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  Arhangelos - Kremasti - Andimahia(relief in the fortress of Bodrum) The Knights did not fortify only the main towns of each island, but with the objective of ensuring no enemy could approach their possessions without them knowing it, they built several other fortresses or castles at key points of the Dodecanese. Arhangelos Arhangelos is a farming village midway between Rhodes and Lindos: it is located at some distance from the sea at the foot of a hill.
The Knights built at the top of the hill a small fortress: its shape is not regular because it follows that of the underlying rock. The purpose of the fortification was to give protection to the peasants in case of pirates' raids. In addition the sea is visible from the top of the hill so that the arrival of an enemy fleet would have been detected earlier than from Rhodes.
Arhangelos was part of a system of fortifications built after 1453 to react to the Ottoman threat. The Knights built also another fortress on the eastern coast at Feraklio, between Arhangelos and Lindos. Kremasti The beach of Kremasti on the western coast of the island, opposite the Asian coast, is a very busy one: the old village located one mile from the sea was one of the first conquests of the Knights.
The tower at the centre of the old village has not been regarded as being worth some protection; it is now used as temporary shelter by immigrants who cannot afford a better accommodation. Other (larger) fortifications were built by the Knights on the western coast at Kamiros and Monolithos. Andimahia The fortress of Andimahia is located on a hill on the southern coast of Kos, opposite the island of Nissiros.
The fortress is very large and it is clearly visible from the ferry linking Nissiros with Kos. It was strengthened with a round bastion, an indication that the Knights regarded it as very important in their defence system.
In 1494 Grand Master (and Cardinal) Pierre d'Aubusson promoted an overall strengthening of the fortress. You can see his coat of arms in the image used as background for this page.
Move to: The Knights of Rhodes: introductory page Rhodes: the Gates Rhodes: the fortifications Rhodes: the town of the Knights Rhodes: Byzantine, Ottoman and Jewish memories Rhodes: modern Italian architecture Kos: the fortress Kos: the ancient town St Peter's Castle (Bodrum) Calimno Lero Symi Nissiro Lindos Kastelorizo (Castelrosso) Clickable Map of the Ionian and Aegean Seas with links to other locations covered in this website (opens in a separate window)     |
