During this next leg of the walk (between Asia Minor Mother and The Statue of Liberty), there are a couple of sites that are worth visiting. These are The Commercial Stoa of the Hellenistic Period (a.k.a. ancient Agora archaeological site) just opposite Asia Minor Mother; and The Castle of Mytilini, halfway through the leg. Although they do not strictly adhere to our themes of political disturbance and social change, they are attractive and have interesting histories.
The Commercial Stoa
In 1929, while constructing a refugee market in the aftermath of the Asia Minor Catastrophe (discussed in Asia Minor Mother), the remains of a two-story ancient stoa – a walkway for public use – was discovered, and preserved until the 2000 when even more of the stoa was excavated (Kourtzellis, 2013; DETAM et al, date unknown).
The Commercial Stoa of the Hellenic Period
Currently the site is 87 m x 16 m (Kourtzellis, 2013). The stoa was constructed around 3rd C. – 4th C. BC, but other excavated stoa sites locally and its position on the coast indicate the site was an Agora (marketplace) (ibid.; Ministry of Culture and Sports Ephorate of Antiquities of Lesvos, 2013). Made out of pinkish volcanic rock, limestone and with a marble facade, the plan of the site shows the Stylobate (top entry step), many adjoining room areas and indicates the area was once under a roof implying a colonnade arcade-like set-up (ibid.). Being on the coast close to where boats would harbour up, the arcade would have sold mercantile goods, supplying the whole of ancient Mytilini (Kourtzellis, 2013).
Once finished here please refer back to the map to go up towards the Castle of Mytilini.
Castle of Mytilini (or Fortress of Mytilini)
Mytilini’s 60,000 m² castle lies between the sea and small pine forest, and is one of the largest castles in the Mediterranean (Papathanassiou, 2012). It was originally built on the remnants of Mytilini’s ancient Acropolis, during the Byzantine years when Justinian I ruled, constituting the first, top, area of the fortification (DETAM et al, date unknown). However most of the castle, particularly the extension into the second section of the castle, was constructed during the Gatelouzi period in 1373 when the Genoese pirate Francesco Gattilusio was made Archon (Lord) of Lesvos by a Byzantine Emperor, and lived in Mytilini with his family (lesvosgreece.gr, 2016; DETAM et al, date unknown).
The Ottoman Turks took over the castle in 1462, and made some big alterations and additions to the castle, including the construction of the whole third, bottom, section of the fort (Papathanassiou, 2012). This was only completed in 1677. It included the erection of watch towers, a mosque/communion area, and prisons (DETAM et al, date unknown).
There is a lot of area to explore here with some beautiful views to take in too. You do have to pay €2, but you may consider taking half an hour out to take it all in and it is a nice spot fora picnic.
References
DETAM (Mytilini Municipal. Company for the Tourist Development), ETAL (Lesvos Local Development Company, S.A.) and University of Aegean (date unknown) Mytilene e-guide. Available at: http://www.lesvoswalks.net/Mitilini_Guide.pdf (Accessed on: 3 April 2016).
Kourtzellis, I. (2013) ‘The Northern Harbour’, in Myroyianni, Z. (ed.) Mytilene, Unique Approaches. Lesvos: The Chamber of Lesvos, pp. 11–16.
lesvosgreece.gr (2016) The castle of Mytilini. Available at: http://www.lesvosgreece.gr/en/castle-mytilini (Accessed: 5 April 2016).
Ministry of Culture and Sport Ephorate of Antiquities of Lesbos (2013) Commercial Stoa of the Hellenic Period, Mytilini, 2007-2013 [Information Plaque Located at Site; Accessed 2016].
Papathanassiou, M. (2012) Castle of Mytilini – Greek castles. Available at: http://www.kastra.eu/castleen.php?kastro=mytilini (Accessed: 5 April 2016).
All Photos Taken by Site Owner, Unless Otherwise Stated in a Caption Under ‘Source’
The Three Women of Mytilini 