M.Dimiova, Kalamata, Messenia,Peloponnese
Tower of Rigas
| Location: |
| Next to Dimiova monastery, 14km east of Kalamata, close to the village Eleohori |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| Peloponnese Messenia | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
| City of Kalamata • M.Dimiova | |
| Altitude: | |
| Elevation ≈ 775 m |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| perhaps 13th cent. | FRANKISH  |
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| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Tower |
Rather Poor
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Α tower close to the monastery of Dimiova at the western slopes of mount Taygetos, near the village Eleochori, not far from Kalamata. The monastery was constructed in the 17th century according to documents of the Patriarchate.
The tower must have been used for the protection of the monastery, but most probably it was not built at the same period (otherwise it would have been closer to the monastery and in better defensive position). The tower must have been much older than the monastery.
A folk tradition (about the monastery) tells the story of a local lord in the region (titled “Rigas”) who owned 6 villages in the area. This lord built the tower while the monastery was built later around the church of his estate, after the destruction of the villages.
This tale does not provide a chronology about the Rigas or his tower, but it is estimated that the story goes back to the 13th or the 14th century.
The tower was severely damaged in the earthquake of 1986.
| First entry in Kastrologos: | February 2015 |
Sources
- Website ΚΑΛΑΜΑΤΑ 2013 - ΚΑΛΑΜΑΤΑ : Η Ιστορία της Μονής Δήμιοβας
- Website Briefing News -Ιερά Μονή Δήμιοβας στη Μεσσηνία
- Δημήτριος Χρ. Δουκάκης, Μεσσηνιακά και ιδία περί Φαρών και Καλαμάτας από των αρχαιοτάτων xρόνων μέχρι του Καποδιστρίου /υπό Δημητρίου Χρ. Δουκάκη.Εν Αθήναις :Εκ του Τυπογραφείου Α. Καλαράκη,1905.Τεύχος Γ΄, σελ. 68 (online στην ψηφιακή Βιβλιοθήκη Ανέμη)
- Information by Mr. Stavros Kalyviotis
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| Access |
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| Entrance: |
| Free access to the perimeter |