Karytaina: Frankish Bridge from E.

Department Archive
Collection BSA SPHS Image Collection
Reference No. BSA SPHS 01/0373.1686
Level Item
Description Glass negative, full plate size, a copy negative.
Dimensions 19 x 12.5 cm
Place Karytaina Frankish Bridge
Dates 1891-1897
Donor/Creator Leaf, Mr Walter
Scope and Content The original description in the SPHS register reads: "Karytaina: Frankish bridge from East".
Notes Unknown date, but based on numerous images donated by Walter Leaf that were catalogued SPHS 1667 to 1700 that appeared in the 1897 slide catalogue in the Journal of Hellenic Studies, it probably dates no later than 1897. However, Leaf was known to visit nearby Megalopolis in 1891. Note many of these appear in his list of enlargements that was published in 1902.
Further information The barony of Karytaina was established in 1205 by Geoffrey I de Villehardouin and remained in Frankish hands until 1320/5 when it was captured by the Byzantines. The bridge of Karytaina on the Alpheios river, which runs to the east of the protruding part of the Karytaina castle hill, was more than fifty metres in length with five arches. According to a dedicatory inscription that was revealed in 1837, the bridge was extensively rebuilt in 1440 by Raul Manuel Meliki who added a small double-apsed chapel to the west side. The chapel was dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin. It was frescoed in two successive phases.