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Modern Description: Two Hellenistic constructions of particular interest lie close to one another a little further south on the southern slopes of the island. The first is the Hellenistic ‘tower' at Portes which marks the hill above Platỳs Gialós, and whose lintel is visible against the skyline to the east as the road descends to the beach (reached by taking the narrow concrete road east at the summit, just before the road makes its final descent). Three monolithic granite blocks form the standing doorway, with the holes for the door fixtures visible. The overall dimensions are unusually small for a Hellenistic tower, however: the diameter is less than 4 metres. An altogether grander construction is to be seen on the hill of Linó, 300 m to the east. (1.2 km south of the junction of the Aghia Anna road with the Airport road. Shortly after a sharp, double-turn in the road, the base of the tower stands ahead – well camouflaged amongst the natural boulders – on a rocky eminence to the west of the road.) This is the base of a beautifully constructed, circular Hellenistic Tower of the early 4th century, 11m in diameter and made of massive granite blocks, perfectly cut and interlocked. To the south are the remains of a rectangular structure of the same period, with the blocks once again cut so as to fit snugly against the natural outcrops of rock. A complex of buildings such as this would suggest that it may have been a small garrison-post with barracks, although visibility would have been limited for its use as a watchtower.

Info: McGilchrist's Greek Islands

(From McGilchrist’s Greek Islands, © Nigel McGilchrist 2010, excerpted with his gracious permission. Click for the books)

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