Alonnisos.
Lesbos.
THE ISLANDS
319
572. Lesbos, Kato Tritos, Taxiarchis (Λέσβος, Κάτω Τρίτος, Ταξιάρχης)
572. Lesbos, Mytilene castle, coats of arms (Λέσβος, Μυτιλήνη,
οικόσημα στο κάστρο)
572. Lesbos,
Mytilene Castle,
tower (Λέσβος,
Μυτιλήνη,
πύργος του
κάστρου)
according to a founder’s inscription located on the epistyle of
the current altar screen. The Episkopi church features numer-
ous architectural elements from the 11th c. basilica.
570.
Alonnisos.
Chora
(1). The village is surrounded by a defensive wall, pos-
sibly from the time of the ruling Ghizi family. Very few parts
of the wall are preserved. At Aghios Demetrios (2), in the NE
of the island, ruins of various structures have been detected,
including a three-aisled Early Christian basilica with narthex,
possibly of the 6th c., houses, aqueduct, cisterns, etc.
571.
Skyros.
Remains of basilicas from the Early Christian period survived
at the sites of Markesi and Kallikri, as well as architectural
elements in the environs of churches or embedded in their
masonry. In the Byzantine period the island was part of the
Aegean theme. The ancient castle was repaired at this time
and was used by the Byzantines and later by the Venetians.
At the castle site was established the church of Panagia (a
see) in 895, today in ruins. It was a domed, cross-in-square
church that was later converted into a three-aisled basilica by
the incomers from the West. To the E survive remains of walls
of a larger structure that was part of the bishop’s residence.
According to tradition, the monastery of Saint George was
founded in 960 by Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros Phokas at
the N edge of the castle and since then has been a meto-
chion of the Great Lavra monastery on Mount Athos. When the
Venetians repaired the walls of the citadel in 1354 they also
fortified the monastery. The current catholicon was built in the
Post-Byzantine era. Until circa 1400 Skyros also included four
more villages and fortresses. The ruins at Paliokastro, Markesi
and Kalamitsa seem to attest the historical evidence.
572.
Lesbos.
Mytilene. (1)
The earliest indication of Christianity on Lesbos is the Early
Christian martyrium of the late 3rd c. located at the Vounaraki
site in Mytilene, in the Makryyialos locality. The quadrilateral
burial chamber, partly rock-cut and partly built, featured three
arcosolia and was roofed with a dome.
