The excursion to the Temple of the Sun is one of the most interesting in Crimea. It is located near Mount St. Elias (Ilyas-Kaya); 5 kilometers from the village of Laspi and 10 kilometers from Foros resort. The Temple of the Sun in Crimea has many epithets: Place of Power, Crimean Stonehenge, Stone Flower, Dragon Teeth. Both lovers of esotericism and ordinary tourists talk about the special energy that is felt on the top of the mountain, near the altar.
Despite its sacred and mysterious name, the Temple of the Sun in Crimea is a natural attraction. At the foot of Mount Ilyas Kaya, 7 pointed rocks are placed around the central stone. They stand strictly in a circle, while all 7 pointed rocks of the Temple of the Sun have a slight outward slope, like a huge stone flower.
Followers of esoteric teachings believe that the stone that stands in the center is an altar. The stones around the altar of the Temple of the Sun are the petals of a construction that accumulates the energy of the cosmos and allows you to get power. This is a Place of Power. On the altar, you can often see people lying down, who are gaining this Power.
Nothing is known about any anomalous phenomena in the Temple of the Sun of the Crimea, which can be observed in other places. There is no increased electromagnetic field of the Earth, as in the Golosov Ravine in Moscow, or twisted trunks of dead trees, as on Mount Vottovaara in Karelia. Nevertheless, you will certainly enjoy the excursion to the Temple of the Sun in Foros.
Scientists suggest that the Temple of the Sun in the form of a circle was formed about 160 million years ago. Some believe that these are petrified sea reefs that rose during tectonic shifts during the formation of the Crimean Mountains. Others believe that the teeth were formed in the process of weathering, and their location around the altar is accidental.
On the top of the mountain towering over the Temple of the Sun, in the 12th century the Greeks built a small Christian temple. It belonged to a monastery that was located near the sea in the Laspi area. The mountain was named after Saint Ilya, and the Turks later renamed it Ilyas-Kaya. Only the foundation of this temple has survived to this day. The height of Mount Ilyas-Kaya reaches 682 meters.
How to get to the Temple of the Sun in Crimea
You need to go along the South Coast highway from Foros or Sevastopol. There is a bus stop and a restaurant 50 meters from the turnoff to the village of Laspi. Here begins a trail that climbs up to Mount Ilyas-Kaya (Mount of St. Elijah).
On this path you need to walk 2.5 kilometers with a climb of 300 meters. You should be prepared for a fairly steep and lengthy climb, although looking at the visitors near the Temple of the Sun, even children can cope with this road.
The minimum program of the visit will be an ascent to the central stone of the Temple of the Sun, which is called the altar. You can climb it. After that, take a walk around the stone petals (or "dragon teeth"). It is impossible to climb them, since they have a pointed shape and stand at an angle. There are viewing point near the Temple of the Sun, which offer beautiful views of the Foros Rocks and the Black Sea.
If you still have the power, then you need to climb to the top of Mount Ilyas-Kaya. From there you will see even more spectacular views. From the top you can see not only the southern coast of Crimea, but also the mountains towards Sevastopol. Cape Fiolent can be seen in the distance. The path from the Temple of the Sun to the top of Mount Ilyas-Kaya is very steep. You have to walk 600 meters, but the climb will be 150 meters. This road will be difficult for children.
