Pyrgaki (Ancient Kerissos)

The conical hill with the classical tower is Pyrgaki, the ancient Kerissos, where the acropolis of ancient Ascra was located. Apart from the tower there are also ruins of a fortified enclosure. Pyrgaki was used for military purposes on at least two occasions: In the battle of Kerissos, the oldest and most prominent victory that kept Central Greece free, and during the Lacedaemonian campaign against Thebes that had an inglorious end at Lefktra in 371 BC. In particular, from the accounts of Plutarch and Pausanias, the Boeotians and the Thespians settled defensively at Kerissos to confront the Thessalians and Thebans respectively. Both battles took place in the month of Hippodrome (Hecatombeion for the Athenians) which corresponded to the period from July 17th to August 15th.