The
Acropolis of Eressos (Mastos)
Strabo
mentions that Eressos "was founded on a hill and lied by the sea". Despite
the insufficient archaeological and stratigraphical evidence, there is
no reason to doubt that Eressos was founded in the Late Bronze Age, after
the arrival of the Aeoleis, along with all the other towns of Lesbos. In
the Hellenistic period it extended to the south, towards the harbour. Much
later, in the Medieval times, the Gateluzzi constructed a castle which
was abolished in 1757 when the Turks founded the fortress of Sigrion.
The
site has not yet been systematically excavated. In the 1880's, during his
tour on the island, Koldewey visited the acropolis and made drawings and
descriptions of the visible architectural remains.
Falling
of rocks was noted on the slopes of the acropolis in October 1991 and again
in 1992. After the intervention of the 20th Ephorate, the Direction of
the Restoration of Antiquities proceeded to the necessary preparations
for the project which was begun in January 1993, for the consolidation
of the rocky slopes of the acropolis, by means of cement injections and
various other methods for keeping the rocks in place.
The
acropolis of Eressos is located on a naturally defensive hill on the SW
coast of the island, and in antiquity it was called "Mastos". According
to Koldewey, the total length of theenceinte was 1 km and the enclosed
area was about 4,5 hectars. Several parts of the ancient fortification
wall are preserved near the foot of the hill. It is built of trachite in
the lesbian masonry but several sections are built in a different manner.
The whole structure is dated to the Archaic period. Gates and external
towers were also distinguished by Koldewey. In the Hellenistic period the
settlement was extended to the south of the original enceinte, in the area
of the harbour. Another 1,5 hectars were added to the habitation area and
a new wall was constructed, this time in the isodomic system.
Remains
of a medieval castle are also preserved on top of the hill. It was built
in the period of the Gateluzzi and remained in use until the capture of
Lesbos by the Turks, in 1462.
Tickets:
Free admission
Telephone:
+30-22510-22087, 42589 Fax: +30-22510-20745
The
Fortress of Mytilene
The
castle of Mytilene is built on a low hill between the north and the south
harbour of the city, and was one of the largest and strongest fortresses
in the eastern Mediterranean. It comprises three main parts: a) the Acropolis
(Upper Castle) on the higher, south part of the hill, b) the main wall
(Middle Castle), the largest part of which was built by the Genoese Gatiluzzi
and c) the lower wall (Lower Castle) on the north-east side, which was
constructed during the Turkish occupation.
The
nucleus of the fortress was formed in the Byzantine period and it is widely
accepted that it was built over the ancient Greek acropolis. The first
extensive interventions on the castle were made by the Gatiluzzi, and more
specifically by the archon Francisco Gatiluzzo, in 1373. Several more phases
of interventions and additions followed, the most significant being the
construction by the Turks in 1677 of the lower northern part of the fortification.
After the liberation of Lesbos (1912) the castle was used by the Greeks
as a barracks.
Building
material from the castle has been unthinkingly used for the construction
of houses for the refugees, especially after 1922, resulting to the gradual
damage of the monument.
Excavations
inside the castle are carried out by the Canadian Archaeological Institute
in Athens. So far, they have revealed buildings of the Archaic and Classical
periods and various remains of Medieval times.
In
the early 1960's the "Medrese" building (moslem seminary) was consolidated.
In the early 1970's the polygonal tower was also consolidated, butresses
were constructed to support the crumbling parts of the walls, and the destroyed
battlements were restored. The central defensive tower was cleared and
the interior fill was removed in 1986. In 1995 a building inside the castle
(the old gun-powder storeroom) was restored, in order to be used for the
accomodation of the visitors to the site |
