Symi, Symi, Dodecanese,South Aegean
Kokkinokastro of Symi
| Location: |
| In Symi, at the center of the island, on a hill next to Agios Ioannis’ chapel, 18km south of the Symi town |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| South Aegean Dodecanese | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
| City of Symi • Symi | |
| Altitude: | |
|
Elevation ≈ 480 m (Relative Height≈35 m) |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| Unknown | BYZANTINE  |
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| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Dry-Stone Fortification |
In Ruins
|
Byzantine fortification, maybe of the “Dark Centuries”
Castle Description
Text: Dr. Michael Losse, Singen (Hohentwiel), Germany (06.07.2021)General Description
The fortification called Kokkinokastro (“Red Castle”) by local people is a Byzantine fortification. It has no enceinte; single terraces of the mountain were secured by up to 1.60 m thick defensive walls, similar to the Byzantine Kastro Ajios Ioannis on the island of Astypalaia, so that several levels of defense arose.
At the 1.40 m wide gate there are bar beam holes. The masonry shows in the gate area mortar traces with reddish surcharge, which could explain the castle’s popular name. In the gate area, the bearing masonry is more careful than in other areas. Secondarily, a barbican could have been added, which would speak for the castle’s use in the late Middle Ages. Such barbicans on comparable Byzantine Kástra on the neighboring island of Tílos are known.
Arfaras/Melissourgaki-Arfara (p. 46) mentioned “die kleine Burg von Ái Jiánnis, am Weingut beim Kloster Sotíris tís Narás” (meaning “the small castle of Ái Jiánnis, at the winery at the monastery Sotíris tís Narás”), refering to the area east of the monastery of Megálou Sotíri and the road to Panormítis, where ancient and Byzantine settlement remains can be found. Most probably they meant the Kokkinókastro.
Access
By car to the “Panormitis Heroes War Memorial”; leave the car, walk along the road in southern direction, then turn left to the branch to Ajios Ioannis Church, from there some 100 metres in eastern direction. Free access
History of the castle
Unknown
Other Info
SourcesLosse, Michael: Anmerkungen zu den Burgen und Befestigungen auf den Dodekanes-Inseln Sými, Séskli und Nìmos (Griechenland). In: Andreas Panter/Ellen Panter (Eds.): Sehen, erfassen und verstehen. Festschrift für Hartmut Hofrichter zum 75. Geburtstag. TU Kaiserslautern. Kaiserslautern 2014, pp. 133-156.
Losse, Michael: Burg und Expansion in der Südost-Ägäis: Von den byzantinischen Befestigungen der „Dunklen Jahrhunderte“ (8.-10. Jahrhundert) bis zur Invasion der „Franken“ (13./14. Jahrhundert) und Osmanen (15./16. Jahrhundert). In: Europäisches Burgeninstitut (Ed.): Burg und Expansion (will be released in 2021).
| First entry in Kastrologos: | July 2021 |
Sources
- Photos (May 2012) and article by Dr. Michael Losse
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| Access |
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| Approach to the monument: |
| By car to the “Panormitis Heroes War Memorial”; leave the car, walk along the road in southern direction, then turn left to the branch to Ajios Ioannis Church, from there some 100 metres in eastern direction. |
| Entrance: |
| Free access |
| Other castles around |
|---|
| Castle of Lappatonio |
| Kastraki on Seskli |
| Castle of Symi |
| Castle of Tsangria |