Teichos Dymaion Fortress 🏰 Kalogria (1300 BC)

The fortification was built in the mycenaean period, probably around 1300 BC, in the so-called cyclopean manner (large limestone blocks) protecting the hill on three sides, the fourth being naturally protected by the cliff and the lagoon. The wall is 250m long and 4.5-5.5m thick, with an average surviving height of ca. 8.4m. Access to the inside of the citadel was by three gates, one at each side, the main gate at the southeastern side being further protected by a gate tower. House ruins belonging to successive habitation phases inside the acropolis prove intensive use of the site during the mycenaean period (1680-1040 B.C.). Human occupation has been verified for phases prior to the fortification’s construction, as early as the Final Neolithic period (ca. 3500 BC) and more intensively during the Early and Middle Helladic periods (ca. 3000-1680 BC).
In historical times human activity at Teichos Dymaion was, more or less, continuous. During the war between the Achaean and the Aitolian Leagues (220-217 BC) the site was seized by the Aitolian general Eutichidas and was later taken without battle by king Philip V of Macedonia, who subsequently handed it to the Dymaians. In roman times the acropolis was part of the Colonia Iulia Augusta Dumaeorum (the imperial colony of Dyme) and was probably inhabited by roman settlers. Intensive use of the site continued during the byzantine era. Significant alterations to the citadel’s original form took place during the middle byzantine period (10th-12th c AD): a cross wall, dividing the acropolis in two parts, was built at that time, along with a tower over the southeastern corner of the fortification; the middle gate was disused and blocked by a wall. The Venetians took over the acropolis in 1408, the catholic bishop of Patra leased the barony of Patra to them for five years. Later on (1687-1715), 1000 settlers from Lidhoriki central Greece came to live in the surrounding area that was then uninhabited; this is probably the period during which the northern part of the acropolis was used as a cemetery. After that, habitation on the site was very sporadic and has left no traces. When a number of western European travelers visited Teichos Dymaion during the 19th it was found deserted.
Dring World War II, the site was used as a military camp by the Italian occupation troops, causing irreversible damages.
Author: 6th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities
odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=18783

Toilet is available at the ruins

Very informative guard. Watch out for snakes!