During an excavation of the southeastern part of the mediaeval sea wall of the castle of Agioi Theodoroi in Lesvos, a 3.5 metre long marble lintel was found and its discovery has been the cause of revision to the islands late Byzantine history.
The marble piece was linked to the ancient city-state of Antissa, one of the ancient Aeolian city-states of the island of Lesvos and bears the emblems of the Genoese House of Gattilusio as well as that of the Palaiologos dynasty.
An important part of marble piece is that next to the heraldry of the palaiologos, instead of the double-headed eagle, a symbol of Byzantium, was found a depiction of a castle with a main gate and three rectangular towers on the acropolis, a depiction which seems to be identified with the then castle of Agoio Theodoroi.
The marble lintel is the first representation of Byzantine representation and gives evidence of its form, unknown to us until today, as it had undergone substantial reconstruction during the 15th century by the House of Gattilusio.
Source: AMNA, Greek Reporter
