TITLE:
Discovery of Olympus and Geoglyphs of Greek Gods on Croatian Mount Biokovo
AUTHORS:
Ivan Herceg
KEYWORDS:
Olympus, Geoglyphs of Biokovo, Twelve Olympians, Zeus, Isis, Hera, Atlas, Yilios, Ilios, Troy
JOURNAL NAME:
Archaeological Discovery,
Vol.13 No.2,
February
28,
2025
ABSTRACT: This paper shows written and drawn Bronze Age geoglyphs on the Croatian Adriatic mountain Biokovo, which reveals the Greek mythological world. Drawings of Greek Titans and the twelve Olympian gods mentioned in Homer’s works emerge from the relief landscape. This work presents the discovery. The iconographic and linguistic content refers to the Trojan and pre-Trojan periods. The research applies non-invasive archaeological methods, based on aerial and landscape archaeology, with prominent satellite imagery. Then, drawings are visible by looking from the sky at a certain height at a certain angle. So far, no excavations have been conducted on Mount Biokovo. The oldest recorded ancient Greek toponym Olympus (ΟΛΥΜΠΟΣ) is on the Biokovo peak of Saint George, along with the 20 other inscriptions of Greek gods and Homer’s toponyms. The etymology of the word Olympus is understood in the inscriptions thanks to Homer’s until now incomprehensible word βηλου (Vilo) in the Iliad. Atlas’ fate in the Greek myth of Perseus is outlined in one of the largest geoglyphs anywhere. The sources of ancient Greek civilization emerge at new geographical coordinates, revealing Arcadian syncretism and reshaping understanding of prehistory. The original Homer’s Olympus is found. This time, the contribution to Homerology surpasses previous discoveries about Troy. This research reveals Olympus determining Homer’s Troy in the region and contradicts other hypotheses about its location.