One of the ancient castles of Greece. The location was fortified since prehistoric times and remained a powerful fortress through the classical period and the Middle Ages until the 19th century.

Location & Strategic Scope

At the northern side of the town of Argos, there are two hills To the NE is Aspis and to the NW Larissa, the tallest of the two (289m). In the antiquity, there was another castle on Aspis which did not survive. There was a wall between the two castles for the protection of the city from the north.

The Name of the Castle

The first inhabitants of the area were the Pelasgians and the names "Argos" and "Larissa" are pelasgian. The meaning of the first was valley and of the latter acropolis.

History

Τhe castle was created in the 6th century B.C. but there was a fortification there since prehistoric times and the epoch of the Pelasgians. The medieval castle was first built by the Byzantines in the 10th century.

During the Byzantine period, the fortress was of essential strategic importance. In 1203, it came under the control of the archon of Nauplion, Leon Sgouros. In 1212 it was captured by Othon de la Roche, the Bourgoundian Duke of Athens, and was controlled by the Franks until 1388.

Between 1394 and 1463 it was occupied by the Venetians. In 1463 it was captured by the Turks and remained under their control until 1822, interrupted during 1686-1715, when Larissa came under the control of the Venetian admiral Morozini. The site was liberated by the Greeks in 1822.

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