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The Frankish Towers of Central Greece

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2013

Abstract

The Medieval towers of the former Duchy of Athens and Thebes—that is, the modern Nomes of Attica, Boeotia, Phokis, and Phthiotis—are described and analysed.

With reference to their siting, their architectural details, and any associated features, together with an examination of any relevant documentary material, the dating, the affinities, and the function of the towers within the feudal landscape of mainland central Greece are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 1986

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References

Acknowledgements. I wish to thank the Directors of the Cambridge and Bradford Boeotian Expedition for help and encouragement in the early days of this work; the College of Ripon and York St John for a grant towards the cost of travel and photographic materials; Ms Nancy Stedman and Mr Jon Pavely for help with the field-work; Mr Keith Maude for advice and help with matters photographic, and Dr Peter Burridge for much useful discussion.

1 Bon, A., ‘Fortresses Médiévales de la Gréce Centrale’, BCH 61 (1937) 136208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar For a recent following of these views, Hazard, H. W. (ed.), A History of the Crusades iv (University of Wisconsin 1977) 213.Google Scholar

2 Bon, op. cit. 143.

3 Ibid., 148.

4 The works and maps found most useful in locating the towers have been: Clarke, Edward, Travels in Various Countries of Europe, Asia and Africa ii (London 1816)CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Dodwell, Edward, A Classical and Topographical Tour through Greece during the Years 1801, 1805, and 18061 (London 1819)Google Scholar; Leake, W. M., Travels in Northern Greece ii (London 1835)Google Scholar; Ulrichs, Heinrich, Riesen und Forschungen in Griechenland … Erster Thiel. Riese üher Delphi durch Phocis und Boeotien bis Theben (Bremen 1840)Google Scholar; SirWheeler, George, A Journey into Greece … (London 1682).Google Scholar Of the maps the most useful by far has been Carte de la Grèce redigée et gravée an dépôt de la guerre d'aprés la triangulation et les levés executés par les officiers du corps d'état-major à l'Echelle de 1: 200,000 (Paris 1852). It shows most of the medieval towers as ‘tour’ and is cited hereafter as ‘the French map’. Of modern works: Koder, J. and Hild, F., Tabula Imperii Byzantini: Hellas und Thessalia (Wien 1976)Google Scholar, records many towers and gives useful background information.

5 Philippson, A., ‘Der Kopaïs-See in Griechenland und seine Umgebung’, Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für Erdkunde zu Berlin (1894) 72Google Scholar; ADelt 29 (1973–4) B 453.

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7 Amandry, P., BCH 68–9 (1945) 429.Google Scholar

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16 Miller, William, Latins in the Levant (London 1908) 402.Google Scholar

17 The ground floor of the monastic towers of Athos were used for storage purposes. The Serbian chronicler Daniel records an attack by Catalan raiders on the Russian monastery of St Panteleimon in 1307. All the buildings were burned except the tower where the monks had taken refuge. The raiders built a fire around the base of the tower to force the monks out. They, however, extinguished the fire with wine stored in the basement of the tower. Soloviev, Alexander, Byzantion 8 (1933) 223–4.Google Scholar I am grateful to Dr Peter Burridge for this reference.

18 Chandler, L., JHS 46 (1926) 19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

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24 Ibid. 328.

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40 Mark 12: 1; Luke 14: 28.

41 Longnon, J. and Topping, P. (eds.), Documents sur le régime des terres dans la principauté de Morée au XIV siècle (Paris 1969) 160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar The account is preserved in the State Archives, Florence.

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44 Ibid. 70–1.

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49 Luke 14: 28.

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54 Philippson, op. cit. 72. A sketch-map of the area showing all the places mentioned can be seen in ADelt 29 (1973–4) B453.

55 Koder and Hild, op. cit. 123.

56 Philippson, op. cit. 72.

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65 Chandler, op. cit. 6, for a plan of the site.

66 e.g. Melissochori and Tanagra. On storage see n. 18 above.

67 Amandry, , BCH 68–9 (1945) 429.Google Scholar According to Leake (op. cit. 464) the towers at both Schematari and Grimada (Tanagra) had been converted into churches. At Tanagra there is no surviving evidence for this reuse.

68 Winter, F. E., Greek Fortifications (London 1971) 123Google Scholar has a plan of the classical tower and adjoining wall.

69 Bon, op. cit. 147; Miller, op. cit. 227. See also the entry for Amphikleia on p. 122 below.

70 See p. 108 above; ADelt 16 (1960) B167.

71 Blue Guide: Greece (1981) 467.

72 Winter, op. cit. 140–1; Tillard, L. B., BSA 17 (19101911) 60–4.Google Scholar

73 See p. 110 above.

74 ADelt 17 (1961–2) B169.

75 Bon, op. cit. 148; ADelt 21 (1966) B246.

76 Tillard, op. cit. 56–60.