Aigosthenes Fortress or Porto Germenou Castle

The Fortress of Aigosthenes built in the second half of the 4th century^th century BC, includes the Acropolis, the Perivolos with them Towers and the Long Walls, which reach the sea. It was built by the Athenians during the Athenian rule in Boeotia (458-447 BC) as Aigosthena, due to its strategic location, was a base towards the Gulf of Corinth.

Traces of what may have been Pelasgian walls have been found in the Fortress. Under the Acropolis of the Fortress is located Sanctuary of Melampos or «"Melapodeion"». Melampos, son of Amythaon, was a famous soothsayer and healer. He gave his patients goat's milk to drink because they ate the Hellebore, a medicinal plant that was abundant in the area. An ancient coin from Aegosthenes depicts Melampos, an infant, suckling a goat. The word Aigosthena is complex, from "«buck» (goat) and «valence»" (strength). Also "aix", plural "«goats»" means big waves (e.g. seashore). So Aigosthena means the place that gives strength and health (from the goat's milk) or the place with big waves (mainly when the westerly wind blows). The habitation in the area continued during the Early Christian Period as evidenced by the ruins of Early Christian Basilica (5^th century AD), which are located on the site of today's Church of Saint Anna.

The Early Christian Basilica was a magnificent building, with five aisles, discovered by chance by the archaeologist Mr. Orlandos (1954). During the Post-Byzantine Period, within the Acropolis, it developed Monastery, with two floors Cells and Catholic, today's Church of Saint George.

The Acropolis is built on a low hill, 450 m. from the sea. The Precinct It has dimensions of 190 X 80 m., with the eastern side being preserved at a great height. It includes the SE Tower (visitable), the NE Tower (under maintenance), the Mesopyrgia, the Cells which are adjacent to the Perivolos (2 has collapsed)^th floor of the cells) and the Lady Entrance. The Towers communicated with each other through a corridor that existed between the Mesopyrgia.

The Long Walls, with 7 Towers and 2 Gates, within which the ancient city of Aigosthenes had developed, reached all the way to the sea. Today, their northern part is preserved, on the side where the Church of Saint Anne is located. The Fortress of Aigosthenes is one of the best preserved ancient fortresses in Greece. The great earthquake in the Corinthian Gulf, centered on the Alcyonides (1981), caused considerable damage to the Fortress. Since 2011, the Ministry of Culture has begun restoration and rehabilitation works on the Fortress, with co-financing from Greece and the European Union.

AEGOSTHEN FORTRESS – ACROPOLIS TOWER

The SE Tower is part of the Acropolis of the Fortress. During the Byzantine Period, it was remodeled and later it was probably used by the monks of the Monastery of Agios Georgios. Specifically, the interior of the Tower was divided into two equivalent elongated spaces, with cylindrical domes. Before the great earthquake (1981) the Tower retained its entire S. side. After the earthquake, a large part of it collapsed, mainly its highest part. In 2011, restoration work on the SE Tower began. The ancient stone blocks that were missing were replaced with new ones. Initially, the stone blocks that had collapsed after the earthquake were collected and the material was identified (146 pieces of stone blocks). The remaining part was then dismantled, up to the threshold, to address possible damage to the monument (600 pieces of stone blocks). The SE Tower is the tallest of all, three-storey, 18 m high, square with a side width of 9 m. It has a gabled roof, wooden with tiles. Inside, wooden floors, wooden frames and a metal staircase to the floors were installed. On the top floor there are catapult windows, three on each side.

The entrance to the Tower is on the north side. Access is from the interior of the Fortress via a metal staircase. It is a great example of fortification art. It can be visited from November 24, 2018, by appointment, with guided tours and free admission.

AEGOSTHEN FORTRESS – NE ACROPOLIS TOWER

The NE Tower is less impressive than the SE Tower. In 2013, restoration and strengthening works began.

AEGOSTHEN FORTRESS – CELLS

The Monastery developed during the Post-Byzantine Period, around Church of Saint George which pre-existed since Byzantine times. The Cells, in plan, were in the form of a "C", two-storey. Today only five survive, on the ground floor and are in contact with the inner side of the eastern wall of the Fortress. On the inner side of the Cells there are arched windows (very small windows).

At the point where the Cells meet, at an angle, there is a vaulted hall with a mill installation.

The Cells, like the Church of St. George, are collapsing and stabilization and restoration work will begin soon.

CHURCH OF SAINT GEORGE CASTROU

THE INTERIOR OF THE TEMPLE

The Church is divided into a Pronaos or Narthex, the Main Church and the Holy Altar. The Church of Saint George is a Byzantine church, according to a fresco of the Pantocrator discovered in the dome. The most recent fresco (17^th ) that was in the dome and fell during the earthquake (1981) revealed the older one of Pantokrator. Access to the Church of St. George is from the main entrance of the Castle. If you come on foot from the sea you will first reach the Church of the Virgin Mary or Saint Anne and then you will climb the path that leads to the Castle. The Church of the Virgin Mary or Saint Anne is built on the site of the Early Christian Basilica of Aigosthenes, in today's Porto Germeno.

Today, the ruins of the five-aisled Early Christian Basilica (5th AD) are preserved in the precincts of the Church of Saint Anne.

The Church of Saint Anne is located within the walls of the Lower Town of the Aigosthenes Fortress and dates back to the 11th century.^th century. It belongs to the Hellenistic type, with a narthex and a protruding semicircular sanctuary shield. It has dimensions of 20 X 25 m. and the masonry consists of large stones and ancient material.

THE INTERIOR OF THE TEMPLE

The interior of the Church of St. Anne consists of a Narthex or Pronaos, the Main Church and the Holy Altar. The frescoes are recent (1845) as the older ones have been plastered over and are not visible.

On the iconostasis, above the Beautiful Gate, there is the inscription: "THIS GATE OF THE LORD THE RIGHTEOUS ENTER" The same inscription is also found on the iconostasis of the Church of Saint George of the Castle.

ACCESS TO THE CHURCH OF SAINT ANNA

Access to the Church can be done either from the main road of Porto Germenos, before reaching the parking lot, or from the coastal road, before reaching the chapel of Agios Nikolaos, or from the Castle, descending the path towards the sea, from the Church of Agios Georgios.