Sparta – Mystras
Greece – Peloponnese | Anno 2018
Sparta
Sparta
Ruins of the Roman theatre of ancient Sparta, with the Taygetus mountain range in the background. From the late 7th century to the 4th century BCE, Sparta was the dominant military power in Greece
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Spartan society was characterised by discipline, courage, and a frugal way of life. The whole of Spartan life was a continuous preparation for war
Basilica. Such was their self-confidence that the Spartans never wished to fortify their city with walls or other defensive structures. This may well have contributed to the fact that very few buildings from that period have survived
Acropolis
Part of the stoa of the agora |
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Prickly pear cactus |
Mystras
The Taygetus is a 120 km mountain range with peaks reaching 2,400 m, separating Laconia from Messenia
On a high spur of the Taygetus near Sparta, the French crusader knight William II of Villehardouin built the fortress of Mystras in 1249. Ten years later, Mystras passed into Byzantine hands and soon developed into a prosperous city
Mystras was sometimes called the “Greek Florence” because of its many churches, palaces and monasteries, such as this Peribleptos Monastery
Today, Mystras is an impressive ghost town overlooking the plain of Laconia and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1989
Peribleptos Monastery with 14th-century frescoes |
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Dome with Christ Pantocrator
The Apostles and the Holy Virgin Mary
Jesus is baptised by John the Baptist
The Last Supper
The Pantanassa Monastery is notable for its magnificent stone-carved façade
The monastery is still maintained by nuns, who are the only permanent residents of Mystras
Pantanassa Monastery with 15th-century frescoes |
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Iconostasis with votive plaques beneath the icon of the Holy Virgin Mary
The gold and silver embossed votive plaques contain symbolic representations of the personal or health-related problems for which help is being sought
The Nativity of Jesus (between 1350 and 1375)
The Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (between 1350 and 1375)
Metropolis with museum
Metropolis |
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Entrance gate to the Metropolis |
Metropolis – Interior with a marble iconostasis and 15th-century frescoes |
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Mary with Jesus depicted as a miniature adult seated on her lap |
Dome with Christ Pantocrator, the universal Almighty Ruler
Evangelistria Church
Church of Saint Theodore
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Church of Saint Theodore – Frescoes
Hodegetria (1310)
Hodegetria – Three-aisled basilica with five domes |
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The Virgin Mary as Zoodochos Pege (Life-Giving Spring) in the lunette above the Royal Door |
Hodegetria – Frescoes
Hodegetria – Scenes from the life of Jesus Christ
What is now known as the Citadel was originally the castle built by William II of Villehardouin
Citadel |
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The Citadel overlooks the plain of Laconia
The Palace of the Despots, as the Byzantine rulers were known
The main building dates from 1350–1400
Palace of the Despots
The Hagia Sophia (“Holy Wisdom”) was built in the 14th century by Manuel Kantakouzenos, the first Despot of Mystras. The bell tower originally had three storeys. The Citadel can be seen on the hill above
Hagia Sophia – Interior |
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Pantocrator |
Hagia Sophia – The Birth of the Virgin Mary, a rather unique depiction
Hagia Sophia – Christ Pantocrator
Langada Pass
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The Langada Pass is the only route connecting Sparta (Laconia) and Kalamata (Messenia) across the Taygetus
According to legend, the Spartans abandoned disabled or frail infants in this gorge, believing that they would never grow into capable soldiers
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Archaeologists have indeed found human bones in the fifty-metre-deep Kaiadas Cave, but these mostly belonged to adult men. It therefore seems more likely that the Spartans used this cave to execute criminals, traitors and prisoners of war
The highest point of the Langada Pass lies 1,524 metres above sea level
Descent into Messenia
Kalamata on the Messenian Gulf
Jaak Palmans
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