Chelmos

The castle is set in a naturally fortified position on Mount Helmos, south-east of the settlement of Skortsino. It existed in antiquity as a strongpoint, as it lay at Lacedaemon-Arcadia border, where the south basin of Megalopolis met the Eurotas valley. It thus oversees an extensive area, stretching from Sparta until the Skorta Mountains. Together with other castles and towers in the area, it defended Mystra.

Helmos is known to have existed since antiquity: where was built the fortress of Velemina. In Byzantine times Helmos is known from three incidents that concerned it, and from a “chrysobull” (golden bull, document issued by the emperor). In 1263 the Byzantine forces from Mystra, assisted by the sebastokrator Constantine Palaiologos, the brother of Emperor Michael VIII, on their way to take Veligosti passed through the area of Chelmos. The second event mentioning it took place in 1272, when John de Nivelet was appointed commander of Nikli: from there he overran and plundered Veligosti and the Chelmos region. The fort of Chelmos appears yet again in an incident that occurred in 1296, when a Frankish knight of Nemnitsa, one Girard de Rèmy, during a trade-fair at Livadi in Vervaina, struck the Greek silk-merchant Korkodilo with his spear. In order to avenge the insult, Korkodilo conspired with his son-in-law Aviv and the Byzantine commander of Chelmos, Leon Mavropapas, and occupied the castle of Ag. Georgios of the Skorta. The region of Chelmos is also referred to in the 1320 edict issued by Emperor Andronicus II, on behalf of the Monastery of Vrontochion at Mystra.

Χρονολόγηση: Frankish/Late Byzantine periods (13th-15th centuries)

The fortifications of the Frankish to Late Byzantine periods are located at the highest point of the hill, in the south part of the ancient fortress. It measures approximately 90 m by 60 – far less than the ancient fortress did. The later fortifications consist of an external ward, and another inside this at its south-west side, apparently acting as the citadel. The outer enclosure was reinforced at intervals by round towers. The inner enclosure was protected by three towers: one round, one triangular, and a larger square one that probably functioned as the main tower/keep of the fortress. Outside the walls of the medieval fortress, but within the more ancient walls is a small church dedicated to Ag. Constantinos. According to research, the castle was probably built by the Byzantines in the late 13th century.

It is protected by Law 3028/2002.

A. Bon (1969), La Morée Franque. Recherches historiques, topographiques et archéologiques sur la principauté d 'Achaie (1205-1430), Paris, 1, 378, 516-518, 662-663, and 2, ps. 161-163.1.

T.I. Sphikopoulos (1968), Τα μεσαιωνικά κάστρα του Μορηά, Athens, 245-246.