Grotta del Ninfeo (Nymphaeum Cave), Syracuse

The Nymphaeum Cave, located within the Neapolis archaeological park in Syracuse, is an intriguing artificial cavity carved into the rock of the Temenite hill. This cave is perched near the peak of the hill, overlooking the Greek theater, and it opens into the rocky face with an entrance that was once adorned with statues dedicated to the Muses, three of which have survived to this day and are now on display at the Paolo Orsi Regional Archaeological Museum.

The name "Nymphaeum" is derived from the Greek cult of nymphs, divine entities associated with nature. This cave served as a monumental fountain adorned with decorative elements. It is believed to have been the ancient seat of the Mouseion, the sanctuary of the Muses, and the gathering place for Syracusan actors. Here, they would convene before descending to the theater to perform their plays, both comedies and tragedies, during the time of renowned playwrights like Epicharmus and Aeschylus.

The Nymphaeum cave features a vaulted ceiling and contains a rectangular basin where water cascades from a cavity at the bottom of the rocky surface, forming a gathering pool. Along the entrance wall, you can find votive aedicules, which were used for hero worship, known as "Pìnakes." On the east side of the Grotta del Ninfeo, you can also spot the last remaining water mill from the Spanish era. This mill used water from the cave and transported it to the theater, where it was utilized for grinding grain.

The water that flows into the cave comes from two different aqueducts. The first is known as the "Nymphaeum aqueduct," named after the cave on the Temenite terrace. The second aqueduct is the Galermi aqueduct, also of Greek origin.