Raftis, Gortynia, Arcadia,Peloponnese
Hermitage of Pammegistoi Taxiarches
| Location: |
| In a cave on a rocky hill, 600m east of the village of Raftis, Arcadia |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| Peloponnese Arcadia | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
| City of Gortynia • Raftis | |
| Altitude: | |
|
Elevation ≈ 750 m (Relative Height≈50 m) |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| 1697 | MODERN GREEK  |
|
| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Cave Fort |
Not Good
|
Hermitage with fortification and a chapel of Agios Taxiarchis in a cave east of the village of Raftis in Gortynia.
History
Caves of this type in the Peloponnese have been hermitages since the Byzantine Period. Gradually, various elements such as chapels and rudimentary fortifications were added to these hermitages. In most cases, this happened around the 17th-18th century when the hermitages were transformed into dens for kleftes.
Δθρινγ the Revolution of 1821, the hermitages were used as refuge for the local population.
The specific hermitage/castle cave of Agios Taxiarchis must have a similar history, although we do not know the details. An engraved inscription on the church with the date 1697 allows us to determine with relative precision the date of the final formation of the castle-cave.
It is worth mentioning that very close by, 700 meters to the south, there is another castle cave, with more impressive fortifications, the Kokoreiki and Rafteiki Poulia.
Sources
- Video by the user billy84000 Ασκηταριό Μεγίστων Ταξιαρχών-Ράφτης (2020)
- Info by Charalampos Papadopoulos
| Access |
|---|
| Entrance: |
| Free access. |
