When Amazon Prime Video announced House of David, a sweeping biblical epic chronicling the life of King David, viewers expected grand storytelling. But what they may not have anticipated was the stunning backdrop that would bring this legendary tale to life.
Rather than filming in Israel, the production team turned to Greece, a country whose diverse landscapes and rich history provided the perfect setting for ancient battles, exiles, and royal palaces. With an extensive on-location shoot across Attica, Peloponnese, and Epirus, House of David captures a breathtaking sense of time and place, transporting audiences to an era of kings and prophets.
Greece as Ancient Israel: A Cinematic Transformation
While House of David remains rooted in the biblical narrative, its visual identity is shaped by the sun-drenched coastlines, dramatic cliffs, and rugged highlands of Greece. The series blends natural landscapes with painstaking set design, creating a world that feels simultaneously authentic and cinematic.
The goal of the production team was to make the world of David feel real, lived-in, and visually immersive. Greece provided everything needed: dramatic mountains, sprawling countryside, and untouched ancient locations that feel as old as time itself.
Saronikos, Attica – The Shores of Ancient Israel
The Saronikos region, with its rugged coastline and deep blue waters, serves as the dramatic entry point to House of David. Its expansive horizons and craggy cliffs make it the perfect stand-in for ancient battlefields and moments of quiet reflection. In the show, these striking landscapes frame David’s early journey as he transitions from shepherd to warrior, contemplating his destiny amid the breathtaking Mediterranean backdrop.
The Saronikos Gulf, known for its ancient significance as a maritime route, lends the series a natural authenticity. The area’s hidden coves and weathered shorelines also play a crucial role in scenes depicting secret meetings and whispered conspiracies, adding an element of intrigue.
Markopoulo Mesogaias, Attica – The Heart of Production
While House of David features sweeping landscapes, many of its interior palace and village scenes were filmed at Kapa Studios in Markopoulo Mesogaias, a quiet town in Attica. The studio served as a creative hub, where intricate set pieces were built to recreate the lavish halls of King Saul’s palace and the sacred chambers of prophets.
Beyond the controlled studio environment, Markopoulo’s rolling countryside provided an ideal setting for David’s early days as a shepherd. The peaceful pastures and isolated paths depict his simpler beginnings before his rise to prominence. The town’s proximity to Athens made it a convenient base for the production crew, allowing easy access to both urban amenities and untouched nature.
Lavreotiki, Attica – A Land of Struggle and Survival
Famous for its ancient silver mines, Lavreotiki is a land shaped by history. In House of David, it stands in for the harsh, arid landscapes where survival is paramount. Its rocky terrain and sparse vegetation serve as the backdrop for exile sequences, where David and his followers navigate a world that is as beautiful as it is unforgiving.
The region’s historic mine tunnels and caves, once a key resource for the ancient Athenians, add layers of authenticity to scenes of hiding and escape. The desolate beauty of Lavreotiki gives House of David a sense of rawness—emphasising the precarious nature of power and destiny.
Fyli, Attica – The Fortress of Exile
Nestled in the foothills of Mount Parnitha, the town of Fyli offered the series some of its most dramatic natural scenery. Its remote, fortress-like landscape was used for exile sequences, reinforcing the isolation of David and his band of warriors. Towering cliffs and dense forests give an almost mythical quality to these moments, immersing the viewer in the peril and perseverance of David’s journey.
This region, known for its Byzantine-era ruins, adds an authentic layer of history to the production. Its unique topography allowed for visually stunning chase sequences and high-stakes encounters, showcasing David’s tactical brilliance as a warrior and strategist.
Xylokastro, Corinthia – A Place of Serenity and Strategy
The seaside town of Xylokastro, with its pine forests and tranquil beaches, plays an essential role in House of David, offering a visual contrast to the harsher landscapes of exile and battle. The serene setting provides a backdrop for key moments of reflection, where characters ponder fate, leadership, and divine intervention.
Xylokastro’s dramatic cliffs overlooking the sea also make for an excellent vantage point—used in the series for strategic discussions before pivotal battles. The coexistence of land and sea in Xylokastro echoes David’s duality as both a warrior and a poet, a leader bound to destiny yet deeply human in his fears and triumphs.
Zagori & Konitsa, Epirus – The Battlefield and Beyond
For scenes of vast battle sequences, the production turned to the Epirus region, specifically the dramatic landscapes of Zagori and Konitsa. Known for their towering rock formations and medieval-like villages, these locations provide a stark, grandiose setting for some of the show’s most intense moments.
Zagori’s narrow pathways and dramatic cliffs lend themselves to sweeping aerial shots, capturing the battlefield from above.
Konitsa’s proximity to the Aoos Gorge and Pindus mountains allowed for breathtaking action sequences, making the battles feel vast, chaotic, and deeply immersive.
The region’s historical architecture and rugged terrain helped craft an environment where power struggles play out in visually striking ways.
A Touch of Canada – Alberta’s Role in the Series
While Greece provided most of the series’ ancient atmosphere, select scenes were filmed in Alberta, Canada. The province’s sweeping plains and rugged landscapes served as a complement to Greece’s Mediterranean scenery, offering diversity while maintaining visual consistency.
As well as enhancing the show’s authenticity, filming House of David in Greece also highlights the country’s increasing presence in global filmmaking. With its diverse landscapes, historical depth, and growing production infrastructure, Greece is proving to be more than just a scenic backdrop—it’s becoming a serious contender in the international film industry. As more productions turn to its breathtaking locations for epic storytelling, House of David stands as another example of how Greece can bring ancient worlds to life on screen.
House of David is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, bringing ancient Israel to life—through the incomparable beauty of Greece.
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