The fortress of Eleutherai or Gyftokastro is the most impressive and one of the best preserved ancient Greek fortresses.

The reason that it is presented in this site (Kastrologos does not include ancient castles) is that its latest building phase is dated in the 7th cnt. AD. That means that it remained in use at least until the early Byzantine period.

Location & Strategic Scope

Kaza is a mountain pass in western Attica between the mountains of Kithairon and Pastra. In antiquity it was part of the main route from Attica to Boeotia and to the North.

The fortress controlled this important passage and in addition it surveilled the plain to the south around Mazi (Oinoe). Also, during the later Classical and Hellenistic periods, it was guarding the borders between the ancient cities-states of Thebes and Athens.

History

The currently prevailing theory about the origin of the fortress is that it was built by the Thebans (and not the Athenians) around the middle of the 4th century BC. Probably, it was built after the victory of Thebes in the battle of Lefktra (371 BC) between 370 and 350 BC, a period in which Thebes had become the strongest military force in Ancient Greece.

The fortification did not enclose the city of Eleutherai but most probably it was in the location of the ancient acropolis of the city.

Eleutherai was allegedly the birthplace of Dionysus, who founded the city and was thus called Dionysus Eleuthereus. Originally a Boeotian city, Eleutherai went over to Athens in the sixth century BC. The cult statue of Dionysus Eleuthereus was reportedly moved from Eleutherai to Athens on Peisistratus' orders, leading to the establishment of the Dionysus’ sanctuary on the south slope of the Acropolis (of Athens).

Structure, Fortification & Buildings

The fort is shaped like an irregular rectangle, approximately 300 metres long and 125 metres wide, with a 860-metre perimeter wall. Its double main gate is on the west, towards the ancient road. The poorly preserved east wall had a single tower and one small gate, whereas the nearly complete north wall has two small gates and seven square towers with sides six metres long. The towers were probably three-storied, with loopholes and openings for small catapults. The towers were square with 6m long sides while their height is around 6.5m

Traces of buildings were identified inside the fort. One of the buildings was probably a residence, but whether it housed a garrison or not remains uncertain.

Sources