The archaeology of the medieval towers in Mount Athos. An attempt of archaeological research.
The present study is focused on the archaeology of the medieval deserted towers in Mount Athos. Besides the towers included in the monastery precinct that protect the arsanas (little harbor) or the towers of the distinct fortification, the deserted towers controlled the inner paths and the sea, preventing the attacks of the pirates. Only three monasteries had a compound defense system: the precinct of the monastery, a fortification on the shore, a fortified harbor and an upper side tower, unprotected by a precinct.
Keywords: Mount Athos, tower, fortification, archaeology, medieval, culture.
1. Petre Beșliu Munteanu, Holy Mount Athos and Archaeolgy. In: http://christianforums.net/Fellowship/index.php. threads, accesed in: 28.01.2011. passim; Arheolog Petre Beșliu Munteanu: „În Grecia cultul monumentelor istorice este așa de mare încât cercetarea de teren nu prea e afectată de criză și de presiunile dezvoltatorilor” I. Interviu.In: Tribuna din 19.11.2010.
2. Ibidem.
3. Ibidem.
4. Ibidem.
5. Plutarchos Theocharidis, Ioakim Papagellos, Katalogos ton pyrgon toy Agioy Oros, in Oi Pyrgoi tou Agiou Oros, Thessaloniki, 2002, p. 18-21.
6. Pascal Androudis, Three early shallow-butressed towers on the monastery of Chilandarou, on Mount Athos. In: www. academia.edu/2123144, p. 291-303; Ανδρούδης 2000, Ανδρούδης Πασχάλης, Ερειπωμένος βυζαντινός πύργος στο Άγιον Όρος, Μακεδονικά 32 (1999-2000), p. 355-364. Θεσσαλονίκη, 2001
7.Roland Baetens, Dimitris Bakalis, and Peter Howorth, Mount Athos.The Holy Mountain.Pilgrim Path.Monasteries and Sketes. Profiles of Key Paths. Skete Maps. Gazetter. Filathonites.org: 2016, 1:25.000;Reinhold Zwerger, Athos (Agion Oros), Kartenskizze 1:50.000(paliopyrgos , Megistis Lavra).
8. A first article about the 2017 archaeological experience in Mont Athos in: Petre Beșliu Munteanu, Un arheolog sibian la Muntele Athos: Un loc plin de istorie, Sfântul Munte Athos și un toponim misterios, “paliopyrgos”. In: Tribuna Sibiulu, 19.01.2017.
9. Zwerger, op.cit.,map.
10. Later, the Holy Council of the Elders from Megistis Lavra refused me more researches in any places administrated.
