Circular fortification, largely ruined, on top of a hill 3 km west of Angelokastro, in the region of Corinth.

History

We do not know the history of the fortification. The researcher Peppas, who visited it in the 1980s, considered it medieval; he was probably right, since, although mortar is has not been used in the stonework, if it were an ancient or Mycenaean construction, the walls would have been clearly more elaborate.

It is most likely that the fortification was created to support the defense of the castle of Aggelokastro, which probably dates between 1205 and 1210. Therefore, the small castle at Prophet Elias may also belong to the same period, built either by the lord of Argolidocorinth, Leo Sgouros, or by the Byzantines of the Despotate of Epirus who tried to help in the defense against the Franks.
The hypothesis that the existence of the castle is related to Angelokastro is supported by three basic elements: a) the proximity of the two fortifications, b) the small size of the castle of Prophet Elias and c) the particularly systematic organization of the peripheral defense around Angelokastro. At a distance of 600–900m north of the axis of Prophet Elias–Angelokastro, five small forts of similar masonry are located, while to the south there are positions with indications of fortification, the most characteristic of which is that of the “Agriada” hill, 880m SW of Prophet Elias (photo 4). All these installations seem to have functioned as bastions of the main castle, that is, Angelokastro.

Structure, Fortification & Buildings

The area of ​​the fortification is 730 sq.m. The length of the circular perimeter is approximately 100m.

The thickness of the walls is 1.50m. Inside the fortress, ruins of a building can be seen that may belong to an old chapel of Prophet Elias (today no chapel can be seen on the hill).

The castle has visual contact with Aggelokastro and with Acrocorinth.

As mentioned, at a distance of 880m southwest of the hill of Prof. Elias there is the hill “Agriada”, a little lower, with ruins of a walls on the top. This fortification seems to have been similar in shape and construction to that of Prophet Elias and perhaps they formed a single defensive complex together with other fortresses that protected Angelokastro. (We will not dedicate a separate page to this fortification). This second fortification is in a much worse condition.

Sources