Korynou Fortress or Korynokastro or Delera Castle #1248

Description

The site is located to the east of Oinoe (formerly called Mazi) and south of the village of Prasino in Boeotia, near the ancient Athenian fortress of Panakton. The hill offers a commanding view of the ancient road that connected the Boeotian plain to the plains of Attica and the Thriasion Pedion.

During antiquity, many fortresses were constructed on Mount Parnitha to guard the northern borders of Athenian territory, with Panakton being one of the most important of these. However, the fortress of Korynos seems to differ from this ancient defense system. Its proximity to Panakton suggests there was no need for another fortress so close, unless Korynos was used during a military campaign against Panakton, perhaps as a temporary base for attacking forces.

The site is difficult to date due to the lack of significant archaeological findings or buildings within the interior. An official administrative decision (Φ.Ε.Κ. 26Β/1993) classified Korynos as an ancient site and dated it to the proto-geometric period (1000-900 BC). This early placement in the "dark centuries" of Greek history may reflect the challenge in assigning the fortress to a more certain period.