Castle Kiveri, Myloi

History

There are few historical references to Castle Kiveri. Pausanias (2nd century AD) reports that on the top of the Pontinos hill were the ruins of the Temple of Athena Saitis, and the foundations of the house of Ippomedon.

Many centuries later, during the period of Frankish rule, comes the first mention of the castle: Gautier de Brienne II, heir to the Duchy of Athens and Lord of Argos and Nauplia, mentions in his will in 1347 the castles of Kiveri (Chamires or Chameres) and of Thermisia  (Tremis). It is there stated that the sixty hyperpyra (gold Byzantine coin, called the bezant in the West), the income from renting premises at Argos for the sale of fabrics, is to be given by the executors of the will to the castle priest, providing he stays there continuously and conducts a daily liturgy.

 The successor to Gautier de Brienne was his nephew Guy d'Enghien. His daughter, Maria d'Enghien, Lady of the castles of Argos, Nauplia and Kiveri, sold her lands to Venice in 1388. But before the Governor (provveditore) Perazzo Malipiero could take over their administration, the Despot of Mystras, Theodore Palaeologos, captured Argos and Kiveri. 

Kiveri castle did not survive the Venetian­Turkish war of 1463­1479. In 1481 the Treaty between the Turks and the Venetians states that the latter could keep it, but could not rebuild it. 

Around 1715 the settlement at the foot of the Pontinos hill was referred to as Tsiveri; today Myloi is there located.

Before 1841 the famous traveller and historian Jean­Alexandre Buchon wrote that the central tower was preserved to a height of several storeys

Description

The six­sided citadel has a uniform wall thickness of about 2 m, with a side length of approximately 15 meters. The six towers are attached to the outside at the corners. The towers had several floors, which today are not preserved. The holes for the staircases for many levels are visible on the exterior faces. In the centre of the acropolis are the remains of the rectangular main tower. The cistern, in the south­east corner of the basement, is covered by two arches in parallel. Another similar cistern, somewhat larger, survived in the east.

The external enclosure to the north of the citadel has an irregular ground plan, especially so at the west, where it followed the physical formation of the rock. Eight towers are stuck onto the corners, with no organic link to the walls, as have the towers on the citadel. The curtain length varies between 18 and 40 m: it is preserved to a height of 2.50 meters and a thickness of 1.70 to 2.50 m. To the SW of the precinct there are traces of stairs which might have lead to a minor postern gate. The position of the gate that would have allowed communication between the citadel and the enclosure is not known.