Fort, Iria
At the summit of a low rocky hill at the foot of the massif that delineates the Iria plane from the north, there is a small fort from the Hellenistic period. At its largest, the fort is 30m x 15m, and has survived to a height of 3m. It was built using hard grey limestone in the polygonal masonry technique. The entrance is to the east. Inside, opposite the entrance, there is a construction consisting of two equal-sized rooms.
The fort was most likely built at the end of the 4th or the beginning of the 3rd century BC, at a time when there were constant clashes between the heirs of Alexander the Great for domination of the Peloponnese and the Aegean. Against this background, the summit of the hill to the north of the Iria plane was decided suitable for the site of a small fortified installation, which would hold a small guard responsible for controlling the road that led from the plane to Epidaurus and the cities of south Argolis. Among the reasons for this selection was the natural protection offered by the steep slopes of the hill and the small stream to the east which provided the men in the fort with water. The fort does not seem to be been occupied again after the Hellenistic period.
