Mithymna Castle in Lesbos

The Mithymna Castle is located at the top of the hill of Molyvos, home to the homonymous settlement since the late Byzantine era onwards, and built on the northwest coast of Lesbos, at a distance of about 60 km. from Mytilene, the capital city of Lesbos.

The ancient city of Mithymna was founded, like the other five city-states of Lesbos, at the end of the second millennium and at the northwestern end of the territory and more specifically, on a peninsula of strategic position and importance that ensured control of the passage to the Edremit Gulf. To the southwest, it had a trireme harbour and a naval station even further south. It soon developed and expanded in the wider area of the peninsula, as well as gained power and supremacy, leading to its domination over the southernmost ancient city of Arisvi from early on, eventually culminating to the city’s conquest and incorporation in its territory, thus gaining the coveted (because of its natural wealth) access to the Gulf of Kalloni. It was the second city-state of Lesbos, after Mytilene, in terms of power and size.

The Mithymna Castle, the second in size and importance among the Castles on the island, was built during the Byzantine period on the remains of the fortification of the ancient Acropolis. In 1128, it was occupied by the Venetians and between 1204 and 1287, it was under the rule of Baldwin II of Flanders. At the end of the 13th c., it fell into the hands of the Catalans. In 1373, it was reconstructed by Francesco I Gattilusio, who had earlier (1355) taken over the administration of the island, while in the 15th and 17th c., it was unrelentingly attacked by the Ottomans who would occupy Lesbos in 1462. As in the case of the Mytilene Castle, over the years -apart from crucial repairs due to natural damage and war disasters- additions to the Mithymna Castle were always guided by the ever-changing needs of the new war tactics and dictated by the defensive practices of the times. Thus, apart from the earlier, square, medieval towers, during the Ottoman period, the Castle acquired cylindrical towers and a gun emplacement. These obvious changes are also eloquently reflected in its masonry – which often bears inscriptions and other insignia – where the earlier pseudo-isodomic masonry system and the use of large basalt stone blocks give way to a cheaper and more practical building solution (in the Ottoman period), with smaller sized, brownish-red, rough trachyte, brick fragments and extensive use of mortar, which are ideal for less time-consuming repairs in cases of emergency, in the midst of i.e. war raids and sieges.

The Mithymna Castle is differentiated from that of Mytilene as it belongs to the category of the Castles of inhibition (defence of its defenders and repulsion of the enemy) and was not intended for residential use. On its north and northwestern side, due to smoother terrain, easier accessibility and, by extension, vulnerability of its position, a moat was formed during the Ottoman period, while a second gate with a bulwark reinforced the entrance to the southwestern corner (Outer Castle). The south and southeast sides did not need further reinforcement, due to the steep rocky terrain which provided sufficient natural fortification.

The Castle of Molyvos is constructed in a trapeze-shaped location with a side of about 70 m. Its fortification enclosure is protected by a gun emplacement and is reinforced by ten square and circular towers. Entrance to the Castle is accomplished through three successive gates located to the southwest. The first external gate dates back to the Ottoman period, as indicated by its architectural elements (masonry and finials on the characteristic Ottoman pointed arch) and its built-in inscription. A short distance from it and to the north, there is a second gate, leading through a domed passage to a walled open space. At the northeastern end of the latter is the main gate of the Castle, which dates back to the Byzantine period. The richly decorated, double wooden door with sheet metal and decorative rivets, sealed the entrance and was added in later times by the Ottomans. Upon entering the Castle, one finds a three-part, rectangular, domed structure to the south, which was probably used as a prison, a gunpowder magazine and a place for storing weapons and ammunition. Today, it is used as a public information centre. In the central and northern part of the Castle, the remains of two elongated, rectangular buildings are found, which served as accommodation for the Ottoman garrison. In the northeastern corner, the medieval Keep dominates, which as the last point of defence for its defenders has separate bastions. Lastly, the Byzantine phase of the Castle includes a water tank in the middle of the open space, which is partially preserved today and had an arched roof.

Over the years, a plethora of sections of the Mithymna Castle have been maintained, fixed and restored throughout its extent, both internally and externally, by various Antiquities Departments, with the ultimate aim of improving its accessibility and safety for the general public. Today, a specially designed section of the Castle is used to host a variety of cultural events, always with respect to the site and its historical significance.

Location

Municipality: Western Lesbos

Municipal Section: Mithymna

Location: Mithymna

3D Images

Images

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