Kos.
Kos.
THE ISLANDS
400
604. Kos, Neratzia castle (Κως, κάστρο της Νεραντζιάς)
604. Kos, Saint Nicholas ton Ptochon, wall painting (Κως, Άγιος
Νικόλαος των Φτωχών, τοιχογραφία)
day, the settlement, stretching below the castle, is deserted.
Remains of the cells of Panagia monastery are close to the
catholicon, which is barrel-vaulted and single-nave, with a
narthex that was added to the W in a second phase. In the
interior survive sections of the wall-painted decoration in three
layers: two of the 13th c. and one, covering the largest part of
the walls, possibly of the early 16th c. Quite a few Byzantine
and Late Byzantine churches have been found on the slopes
of the N side of Mount Dikaios at Asfendiou (Panagia at Mona-
gri (2), Moni Spondon (3), Saint George (5) and more). Dur-
ing Hospitaller control (1306-9 to 1522) the Knights built new
fortifications (Neratzia castle and enclosure of the medieval
town (1), Antimacheia castle (7), Kephalos fortress and castle
(9)) and strengthened the existing ones (Palaio Pyli castle (4)).
Neratzia castle, dominating the entrance to Kos harbour, was
probably also fortified during the Byzantine period.
