Mouchli

Mouchli is located in the east part of Arcadia, on the border with the prefecture of the Argolid, 15 km east of Tripoli. It sits between the present-day settlements of Achladokampos to the east and Agiorgitika to the west.It was built on the summit and down the west and south slopes of a hill (at 914 m), north of Mount Parthenio (1215 m) and south of Mount Ktenia (1598 m). The area had abundant water sources, so that it could sustain a significant population, and also rocks suitable for building and pastures for animal breeding. It controls the passage between the Argolid plain, Sparta and Tripoli, and also the roads leading from Argos and Nauplio, Corinth, Skorta and Messenia. It acted as the northern checkpoint for Mistra, preventing the union of the eastern and western possessions of the Franks.

The settlement is known in the written sources as early as the late 13thcentury, a period during which Mouchli became a powerful city-fortress (1296). It is believed that the inhabitants of neighbouring Nikli abandoned their lowland city and moved to Mouchli and Tsipiana. From the 14th century it was the most important city of the central Peloponnese, seat of the Byzantine rulers in the region. Furthermore, the diocese of Amyklai that had had its home at Nikli was moved to Mouchli. Thanks to its strategic position, it controlled the roads leading from Argos and Nafplio, Corinth, Skorta and Messenia, acting as the northern checkpoint for Mistra, preventing the union of the eastern and western possessions of the Franks. Conquered by the Turks in 1458, it was converted into their military base until 1469, when it is recorded as destroyed. 

Mouchli was home to the important 15th-century painter Xenos Digenis, who worked at the turning-point of the late to post-Byzantine painting. His wall-frescoes are preserved in the monastery of Myrtia in Aitolia (1491), at Ag. Pateres in Epano Floria, at Selino in the prefecture of Chania, Crete (1470) and at the Assumption in Kato Meropi, Pogoni in Epirus. Legendary too is said to have been the beauty of the daughter of the ruler of Mouchli known as Demetris Asan. She married the last Duke of Athens Francesco II Acciaioli. Later she turns up in the harem of the Sultan in Istanbul, and finally married Georgios Amoiroutzis, friend of the sultan who already had a family.

After the Turkish conquest, Mouchli was gradually abandoned by its inhabitants, who began to settle lower down, in smaller settlements among the fertile plain. The sources referred to it as: (Palaio) Mouchli, Palaia Mouchla, Palaia Mochli, Mukhlu, and Mucli.

Χρονολόγηση:

At the summit and down the west and southwest slopes of the hill are found the fortification and the settlement respectively. The main body of the fortification belongs to the late 13th-early 14th centuries.

The walls complement and follow the natural fortification given by the terrain, which was exploited to give the maximum security to the city. The walls are built mainly with fieldstones, picked out at places with dressed stones of the local grey limestone, also with lime mortar, tile fragments and small stones. Their height will have been from 6 to 9 m, and in thickness did not exceed 1.70 m. At intervals there were opened narrow vertical arrow-slots. The walls were reinforced with rectangular towers, mainly on the western side. They were often arranged at an angle to the line the walls, so as to project as triangles. In this way they were less vulnerable in sieges.

On top of the natural stronghold of the hill is the citadel, where ruins of at least 7 buildings have survived. There should have been housed the garrison and the governor of the city. Lower down, for the protection of the settlement, were created two successive defensive lines: these run around the entire western slope and part of the south (most vulnerable part of the hill). Below the citadel - the 'Upper City'- are secular buildings of the' Lower City ' – churches and a host of houses and other structures. Also, buildings existed outside the lowest wall, in an unfortified precinct of the town.

Of the churches of the town the most noteworthy is that of Our Lady Mouchliotissa, in the southwest of the settlement. The tripartite altar of the church is fashioned from the native bedrock, set at the base of the tower that rises above it. In its original form it must have been built as a three-aisled and vaulted basilica. West of the church remain the two pillars of the monumental bell tower. Inside have been assembled pieces of old carvings of ancient and Byzantine times.

Apart from the natural springs that were outside the walls, there have been recognized a large public cistern in the Upper Town and some private ones in houses and towers.

Mouchli is easily accessible from the Myloi-Tripoli road. Located between the settlements of Achladokampos and Agiorgitika, there is a flat area next to the surfaced road, where the visitor can leave their car. A tour on foot up to the citadel of the castle may take more than an hour. The most important and easily accessible ruins are those of the church of Our Lady Mouchliotissa in the lowest fortified zone. The climb is more difficult in the higher, inaccessible parts of the castle.

Mouchli was abandoned in the late 15th century. Today it is an extensive ruin, a representative sample of a late-Byzantine castle, without later interventions.

E. Eleftheriou (2004), Το Μουχλί της Αρκαδίας. Συμβολή στην ιστορία και

αρχαιολογία της πόλης, Athens : (diploma thesis) with earlier bibliography. 

The most important of the oldest writings are:

E. Darco (1931), Περί της ιστορίας και των μνημείων του Μουχλίου, ΠΑΑ 6, 22-28.

Idem (1933), Η ιστορική σημασία και τα σπουδαιότερα ερείπια του Μουχλίου», ΕΕΒΣ 454-482.

Idem (1935), Die Gründung der Festung Muchli, Εις μνήμην Σπυρίδωνος Λάμπρου, Athens, 228-231.

N.K. Moutsopoulos (1956), Η αρχιτεκτονική των εκκλησιών και των μοναστηριών της Γορτυνίας, Athens.

Idem (1958-1959), Η Παναγία του Μουχλίου, Πελοποννησιακά 3-4, 288-309.

Idem (1985), Βυζαντινά σπίτια στο Μουχλί της Αρκαδίας, Βυζαντινά 13, 321-353.