An ancient citadel that remained in use at least until the 10th century CE.

History

This is the ancient citadel of Aegina at the cape of Kolona on the west coast of the island, a little north of the city of Aegina. It should be noted that at the highest point of the Kolona there are the ruins of the temple of Apollo, a single remaining column of which gave the name to the place.

The settlement was fortified at least from the 6th century BCE, while an early Helladic settlement preexisted from the middle of the 3rd millennium BCE (for this reason, in tourist guides, the area is characterized as a prehistoric settlement).
In the ancient classical period, it was a crowded city, an important trading port and the center of Aegina which was one of the most powerful and rich states of ancient Greece before the Peloponnesian War.
In 458 BC. the Athenians besieged and occupied Aegina and then destroyed much of the ancient walls.

In the following centuries and especially during the Roman period, Aegina declined. This situation began to improve during the post-Roman period, when due to the invasions of various barbarian tribes, such as the Heruls and the Goths, large populations from the Peloponnese sought refuge in Aegina.
The increase in population led to the development of trade and Aegina was reborn. From 400 CE the port began to revive and then the fortifications of the ancient citadel must have been strengthened with new additions. These early-medieval additions are obvious in the ruins today.

Aegina experienced a period of development which ended when the raids of the Saracens began, which from the 7th century became the new scourge of the Aegean. These raids forced the Aeginians to move gradually to the interior of the island and so Paliahora became the new center of the island.

According to N. Moutsopoulos, the transfer of the capital of Aegina to the hill of Paliachora took place in the 9th century CE., after a raid by Saracens who destroyed Ligourio and Attica.
After that, it seems that the ancient fortification in Kolona was permanently abandoned around the 10th century.

Structure, Fortification & Buildings

The large boulders that formed the ancient wall dominate the remains of the citadel today. In addition, in many places, usually above the ancient structures, we can see the additional stonewall made of semi-finished stones and with the use of mortar, a technique that is typical of the Byzantine period.

Sources