Cave of the Cumaean Sibyl

Neapel · Italy · Ruin

A hundred metres of tuff corridor end in the Sibyl's chamber. Apollo gave her endless life; she forgot to ask for youth.

On the acropolis of Cumae a trapezoidal corridor opens, a hundred metres long, cut straight into the yellow tuff and pierced by side shafts that admit light in slices. Since 1932 it has been identified with the cave Virgil describes, where the Cumaean Sibyl gave her answers. The legend about her is the cruellest in Campania: Apollo promised her as many years as there were grains of sand in her hand, but she forgot to ask for youth as well. Her body shrank century by century until she fitted into a small cage hung in the temple. When children asked what she wanted, she whispered that she wanted to die. In the end only the voice remained, still prophesying out of the walls. Visitors say the corridor carries whispers well beyond what acoustics explain.

FAQ

Where is Cave of the Cumaean Sibyl located?

Cave of the Cumaean Sibyl is in Neapel, Italy.

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