Myrina Castle: A Historic Fortress on the Island of Lemnos
Visitor Information
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Official Website: www.kastra.eu
Country: Greece
Civilization: Unclassified
Remains: Military
History
Myrina Castle is located on the island of Lemnos, within the municipality of Myrina in modern Greece. The site originally served as the acropolis—the fortified high point—of the ancient city of Myrina. Its earliest fortifications date back to the Mycenaean civilization around the 13th century BCE, evidenced by massive stone walls built using a technique known as cyclopean masonry, characterized by large, irregular blocks fitted without mortar.
During the Byzantine era, the castle was first constructed in the 12th century CE. Significant strengthening of its defenses took place in 1185 under the rule of Emperor Andronikos I Komnenos. At this time, the fortress was simply known as “Kástro,” meaning “Castle.” Less than two decades later, in 1207, the Venetians seized control and appointed Filocalo Navigajoso as the island’s ruler. Under his family’s administration, the castle was restored and functioned as the island’s main administrative center. To distinguish it from newer fortifications constructed later on Lemnos, the Venetians referred to it as “PalaÃokastron,” which translates as “Old Castle.”
The Byzantines regained the castle in 1278 under a commander named Likarios (or Ikarios), initiating further renovations in 1361 following orders from Emperor John V Palaiologos. Control of the fortress shifted again in the mid-15th century when Genoese forces captured it in 1453, handing it over to the noble Gattilusio family. The Ottomans took possession shortly thereafter in 1462. Though the Venetians briefly recaptured the castle between 1464 and 1467, a failed Ottoman siege in 1476 was followed by the official return of the fortress to Ottoman hands in 1479.
Venetian forces made two more attempts to control the castle during the 17th and 18th centuries. They held it briefly during 1656–1657 and later laid siege to it in 1770. Throughout the 18th century, the Ottomans undertook repairs to reinforce the castle’s defenses, with documented maintenance continuing as late as 1780.
Remains
Myrina Castle occupies a promontory situated about 120 meters above sea level on the western side of the modern town of Myrina. Covering an area of approximately 14.4 hectares, it stands as the largest fortress in the Aegean islands. Its defensive system consists of three concentric walls, each rising roughly eight meters high and measuring about one and a half meters thick. The walls are supported by fourteen towers spaced along their length to enhance defense.
The eastern side of the castle was once separated from the rest of Lemnos by a wide moat, a feature designed to hinder enemy advances, though this moat no longer exists today. Access was controlled through a main gate on the east and a secondary one to the north, allowing for strategic monitoring of movement.
Within the castle’s walls are several notable structures from the Ottoman period. Among these remain the ruins of a mosque, identifiable by characteristic architectural elements typical of Ottoman religious buildings. There are also vaulted underground chambers, which may have served storage or shelter purposes, as well as cisterns specifically constructed to collect and store rainwater, ensuring a reliable water supply during sieges. During Ottoman occupation, the fortress reportedly housed as many as 150 cannons, indicating its continued military importance.
Earlier construction phases, including those from the Mycenaean and Byzantine periods, have left no visible remains on the surface because stones from these earlier walls were repurposed in the castle’s later building campaigns. This practice of recycling building materials was common and helped shape the fortress as it stands today.