Marmari Tower: A Byzantine Defensive Tower in Greece
Site at a Glance
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Greece
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Byzantine
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Tower
On this page4 sections
History
Marmari Tower is a medieval Byzantine defensive structure in the Lower Struma region of Greece, built in 1367 to help guard Marmari Bridge over the Struma. The bridge was a crossing known since antiquity, and another Byzantine tower stood opposite it.
The tower was built by brothers John, a grand primicerius (senior Byzantine court official), and Alexios, a grand stratopedarch (high-ranking military official). They owned land in the area and effectively acted as feudal lords of Chrysopolis and Thasos. Before 1384, John donated the tower to Pantokrator, an Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos, a major monastic center in Greece. The medieval village of Marmari is also mentioned in the Charter of Kaliman.
Remains
The tower stands on the left bank of the Struma, along the northern wall of ancient Amphipolis and opposite another medieval Byzantine tower. Its construction used material taken entirely from the remains of ancient Amphipolis.
Surviving masonry
The base measures 10.70 by 10.00 metres. The first storey survives, along with one wall of the second. Perimeter masonry remains up to 5 metres high, while the western wall reaches 14 metres at its highest point. A section of the northern wall that still stood into the twentieth century has since collapsed. The tower is notably similar to another tower dated 1374.
Inscription
An inscription that dates the tower was set into the building and is now held at the Amphipolis Museum.
