Story · The castle on the hill
The castle on the Pontinos
Above Myloi there is a hill with old walls. For almost two thousand years people have come here to look and wonder: who lived here?
A hill with a view
Behind the village is Mount Pontinos. It isn't very high, but from the top you can see a long way: the village, the springs of Lerna, the plain of Argos and, across the sea, the town of Nafplio.
That's why people in the past liked to live here or build a castle here. If you stood at the top of the hill, you could see enemies coming from far away.
A temple for Athena
Almost two thousand years ago, the Greek writer Pausanias came by here. He wrote that on the top stood the remains of a temple for the goddess Athena.
Even then it was already a ruin! So Pausanias was already standing on this hill looking at old stones, just like we do now.
A castle full of towers
In the Middle Ages a castle was built on the hill. Exactly when, we are not sure: maybe as early as around the year 1200.
There was a long outer wall with square towers. Higher up the hill stood a second, stronger wall shaped like a hexagon, with a massive tower in the middle. In the ground the builders made tanks for rainwater: cisterns. That way they had water if enemies surrounded the castle.
In this photo from 1941, taken from above, you can still clearly see the walls of the castle.
The priest who said Mass every day
In the year 1347, the lord Gautier de Brienne wrote his will. It said that a priest had to live in his castle and say Mass every day. Gautier also gave money for church books and chalices.
Inside the walls are the remains of a small church, about 9 metres long and 4.8 metres wide. Maybe this was that priest's church, but we are not sure.
This old map from 1957 shows where the little church is.
Sold and forgotten
In 1388 the area was sold to Venice, a rich city in Italy. Later there was a war between Venice and the Turks. After that war, the castle was never rebuilt.
Roofs fell in and walls crumbled. The priest was long gone. Slowly the castle became a ruin.
Detectives on the hill
In 1958 and 1959, the archaeologist Wallace McLeod walked all over the hill. He measured all the walls and towers and drew a map. Later, Greek researchers took another look, and they think the castle is older than McLeod thought.
Since 2024 there have been signposts with QR codes along the walking paths. With your phone you can read about what you're looking at.
Kostas: Going up yourself? Do it together with a grown-up. The path is rocky in places: wear sturdy shoes, take water with you and don't go in the middle of the day in summer.
Take the castle quiz!
Do you know everything about the castle on the hill? Click on the right answer.
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According to Pausanias, which goddess had a temple on the Pontinos?
Answer
Athena
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What were the cisterns in the castle for?
Answer
To store rainwater
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What did the priest in the castle have to do every day?
Answer
Say Mass
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In which year did Gautier de Brienne write his will?
Answer
1347
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Who was the area sold to in 1388?
Answer
To Venice
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Do we know what the little church in the castle was called?
Answer
No, it's still a mystery
More to do with the castle
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Colouring pages · pdf
Two castle colouring pages
The castle on Mount Pontinos, and the priest by the little church.
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School talk kit · pdf
School talk: the castle on the hill
A cheat sheet and slides for the interactive whiteboard, ready to use.