Kastellorizo, Megisti, Dodecanese,South Aegean
Palaiokastro of Kastellorizo
| Location: |
| Kastellorizo - 1 km west of Megisti |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| South Aegean Dodecanese | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
| City of Megisti • Kastellorizo | |
| Altitude: | |
| Elevation ≈ 252 m |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| Various periods | BYZANTINE  |
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| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Castle |
Rather Poor
|
Paliokastro is the oldest and, perhaps, the most important monument of Kastellorizo.
It is built over the ruins of an ancient Doric citadel on the west side of the island, around 1km from Megisti.
It is an an ancient castle, with Byzantine, Knights Hospitallers‘ and modern Italian alterations.
Castle Description
Text: Dr. Michael Losse – Singen (Hohentwiel), Germany (08.08.2021)General Description
The island of Kastellorizo (9 square kilometers) is located far away from the Dodecanese, to which it belongs administratively, off the south coast of Lycia (Turkey), 135 km east-southeast of Rhodes. Cyprus is 250 km from there.
The Palaiokastro stands on the island’s second highest mountain (252 m) on the northwest side of Kastellorizo, not far from the much higher Vigla.
In addition to several cisterns, parts of the Hellenistic defensive wall with towers or flanking works have been preserved from the ancient complex. Some sections were rebuilt using the ancient building material in Byzantine times. Remarkable are the partly impressive large cisterns of the castle carved out of the limestone rock.
The Order of the Knights of St. John (Ioannites) did not significantly expand the ancient fortifications, but the Italian occupants of the Dodecanese (1912-43) during the 2nd World War used the Palaiókastro as a fortification; they installed and built gun/anti-aircraft positions, air raid shelters and remnants of ammunition.
History of the castle
The Archeologists Kalliopi Bairami and Fotini Zervaki (2013, p. 67) stated: “The fortification wall of the acropolis of Palaiokastro in Castellorizo, and the watchtower on Rho islet, dating to the 4th century BC, are parts of a “chain” of the fortified sites on the Dodecanese islands and on the Rhodian Peraia, used by the Rhodian state during the era of its thalassocracy (naval supremacy) for the control of the seas and the safety of trade routes.”
In Doric times, the castle formed the acropolis of Kastellorizo‘s main settlement at that time.
From the Roman and Byzantine periods to the Middle Ages and the (early) modern period, this fortified settlement was probably inhabited throughout.
After the Knights Hospitallers – the chivalric Order of the Knights of St. John –, which apparently did not significantly expand the fortification found, the Italian occupiers of the Dodecanese (1912-43) again used the Palaiokastro as a fortification; therefore, the installations of gun/anti-aircraft positions, air raid shelters and remnants of ammunition date from the 2nd World War.
The castle was restored in the early 2000s.
Other Info
SourcesAshton, Norman G.: Ancient Megisti. The Forgotten Kastellorizo. University of Western Australia Press. Nedlands 1995, pp. 68-90.
Bairami, Kalliopi/Zervaki, Fotini: Enhancement of Palaiokastro, Castellorizo and the ancient watchtower of Rho islet. In: Magdalene Alvanou (Ed.): Island Identities. The Contribution of the Secretariat General for the Agean & Island Policy to the Research and Promotion of the Culture of the Aegean Archipelago. Mytilene 2013, pp. 67.
Losse, Michael: Die Kreuzritter von Rhodos - Bevor die Johanniter Malteser wurden. Ostfildern 2011.
Losse, Michael: Die Burgen und Festungen des Johanniter-Ritterordens auf Rhódos und in der Ägäis (Griechenland) 1307-1522. (Publisher: Nünnerich-Asmus Verlag) Mainz 2017.
Loupou-Rokou, Athena-Christina: The Aegean Fortresses and Castles. Athens 1999, pp. 82-87.
Ministry of Culture/Archeological Receipts Fund: Kastellorizo Museum [leaflet]. Athens 2000.
Paradissis, Alexander: Fortresses and Castles of Greece. Vol. III: Fortresses and Castles of Greek Islands. Athens and Thessaloniki 1976, p. 187.
Spiteri, Stephen C.: Fortresses of the Cross. Hospitaller Military Architecture (1136-1798). Valleta (Malta) 1994, pp. 155, 158.
Spiteri, Stephen C.: Fortresses of the Knights. Ħamrun (Malta) 2001, pp. 154.
Stefanidou, Alexandra: Castles of the Knights Hospitallers. In: Anna Triposkoufi/Amalia Tsitouri (Eds.): Venetians and Knights Hospitallers. Military Architecture Networks (ARCHI-MED Pilot Action) [Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Directorate of Byzantine & Postbyzantine Monuments]. Athens 2002, pp. 184-253, here pp. 218.
Vardamidis, E.: Ιστορία της νήσου Μεγίστης. Alexandria 1948, pp. 22-25.
Wunster, W.: Bauten auf Kastellorizo und Ros. In: AM 96, 1981, pp. 226-231.
| First entry in Kastrologos: | February 2013 | Last update of info and text: | November 2021 | Last addition of photo/video: | November 2021 |
Sources
- Photos 10,11 (October 2007) and text by Dr. Michael Losse.
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| Access |
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| Approach to the monument: |
| A dirt road from Megisti leads to the castle. The last part is a narrow path. |
| Entrance: |
| Free entrance |
| Other castles around |
|---|
| Kastellorizo Castle |
| Konaki of Kastellorizo |
| Fort of Ro island |