Asine.
Kyparissi.
PELOPONNESE
222
294. Kyparissi, Palaiochora (Κυπαρίσσι, Παλαιοχώρα)
292.
Andritsa.
In 2004 a cave-precipice was discovered about 14 m deep near
Andritsa. Inside the cave a significant number of vessels, lamps,
coins and human skeletons have been found, dating from the
late 6th c.
289.
Asine.
The fortress of Asine lies approximately 10 km SE of Nafplion.
The original Mycenaean citadel was reused, possibly in a hasty
attempt by the Nafplian Sgouroi family to reinforce the NE Pelo-
ponnese in view of the Fourth Crusade. Around this period ac-
cess to the fortress changed and became possible from the NW
side of the wall, near the ancient harbour. Within the walls, in
the lower town, where the little church of Panagia stands today,
there must have been a Byzantine church, possibly conventual,
as indicated by the traces of the bath house excavated to its W.
In the period of Frankish rule, fortifications were supplemented
and reinforced, battlements with rectangular merlons were con-
structed, and towers were repaired and strengthened.
290.
Romvi Islet. Daskalio.
In the “dark ages” (7th-8th c.), Slavic raids seem to have forced
the Argians to flee to the today uninhabited Romvi islet to create
a thriving settlement. The seal of the bishop of Orove survives
(mid-8th c.). There are remnants of fortification, an aisleless
church and other structures, graves and a plethora of unpaint-
ed pottery.
291.
Mouchli.
Mouchli castle, located on a hill in the Argolis and Arcadia bor-
ders, was founded in the mid-13th c. by the Asanes-Palaeo-
logus family. It flourished from the late 13th c. until approximate-
ly the third quarter of the 15th c. but was dissolved after be-
ing captured and completely destroyed by the Ottomans. The
foundations of the walls, remnants of houses and of churches,
including those of Panagia Mouchliotissa (with fragments of
wall-paintings) survive. Mouchli is the place of origin of iconog-
rapher Xenos Digenis.
293.
Loukou. Eva.
The Metamorphosis of the Soter monastery lies at Loukou, NW
of Astros, where the Eva settlement flourished in the Roman
and Early Byzantine periods and Herodes Atticus’s mansion
(2nd c.) has been excavated. The mansion was possibly built
on the site of an Early Christian basilica and subsequent Byzan-
tine church. From the Early Christian building mosaic remains
survive. The present-day catholicon is a cross-in-square church
with 17th c. wall-paintings.
294.
Kyparissi.
The medieval settlement of Palaiochora lies NW of the present-
day Kyparissi village and features the remnants of a tower, of
houses and cisterns, as well as five Byzantine churches: the
ruined Mid-Byzantine, three-aisled basilica of Aghia Triada and
four unnamed, barrel-vaulted churches. The barrel-vaulted, sin-
gle-nave Prophet Elias church, with fragments of wall-paintings
of the late 13th c., lies W of Vrysi, on Mount Bambala. The ru-
ined, aisleless church of Saint Nicholas is located within the
ancient citadel of Kyphanta, W of Paralia village.
