Located in the north of Greece, Mount Athos is a unique realm where tradition and irony meet. With a length of 335 kilometres, it is the largest area where women, even female animals, are forbidden. Yet in the midst of this ban, Mount Athos is home to around 20 monasteries and 2,000 monks, as well as an astonishing number of goats. The irony? Athos itself is basically a huge monastery.

The ban on women dates back to Orthodox traditions, with one legend linking it to the Virgin Mary. According to legend, Mary’s unintended arrival on Athos prompted her to pray for the land, which her son Jesus granted. The paradox is that while Athos is celebrated as Mary’s sanctuary, the ban on women is at odds with her revered presence.

This curious story prompts us to reflect on the entanglements of gender, religion and cultural norms. It reminds us that even in the most revered places there are paradoxes that invite us to unravel the layers of tradition and irony that characterise our world.

Source

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36378690