Monuments

Kastelli is located southwest of the settlement of Paleochori, at the top of a steep hill, in the wider region named Neposi. The hill is washed by the waters of the Paleochorinos Lakkos stream, a tributary of the Ormylia River. The approach to the wall and the castle is via a dirt road about 3km long and an unmarked hiking trail. There is only a narrow, steep path that connects the difficult-to-access hill to the mountain that stretches to the south. A few meters below the wooden observatory of the Arnaia Forest Service, there is a path that first descends into the ravine and then ascends towards Kastelli.   

Excavations revealed that the 503m fortification wall of rubble (uncut) stones and lime mortar that surrounds the castle and is preserved to a height of approximately 4m was probably constructed in three phases, which are distinguished by height and indicate the number of times it was rebuilt after disasters. The first phase, during the early Christian period (5th century) when it was probably destroyed by an earthquake (6th century) and then abandoned, the second phase during the Middle Byzantine period (it is known that Chalkidiki became the target of Bulgarian raids, especially during the second half of the 10th century) and probably the third phase, the repair phase.

The castle occupies approximately 15 hectares of ground with a settlement in the western part that was built amphitheatrically on the slopes of the hill. There was also a 6th-century three-aisled, timber-roofed basilica, with a marble altarscreen and a double-bay vaulted tomb under the narthex. Several burials from the Middle Byzantine period were discovered, both inside the church and around it. The church was probably destroyed by an earthquake, but it was later restored – perhaps in the 10th century. Partial excavation also showed that it was repaired twice until its permanent abandonment.

Archaeological research has provided valuable information about the monument and the region. The handmade sherds (ceramic fragments) discovered, testify to the settlement of the region since prehistoric times. The findings, though, are not only limited to prehistoric sherds. From the Hellenistic sherds and the Roman coins that were revealed, it can be concluded that the region was inhabited both during the Hellenistic period and during the Roman occupation.

The archaeological dig also brought coins of emperors Anastasius and Justinian to light, from which it can be concluded that the area was still inhabited during the 5th and 6th centuries. During the 910s AD it must have already been repaired and a large village was established. During this period, a time of tension due to the Byzantine-Bulgarian wars, it must have been one of the major military footholds of the Byzantine Empire in central Chalkidiki. A new disaster and minor repairs followed. It must have been permanently abandoned around the middle of the 14th century. 

This event can perhaps be traced to the establishment of the settlement of Paleochori, which is documented in historical sources, precisely at that time. Paleochori is mentioned in the confinement of Constantine of Pergamon and George the Pharisee in 1320 and in the Testament of Nun Agatha in 1441 (Actes de Xeropotamou, Archives de L’Athos III, ed. J. Bompaire.-Paris: 1964).

During the excavation, two inscriptions were found among the ruins of the church, which have to date been the most important finds of the monument. The first dates back to the 6th century and is probably related to the vaulted tomb of the narthex and reads as follows:

+MνιμίονἨου-

άννουυἡοῦΕὐ-

τροπίου,εἴτις

δὲεὐρεθῖτί-

θονπαρὰγνό-

σεoςἐμοῦ,δόσι

λόγοντοῦΘ(εο)ῦἐνἡ-

μέρ(ᾳ) κρίσεος+

The inscription is about a certain John who was buried at this particular spot and it is badly written and misspelled. However, it seems that the tomb was used again in that period judging from a copper ring, characteristic of the Middle Byzantine period that was found there. Regarding the second inscription (ktetoric inscription), which is more significant, only the right half was saved (two marble pieces). It is about the Byzantine repairs of the castle, with reference to Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and his mother, empress consort Zoe Karvounopsina. 

[… θεο]φύλακτον κάστρον

[… πανε]υτυχοῦς

[… Kωνσταντίν]ου καὶ Zωής

[…] Mιχαὴλ πατρι [κίου…] τούτους του[ς]

[… ἔτου]ς ´SYK[S´]

The year ´SYK[S´] is the year 917/918, during the co-regency of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus who was underage, and his mother Zoe Karvounopsina. The name Michael must refer to a well-known at the time patrician, who was probably connected to the administration of the region, or provided for the repair of the castle. The mere interest of nobles in the castle indicates its importance for the region. It probably served as an important link to the defense network of the empire, especially during the second half of the 10th century, when Chalkidiki became the target of Bulgarian raids.

Kleanthis Doukas