The cave of Filoktitis is located on the northeast coast of Lemnos near the archaeological complex of the Temple of Kaveria, one of Lemnos’ most important archaeological sites.

A large concave has opened in the area’s sandstone cliffs going down towards the sea. Descending the steps carved into the sandstone rocks, the visitor reaches the opening. Inside this crevice is the underwater cave of Filoktitis, which can also be accessed by boat from the sea.

The cave is a type of coastal erosion in which sea waves erode rocks along geological discontinuities. The area’s sedimentary molassic rocks, in particular, cannot resist to the erosion processes, resulting in the creation of coastal caverns.

According to mythology, Philoktitis lived in this cave for around 10 years after being bitten in the leg by a snake, which caused him to depart from the ship bound for Troy to fight in the Trojan War.