---

Modern Description: Northeast of Kotoupa are the remains of a larger observation station which is much better preserved than Pirgos. The remains sit atop the highest of the three peaks of the massif called Trikorpho, at place the villagers of Plagia call Kokkino Stephani—the "red crown." Built in a polygonal style, the exterior walls form an almost perfect square with sides of approximately 23 m; all corners exhibit drafting. A small gate with stops to receive a door opens through the eastern wall and a flight of steps mounts the wall in the northeast corner (Fig. 32, at 'b'; PI. 22.B). The wall's thickness (2.05 m) allows us to restore a walkway atop the circuit. The general area of 'b' was most likely an open courtyard. Along its south side is a wall which probably closed off the fort's storeroom. Here, the walls have collapsed in¬ward and consequently room 'a' is filled with rubble; in this room some fragments of a large pithos were found. The western side of the interior is closed off by another cross¬wall forming what might have been the sleeping quarters for the men who were stationed here. Since Korinthian and Lakonian style rooftile frag¬ments litter the site, it is likely that the barracks and the storeroom/ kitchen would have been roofed. Slightly below this fortress to the south is a small flat area which forms a perfect exercise ground or per¬haps a place to build a signal fire. The view from this spot is superb. One can look directly toward ancient Palairos (PI. 22.A), across to Kastri above Agios Athanasios, down the coast to the southeast toward Kephallenia and across to the en¬trance of the Leukas Canal. Sterna to the north is within shouting range on a still day. The only spot which is not visible is the ancient city of Leukas. Because the exterior walls of this kastro are still intact, and be¬cause the upper portions of the walls collapsed inward, surface finds from this site were few and unfortunately not diagnostic. I am con¬vinced that the excavation of room 'a' would provide the pottery to date this structure. The nature of this site is much clearer than its date, however. Kastro is a substantial observation station with the capabil¬ity of housing a small garrison of men. Because it cannot "see" the ancient city of Leukas, it makes little sense as a "Beobachtungspost gegen Leukas;" its position makes much more sense as a signal relay station. A signal from Leukas could be sent via Sterna to Kokkino Stephani and from there into the Palairos Valley and to the harbor near Pogonia. Of course any beacon fire lit here would be fully visible at ancient Palairos as well.
DARE: 34594

Info: Murray 1982

William M. Murray, The Coastal Sites of Western Akarnania: A Topographical-Historical Survey (University of Pennsylvania Dissertation, 1982)

---