Mystras
Mystras
Μυστράς | |
---|---|
UTC+3 (EEST) | |
Postal code | 231 00 |
Area code(s) | 27310 |
Vehicle registration | ΑΚ |
Official name | Archaeological Site of Mystras |
Criteria | Cultural: ii, iii, iv |
Reference | 511 |
Inscription | 1989 (13th Session) |
Area | 54.43 ha |
Buffer zone | 1,202.52 ha |
Mystras or Mistras (
Mystras remained inhabited throughout the
Description
Mystras is situated on the slopes of
During the Palaeologan Renaissance, the churches of Mystras were covered in elaborate frescoes and were well known for their libraries.[5] Some of these decorations can still be seen in the Hagia Sophia church in the archeological site.
In addition to the Palace of the Despots and its famed late Byzantine churches, Mystras also has remains of several houses set on its hillside, such as the Frangopoulos House and the Laskaris House, both of which are early fifteenth-century buildings that use vaulted substructures for cisterns and stables to create a platform for the main residence. That consisted of a large room fronted by a balcony and with a fireplace in the rear.[3]
History
Foundation and Frankish rule
In late 1248,
Byzantine restoration
In September 1259, William of Villehardouin was defeated and captured, along with many of his nobles, at the
While Mystras served as the provincial capital from this time, it became a royal capital in 1349 CE, when the first despot was appointed to rule over the Morea. The Byzantine Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos, reorganized the territory in 1349 to establish it as an appanage for his son, the Despot Manuel Kantakouzenos. From 1349 until its surrender to the Ottoman Turks on 31 May 1460, Mystras was the residence of a Despot who ruled over the Byzantine Morea, known as the "Despotate of the Morea". For the larger portion of his reign, Manuel maintained peaceful relations with his Latin neighbors and secured a long period of prosperity for the area. Greco-Latin cooperation included an alliance to contain the raids of the Ottoman Sultan Murad I into Morea in the 1360s. The rival Palaiologos dynasty seized the Morea after Manuel's death in 1380, with Theodore I Palaiologos becoming despot in 1383. Theodore ruled until 1407, consolidating Byzantine rule and coming to terms with his more powerful neighbours—particularly the expansionist Ottoman Empire, whose suzerainty he recognised. [11]
This was the city's golden age; according to the
Centre of learning and culture
Mystras was the last centre of Byzantine learning and culture; the famous Neoplatonist philosopher Gemistos Plethon lived there until he died in 1452. While there, Plethon served as a tutor and advisor to the young despot Theodore II until his death in 1452. He and other scholars based in Mystras influenced the Italian Renaissance, especially after he accompanied the emperor John VIII Palaiologos to Florence in 1439.
Ottoman and Venetian years
The last Byzantine emperor,
Modern years
The final straw to Mystras came in 1823 during the Greek war of Independence when Egyptians under the rule of Ibrahim massacred the local population and destroyed the local area.[14] The town was rebuilt 9 km away under the name Sparti in 1831. Most families moved to Sparti, but a few decided to move instead to New Mystras, a small village in the countryside. This process of relocation was completed in 1953 when the remaining properties were confiscated by the municipality.[6] In 1989 the ruins, including the fortress, palace, churches, and monasteries, were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features a museum and the partially restored ruins of the city. The only inhabitants today are a group of nuns who reside in the Pantanassa Monastery. The majority of the most important churches are still standing, including St. Demetrios, the Hagia Sophia, St. George, and the Monastery of Peribleptos. The Palace of the Despots has undergone substantial restorations in the past decade, making it a significant attraction. Visitors can reach the ruins via the modern city of Sparti, which is only a few miles from Mystras.
Subdivisions
The municipal unit Mystras is subdivided into the following communities:
- Agia Eirini
- Agios Ioannis Lakedaimonas
- Anavryti
- Barsinikos
- Longastra
- Magoula, the former municipal seat of Mystras.
- Mystras
- Paroreio
- Soustianoi
- Trypi
Historical population
Year | Municipal district | Municipal unit |
---|---|---|
1981 | 920 | - |
1991 | 525 | 4,592 |
2001 | 807 | 4,608 |
2011 | 832 | 4,265 |
2021 | 724 | 4,238 |
Notable people
People from Mystras
- Manuel Kantakouzenos, first Despot of Morea
People buried in Mystras
- John VI Kantakouzenos
- Manuel Kantakouzenos
- Gemistos Plethon
- Theodora Tocco
- Cleofe Malatesta
Plan
- 1. Main entrance;
- 2. Metropolis;
- 3. Evangelistria Church;
- 4. Church of Saints Theodores;
- 5. Hodigitria-Afendiko;
- 6. Monemvasia Gate;
- 7. Church of Saint Nicholas;
- 8. Despot's Palace and square;
- 9. NaupliaGate;
- 10. Upper entrance to the citadel;
- 11. Church of Hagia Sophia;
- 12. Small Palace;
- 13. Citadel;
- 14. Mavroporta;
- 15. Pantanassa;
- 16. Church of the Taxiarchs;
- 17. House of John Phrangopoulos;
- 18. Peribleptos Monastery;
- 19. Church of Saint George;
- 20. Krevatas House;
- 21. Marmara (entrance);
- 22. Aï-Yannakis;
- 23. Laskaris' House;
- 24. Church of Saint Christopher;
- 25. Ruins;
- 26. Church of Saint Kyriaki.
Gallery
-
Hill of Mystras
-
Metropolis of Mystras (St Demetrius)
-
The Byzantine eagle, Metropolis
-
Monastery of Peribleptos
-
Entrance of the fortress (view from the inside)
-
Panorama from the top of Villehardouin's Castle
-
Evangelistria's church
-
Hodigitria church
-
Fresco at Hodigitria's church
-
A street at the town of Mystras
-
Despot's Palace (2017)
-
Pantanassa's monastery
-
View from Villehardouin's Castle
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Upper City
-
Middle City
-
A Gate
-
Agioi Theodoroi
-
St. George
-
Agia Sofia
See also
- List of settlements in Laconia
- Despotate of Mystras
References
- ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Gregory & Ševčenko 1991, p. 1382.
- ^ a b c d e f Ousterhout, Robert (2021). "Late Byzantine Secular Architecture". In Freeman, Evan (ed.). A Smarthistory Guide to Byzantine Art. Smarthistory.
- ^ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
- ^ a b c "Archeological Site of Mystras". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b "History of Mystras | Greeka". Greekacom. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
- ^ Bon 1969, pp. 72–73.
- ^ Bon 1969, pp. 73, 104.
- ^ Bon 1969, pp. 122–125.
- ^ Bon 1969, pp. 129ff..
- ^ Runciman 2009.
- ^ "Mezistre". Ansiklopedika. 24 June 2021.
- OCLC 710975289.
- ^ "History of Mystras". www.despotato.gr. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
Sources
- Bon, Antoine (1969). La Morée franque. Recherches historiques, topographiques et archéologiques sur la principauté d'Achaïe (in French). Paris: De Boccard.
- Gregory, Timothy E.; Ševčenko, Nancy Patterson (1991). "Mistra". In ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6.
- ISBN 978-1-84511-895-2.