the company of artists and taking walks along the seashore.

This is, however, the only surviving ancient account of Sulla's stay in Edipsos. Plutarch makes no mention of a cave or grotto, nor does he describe any location that could be identified with the present-day Sylla Cave. Likewise, no known ancient source associates Sulla with the construction of baths or any other structures in this part of the coastline.

The name "Sylla Cave" most likely originated much later as part of local tradition. Although it is impossible to determine when the name first came into use, it gradually became established among local residents and eventually appeared in travel guides and tourist publications.

Today, the name of the grotto serves as a reminder of Sulla's well-documented visit to Edipsos. It should not, however, be regarded as evidence that he ever entered this particular cave. This distinction is important, as many popular accounts present the connection as an established fact, even though the available historical evidence does not support such a conclusion.