A fortified position the name of which is still Mesokastela meaning “in the middle of castles”.

Location & Strategic Scope

It is a plateau which is protected by four rocks. Two of the rocks have fortifications on them. The space between the rocks has water springs and could be cultivated. It was also invisible from the nearby passages and from the sea, which was a serious advantage in difficult periods. Furthermore, from the top of the rocks one could observe a large part of the south coast of Crete and of the Isthmus of Ierapetra (the narrowest part of Crete between the Aegean and Libyan sea).

History

A settlement existed among the four rocks during the Roman and the early-Byzantine periods. Regardless of the lifespan of the settlement, the position was used as a castle-refuge from the Minoan era until perhaps the Venetian period.

The fortifications were constructed most probably in the second Byzantine period, i.e. after the expel of the Saracens in the 10th century. During that period, it must have been a military fort. It was abandoned before 13th century, since it is not reported in any Venetian inventory.

Sources