Nikli-Tegea

The castle was built on level terrain, and so was wanting in terms of security. However it was in the centre of the arterial routes of the Peloponnese.

During the Early Byzantine period, Arcadia experienced the devastating consequences of the invasions of the Visigoths/Goths. Tegea under its lord, Rufus, managed to successfully resist them.

Early Byzantine Tegea is also known as much from historical evidence as by archaeological data, associated with the spread of the Christian religion. Specifically, it is known that the bishop of Tegea participated in the Fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon in 451. Tegea even gets mentioned in the Synekdemos of Hierokles (6th century), as a city that belonged in the province of Achaia . The establishment of the Christian Faith is documented equally by the existence there of two basilicas, the famous Basilica of Thyrsos, and another in the Ancient Agora.

The late 6th and early 7th centuries was marked by the raids of the Slavic tribes, arriving in the Peloponnese in waves. Tegea, despite the strong Slavic presence identified in the region, survived until at least the late 8th century. It reappeared in the spotlight of history in the 9th century. The first written testimony to the new name of the place, under the epithet Eniklion is to be seen in a hagiographical text of the 10th century. In the Middle Byzantine period, under the name of Nikli, it develops further. Through here passed the Blessed Nikon the Metanoeite; and in 1082 the bishopric was reconstituted, but now it is called the diocese of Amyclae, and belonged as a suffragan see to the Metropolis of Lacedaemon. With this stage may be connected in all likelihood the church of Palaia Episkopi.

After the Frankish conquest Nikli became a barony of six fiefs. Its first baron was William de Morlay. In 1262 Nikli, possibly the church of Palaia Episkopi itself, hosted the "Parliament of Ladies' which confirmed the Byzantines in their possession of  Monemvasia, Geraki in the Mani and Mystra (in exchange for the release of William Villehardouin who had been captured at the battle of Pelagonia in 1259). In 1296 the castle was occupied by the Byzantines and gradually abandoned. Many of the residents will have been transferred to Mouchli and Kipiana castles.

Χρονολόγηση: Early Byzantine (4th-7th centuries); Frankish/Late Byzantine periods (13th-15th centuries).

Of the castle there are today preserved in poor condition a few parts of the enclosure wall and a small gate. A recent study published claimed that during the early Byzantine period, Tegea was also fortified.

Προστατεύεται από τον Ν. 3028/2002.

D. Athanasoulis (2015), Από την Τεγέα στο Νίκλι. Νέα στοιχεία για την πελοποννησιακή πρωτοβυζαντινή πόλη και το μεσαιωνικό κάστρο, in Τριακοστό Πέμπτο Συμπόσιο Βυζαντινής και Μεταβυζαντινής Αρχαιολογίας και Τέχνης (Αθήνα, 23, 24, 25 και 26 Απριλίου 2015). Πρόγραμμα και περιλήψεις εισηγήσεων και ανακοινώσεων, Athens, 17-18.

J. Bakke (forthcoming), In the Shadow of Mantinea: Early Byzantine Fortifications at Tegea?, in Πρακτικά Συνεδρίου «Οχυρωματική Αρχιτεκτονική στην Πελοπόννησο (5ος – 15ος)» (Λουτράκι 30 Σεπτεμβρίου - 2 Οκτωβρίου 2011).

N. Drocourt (2012), Tégée/Nikli et la période byzantine, in E. Østby and M. Voyatzis (ed.), Tegea II. Investigations in the Sanctuary of Athena Alea 1900-1994 and 2004, Athens, pp. 415-420.

I. Kappos (1999-2000), Το Νίκλι-Μουχλί. Δύο σημαντικά μεσαιωνικά κέντρα της Πελοποννήσου, Βυζαντινός Δόμος 10-11, 231-240.

B. Konti (1985), Συμβολή στην Ιστορική γεωγραφία της Αρκαδίας (395-1209), Βυζαντινά Σύμμεικτα 6, 91-124, esp. 92-97, 112-113.

P. Sarantakis (2006), Αρκαδία. Οι ακροπόλεις, τα κάστρα και οι πύργοι της. Σιωπηλά ερείπια μιας δοξασμένης γης, Αthens, 37-39.

I.T. Sphikopoulos (1968), Τα μεσαιωνικά κάστρα του Μορηά, Athens, 205-207.