Petre Beşliu Munteanu, a well-known romanian archaeologist of the Brukenthal National Museum from Sibiu-Romania, has recently returned from a “trip” to Holy Mount Athos. Why do we use quotation for “trip”? Because, as you are going to understand, the happiness to be in such a blessed place was accompanied, this time, by scientific study and research. Thus, the traveler had again the opportunity to be enchanted, the pilgrim to humble and marvel, while the historian and archaeologist discovered interesting new things (in the very sense of the word). The nearby interview will clarify more than this short introduction.
- As far as we know, Mount Athos is a place for pilgrimage. Why was it for you a study trip?
- I was twice in pilgrimage to Mount Athos, a holy place that fully deserves the name of The Garden of the Holy Mother . Through the prayers spoken during religious services, through the recollection that it offers, Mount Athos became a spiritual pole, an attraction for all Orthodox Christians. At the same time here, at Mount Athos, you are given the feeling to “live” history. The same rituals that have been practiced for thousands of years, the hundreds years old buildings, the natural and healthy inter/human relationships, compared to the insanity of our society, seem unreal. The appellatives ‘brother’ or ‘father’ reflect Christian relationships among the members of the Athonite society. But to answer your question: during my two pilgrimages I had noticed a specific distribution of the buildings which form the monastery. The assembly of the construction is usually situated on a higher easy to defend place.
- The monasteries are fortified, similar to those in Moldavia, you meen?
- A monastery comprises a sacred place with a holy fountain surrounded by groups of cells, utilitarian spaces (a refectory for dining, a dormitory for the pilgrims, stables, sheds and storehouses, cellars, a hospital for the sick and the elders), an aqueduct and the dwelling-tower / the last shelter of the monks / that dominates the architectural assembly through its height. Situated on a craggy steep slope, The Holy Monastery Simons Petra did not need a tower for the dwellings. Nor is there such a dungeon at the monastery The Great Lavra, which is surrounded by embattled precincts. The access is made through arched entrances closed by massive plated wood gates. They used to be protected by a tower situated above the gate.
- You were interested in the fortifications of the monasteries, if I understand correctly.
- Not only in the fortifications that protect the katholikon, but also in the tower that would protect the arsanas (the harbor) and in the towers that guarded the shores of the peninsula preventing or at least delaying the attacks of the pirates.
- So, we speak about a real defensive system of the Athonite society.
- We can speak here, indeed, by a defending system fit out by the entire Athonite community, meant to defend each monastery and its harbor that assured the connection with the continent due to its economic activities. The organization of the defending system reflects the organization of the Athonite society based on the autonomy of the monasteries lead by a central legislative structure comprising the abbots of the twenty monasteries and an executive one . The historic facts have to be taken into account in the organization and evolution of the system: the Byzantine, then the Ottoman domination, the role played by the Genovese in the sea trade, the domination of the Crusaders and, most of all, the danger represented by the outlaw pirates. The Athonite community would not have survived for a thousand years without this system that allowed the practice of the communitarian solidarity and without flexible politics.
The entire guarding and defending system was pointed towards the enemy coming from the sea. He came up against the fortification of the shore (fortified harbors and towers), then against the fortifications of the monasteries that could held out until the outside help arrived. During the Ottoman domination there was an army body to protect the monasteries.
- How happened that you were allowed to search on this “gold mine” represented by these medieval fortification and which were the results?
- Though well preserved and complex as medieval defensive strategy the fortification from Mount Athos are not comprised in the ample studies regarding the European Middle Age fortifications. The punctual research is also feeble comprising only two dwelling towers. Neither did the Greek architects show a specific interest in the fortification. Even less can we speak about real interest in site researches in Mount Athos that has autonomy as part of the Greek Republic. The research field is generous, but the access inside the Athonite community, a promise land, is restricted. This is understandable from the perspective of the necessity to preserve the traditional values and way of life. In fact, the heritage of the Mount Athos is protected by UNESCO, and the Athonite legislation is acknowledged by the European Union.
During the period that the diamonitiriou(passport) offered me permission to research I studied a harbor defense tower, three shore fortifications and two precincts donjons with the nearby defending walls. On the ground floor the same as the West/European donjons, those in Athos are endowed with cistern and access to the ground, first or even second floors. The chapel, the sacred place is naturally placed on the last floor. At least one room is supplied with a fireplace while the latrines are placed in the width of the walls.
The towers inside the monasteries are at least 20 meter high, with narrow windows or even windowless on the ground floor and large opening on the superior floors. A balcony was disposed in a stage when the defensive role was lost. At the last floor or above the entrance (St. Paul monastery) all the towers had openings to through the black oil. The probable use of both the mashiculis and the crenels on the superior platform of the tower at St. Paul Monastery is relevant in the general context of the medieval defensive strategy research. The structure of the defending tower at Athos does not, generally, differ from those in Western Europe. Nevertheless, there are some elements hard to identify. At the arsans (harbour) of the Simonos Petra Monastery there is an underground place just under the entrance which is difficult to appreciate as having been used as a cistern or maybe a trap.
From the point of view of military architecture, the plan of the monastery near Ouranopolis (Zygou) is impressive. The precinct walls go up the slope of the hill ending with a retreat tower at the highest point. This monastery and the Great Lavra / the oldest monasteries/ were placed in vulnerable strategic positions thus being equipped with strong fortifications.
The interview was published in the newspaper Tribuna, 19 and 26 11.2010
- As far as we know, Mount Athos is a place for pilgrimage. Why was it for you a study trip?
- I was twice in pilgrimage to Mount Athos, a holy place that fully deserves the name of The Garden of the Holy Mother . Through the prayers spoken during religious services, through the recollection that it offers, Mount Athos became a spiritual pole, an attraction for all Orthodox Christians. At the same time here, at Mount Athos, you are given the feeling to “live” history. The same rituals that have been practiced for thousands of years, the hundreds years old buildings, the natural and healthy inter/human relationships, compared to the insanity of our society, seem unreal. The appellatives ‘brother’ or ‘father’ reflect Christian relationships among the members of the Athonite society. But to answer your question: during my two pilgrimages I had noticed a specific distribution of the buildings which form the monastery. The assembly of the construction is usually situated on a higher easy to defend place.
- The monasteries are fortified, similar to those in Moldavia, you meen?
- A monastery comprises a sacred place with a holy fountain surrounded by groups of cells, utilitarian spaces (a refectory for dining, a dormitory for the pilgrims, stables, sheds and storehouses, cellars, a hospital for the sick and the elders), an aqueduct and the dwelling-tower / the last shelter of the monks / that dominates the architectural assembly through its height. Situated on a craggy steep slope, The Holy Monastery Simons Petra did not need a tower for the dwellings. Nor is there such a dungeon at the monastery The Great Lavra, which is surrounded by embattled precincts. The access is made through arched entrances closed by massive plated wood gates. They used to be protected by a tower situated above the gate.
- You were interested in the fortifications of the monasteries, if I understand correctly.
- Not only in the fortifications that protect the katholikon, but also in the tower that would protect the arsanas (the harbor) and in the towers that guarded the shores of the peninsula preventing or at least delaying the attacks of the pirates.
- So, we speak about a real defensive system of the Athonite society.
- We can speak here, indeed, by a defending system fit out by the entire Athonite community, meant to defend each monastery and its harbor that assured the connection with the continent due to its economic activities. The organization of the defending system reflects the organization of the Athonite society based on the autonomy of the monasteries lead by a central legislative structure comprising the abbots of the twenty monasteries and an executive one . The historic facts have to be taken into account in the organization and evolution of the system: the Byzantine, then the Ottoman domination, the role played by the Genovese in the sea trade, the domination of the Crusaders and, most of all, the danger represented by the outlaw pirates. The Athonite community would not have survived for a thousand years without this system that allowed the practice of the communitarian solidarity and without flexible politics.
The entire guarding and defending system was pointed towards the enemy coming from the sea. He came up against the fortification of the shore (fortified harbors and towers), then against the fortifications of the monasteries that could held out until the outside help arrived. During the Ottoman domination there was an army body to protect the monasteries.
- How happened that you were allowed to search on this “gold mine” represented by these medieval fortification and which were the results?
- Though well preserved and complex as medieval defensive strategy the fortification from Mount Athos are not comprised in the ample studies regarding the European Middle Age fortifications. The punctual research is also feeble comprising only two dwelling towers. Neither did the Greek architects show a specific interest in the fortification. Even less can we speak about real interest in site researches in Mount Athos that has autonomy as part of the Greek Republic. The research field is generous, but the access inside the Athonite community, a promise land, is restricted. This is understandable from the perspective of the necessity to preserve the traditional values and way of life. In fact, the heritage of the Mount Athos is protected by UNESCO, and the Athonite legislation is acknowledged by the European Union.
During the period that the diamonitiriou(passport) offered me permission to research I studied a harbor defense tower, three shore fortifications and two precincts donjons with the nearby defending walls. On the ground floor the same as the West/European donjons, those in Athos are endowed with cistern and access to the ground, first or even second floors. The chapel, the sacred place is naturally placed on the last floor. At least one room is supplied with a fireplace while the latrines are placed in the width of the walls.
The towers inside the monasteries are at least 20 meter high, with narrow windows or even windowless on the ground floor and large opening on the superior floors. A balcony was disposed in a stage when the defensive role was lost. At the last floor or above the entrance (St. Paul monastery) all the towers had openings to through the black oil. The probable use of both the mashiculis and the crenels on the superior platform of the tower at St. Paul Monastery is relevant in the general context of the medieval defensive strategy research. The structure of the defending tower at Athos does not, generally, differ from those in Western Europe. Nevertheless, there are some elements hard to identify. At the arsans (harbour) of the Simonos Petra Monastery there is an underground place just under the entrance which is difficult to appreciate as having been used as a cistern or maybe a trap.
From the point of view of military architecture, the plan of the monastery near Ouranopolis (Zygou) is impressive. The precinct walls go up the slope of the hill ending with a retreat tower at the highest point. This monastery and the Great Lavra / the oldest monasteries/ were placed in vulnerable strategic positions thus being equipped with strong fortifications.
The interview was published in the newspaper Tribuna, 19 and 26 11.2010
