Artikaina

Set on a rocky rise, north-east of the settlement of "Mount Korakovouni", it lies between the mountains of Neraidalono and Kourkoula, near Ag. Andreas, where flows the river Vrasiatis.

The name of the castle seems to be associated with the word Artiki, which is found in the region, but which is of unknown origin. The given name does not appear in any historical source, other than the document of 1698 of the nowadays dissolved monastery of Panagia of Korakovouni and in the lease of land in 1796. It is mentioned also as Artiki in the Venetian census of 1700.

The dating of the monument is not exact. That fact that it does not appear in the lists of medieval castles cited by Hopf at the end of the 19th c. led to its dating at the end of the period of domination by the Despotate of Mystra and the beginning of Ottoman rule in the 15th century.

Χρονολόγηση: Ottoman / Venetian period (15th – 19th c.)

          The castle crowns the hill top, following the lie of the land. It is inaccessible from all sides, except the south, which has been enhanced by a strong wall: here lies the only way in.

The defensive quality of the castle was strengthened by the presence of at least three towers. The southern and strongest was at least two-storied, with a cistern at the base. The curtain wall continues northwards, then turns to the west: at this point probably a tower existed, as is indicated by the remains of a cistern.

The masonry is of field-stone/rubble, lime plaster and fragments of brick.

The south side of the wall is the most well-preserved, while the battlements and their walk-way are not preserved.

Remains of buildings, to the number of thirty or so, can be made out in the interior of the castle in a densely-packed arrangement, thus forming a small fortified settlement.

The monument is legally protected by N. 3028/2002.

Ballas Α., «Κάστρα της Κυνουρίας. Επισκόπηση των μεσαιωνικών κάστρων της Τσακωνιάς», Πελοποννησιακά ΚΣΤ΄ (2001-2002), 196-198

Peppas Ι., Μεσαιωνικές σελίδες της Αργολίδας, Αρκαδίας, Κορινθίας, Αττικής, Αθήνα 1990, 186

Panagiotopoulos V., Πληθυσμός και οικισμοί της Πελοποννήσου, Αθήνα 1987, 251, 277, 295

Sarantakis P., Αρκαδία: Οι Ακροπόλεις – Τα Κάστρα & Οι πύργοι της σιωπηλά ερείπια μιας δοξασμένης γης, Αθήνα 2006, 159-159