The island


Lesbos (also known as Mytilene) is the third largest island in the Aegean archipelago. Rich in natural resources, it lies at a key geographical location near the Hellespont and the Asia Minor coast. From early antiquity onwards it developed its own distinct culture, making a decisive contribution to the diverse mosaic of Aegean culture.

Signs of human life dating to as early as the Neolithic period have been found on the island, while continuous habitation began in the 9th century BC. Lesbos was influenced by the transfer of the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople in the 4th century AD, and the spread of Christianity, as it is close to both Constantinople and the major centers of the East. It seems that the new religion was introduced to the island by St. Paul the Apostle, when he visited in 52 AD, though sources are unclear as to when Christianity spread to Lesbos. What is certain is that by the first quarter of the fourth century Mytilene was organized into a diocese, as in 325 its bishop, Gregory, is mentioned as taking part in the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in Bithynia. At the beginning of the sixth century it would appear that Mithymna also acquired a diocese. The economic prosperity of the first Christian centuries is evidenced by the remains of private homes on the island, such as the so-called House of Menander, a luxurious 4th century residence decorated with mosaics, and by the remains of communal and public buildings, such as the magnificent bath house and the large domed public building with mosaic floors in the town of Mytilene.

Many basilicas dating to the early Christian Period have been located throughout the island, the most notable being the churches of St. Demetrius Ypselometopou, St. Andrew and Afentelli in Eresos, the basilicas at Loutra, Chalinados and Achladeri (the largest of the early Christian monuments in terms of area so far excavated). Mosaics unearthed in various parts of the modern city of Mytilene and the harbor area belong to churches of that time. The continuity of tradition in mosaic making is evident; similarity between works is not restricted to construction techniques, but extends to decorative motifs that are repeated unaltered, exhibiting a fine sense of color and design. Furthermore, in the reign of Justinian construction work began on the castle at Mithymna and the city of Mytilene.
During the 7th and 8th centuries Lesbos was plagued by Arab invasions that resulted in a dwindling population and a significant economic downturn. Building activity ground to a halt, thus accounting for the lack of monuments from the period.  During the 9th century, despite repeated Saracen and Russians raids, Lesbos seems to have recovered. Up until the 11th century the island was to serve as a place of exile for prominent persons, including Constantine IX Monomachus before he was crowned emperor.

During the late 11th century Lesbos was once again thrown into turmoil, raided twice by Jahan the Turk, who managed to occupy the entire island with the exception of Mithymna. Byzantine intervention under Constantine Dalassenus and John Ducas eventually proved successful in retaking the island. It would appear that during this period Alexius I Comnenus carried out repair works on the castle of Mytilene. From 1128 to 1204 the role of prospective conqueror passed to the Venetians, who carried out repeated raids. After the empire was overthrown by the Franks, Lesbos fell to the Western Roman Emperor, but in 1261 it was reincorporated in the Byzantine state following the recapture of Constantinople by Michael VIII Palaeologus.

Earlier that year (1261) Michael VIII Palaeologus and the Genoese signed the Treaty of Nymphaeum, by which the two forces managed to oust the Venetians from the Aegean. In return, the Genoese were granted exclusive control over many island ports and free trade privileges in all other imperial ports. It was then that the first Genoese trading community was established in Lesbos. In 1335 the entire island was captured by the Genoese Domenico Cattaneo, who had previously been based in New Phocaea. Efforts by Byzantine Emperor Andronicus III Palaeologus to force Cattaneo from the island resulted one year later in capitulation between the two powers, with the Genoese remaining in Lesbos on condition that tribute was paid to the Byzantine state.

A new phase in Genoese rule on Lesbos began a few years later, in 1355. In return for assistance rendered to Emperor John V Palaeologus in regaining the Byzantine throne, Genoese merchant Francesco I Gattilusio was married to the emperor’s sister, Maria Palaeologus, and received the island as dowry. One of the first projects Gattilusio undertook was to rebuild and reinforce the castle of Mytilene. Yet a violent earthquake in 1384 not only caused serious damage to the castle, but also struck the family of Francis and Mary Palaeologus, as only their youngest son survived the earthquake. The Gattilusi period on Lesbos came to an end in 1462, when the island was surrendered to the Ottomans under Mehmet II.
 


Glossary (3)

mosaic: patterns or images composed of small, colored tesserae. Mosaic decoration can be applied to all the surfaces of a building: floor, walls or ceiling.
basilica: type of large church, divided internally into three or more naves. The central nave was usually covered by a raised roof with windows that illuminated the space.
Paleo-Christian (early Christian) era: in Byzantine history, the period that typically starts in 330 AD, when Constantine the Great transferred the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to his newly-founded city of Constantinople, and ends with the death of Justinian in 565.


Information Texts (3)

Alexius I Comnenus: Emperor of Byzantium from 1081 to 1118, founder of the Comnenian dynasty. Son of John Comnenus and Anna Dalassene, he was originally a general in the imperial army. Using this position he led a revolt supported by the army and the aristocracy, which ended in the capture of Constantinople and his ascension to the imperial throne on 1 April 1081. The empire Alexius inherited was at a very critical juncture: the aristocracy were in revolt, the Seljuks had taken over much of Asia Minor and the capital and the Danubian provinces were under attack. The raids continued at greater or lesser intensity over several years. To address these difficulties, Alexius turned to the West, and signed peace treaties with the Venetians and the Germans. With regard to domestic affairs, he attempted to reform and revitalize the economy and trade so as to stop deflation of the Byzantine currency, and overhauled the administration. The first Crusade took place during his reign. Alexius exercised diplomacy in dealing with the waves of crusaders, providing them with vessels to cross over to Asia Minor. After extensive negotiations, the crusader leaders agreed to hand back any lands they might capture that had previously belonged to the Byzantine Empire. However, Alexius failed to prevent them capture Antioch and Jerusalem. He died in 1118.
Michael VIII Palaeologus : Byzantine emperor from 1259 to 1282, founder of the Palaeologan dynasty. Having begun his career as a soldier, he took advantage of confusion following the death of Theodore to participate in conspiracies led by the aristocracy in order to ascend the throne. On 13th July 1261 he captured Constantinople and was crowned emperor, sidelining his young co-emperor John IV Lascaris. Michael III was a skilful diplomat and military man who reorganized Constantinople’s defences and conducted victorious wars in an attempt to revive the Empire’s fortunes. However, what ultimately hallmarked his reign was the effort to reunite the two churches, as he believed that this would ensure the viability of the state. He died at Pachomio in Eastern Thrace in December 1282. His successor Andronicus brought his body to Thrace, where he was buried without a funeral, as Michael Palaeologus was considered a "Latin sympathizer".
Andronicus III Palaeologus: Byzantine Emperor from 1328 to 1341. After the death of his father, Andronicus III seized power in a coup against his grandfather Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus. His rise to the throne was followed by an intermittent civil war that lasted from 1321 until 1328, bringing the empire to its knees. As emperor Andronicus demonstrated military, political and diplomatic skills. He attempted to fight corruption, strengthened the army and rebuilt the navy abolished by Andronicus II, and made significant legislative reforms. Regarding foreign affairs, he failed to check the advance of the Ottomans in Asia Minor, but succeeding in imposing Byzantine command in Thessaly and Epirus, bringing them once more under imperial control. He also stopped the advance of the Serbs in Macedonia and the Bulgarians in Thrace. Andronicus died in June 1341, without having named a successor.


Bibliography (8)

1. Σκαμπαβίας Κ., ‘Παλαιοχριστιανική και Βυζαντινή Μυτιλήνη, Λέσβος’ in Από τη Σαπφώ στον Ελύτη, Athens, 1995

2. Κάστρο Μυτιλήνης – Το μνημείο στους αιώνες και η ανάδειξή του, Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – 14η Εφορεία Βυζαντινών Αρχαιοτήτων, Μυτιλήνη , 2007

3. Αχειλαρά, Λ., Το Κάστρο της Μυτιλήνης, Athens, 1999

4. Κάστρων Περίπλους – Castrorum Circumnavigatio, Αθήνα, 2008

5. Λούπου Α.-Χ., ‘Μεντρεσές Βελή Πασά’ in Η Οθωμανική Αρχιτεκτονική στην Ελλάδα, Athens, 2009

6. Λούπου Α.-Χ., ‘Τεκές’ in Η Οθωμανική Αρχιτεκτονική στην Ελλάδα, Athens, 2009

7. Λούπου-Ρόκου Α.-Χ., Αιγαίο: Κάστρα και Καστέλλια, Athens, 1999

8. Τζιμής Σ., Γιαννακάς Β. κ.α', Ιστορία της Λέσβου, Μυτιλήνη , 1996


Comments (0)