Pyrgos Orphanou or Pyrgos Gomatiou #1344

Description

Gomati is a village in northwestern Chalkidiki, located 9 km west of Ierissos. In 1932, the village was relocated to its current position after an earthquake completely destroyed the original settlement.

Old Gomati was situated 4 km further west, on the slopes of Païvouni hill, part of the Kakavos mountain range. The Tower of Orphanos stands there, and from a distance, it is the only visible remnant of Old Gomati.

The area of old Gomati was part of a dependency of the Athos monastic community, known as "Kamena," which is mentioned in Athonite documents as early as the 10th century. A settlement eventually developed there, and by the 14th century, it was referred to as "Gomatou."

After 1400, Gomatou and its surrounding land became the property of the Megisti Lavra Monastery of Mount Athos. The tower was likely constructed around this time or slightly earlier, in the 14th century, similar to many of the 70+ towers built throughout the Chalkidiki peninsula to protect monastic lands.