Imagine a world where the Roman lighthouse, Friktoria, in the coastal castle of Bourtzi in Leros, Greece, never existed. This thought crossed my mind when Tasos Christodoulou, a local man who had spent years in America, shared a piece of information with me at the Alevromylos café. He mentioned the neglect of the castle and the existence of a nearby mill, sparking a fire in my soul.
Tasos’ words propelled me to action. The next day, three history enthusiasts and I embarked on a journey to uncover the secrets hidden within the dilapidated walls of Bourtzi Castle. As we ascended the crumbling steps, Tasos’ friend’s suggestion guided us to the spot where the mill once stood. Memories from Tasos’ childhood flooded back, recalling a time of marbles, mosaics, and the foundations of a mill.
In our quest for historical treasures, Maria Zairi, with her unique talent, uncovered individual colorful mosaics among the ruins. Tasos, transported back to his barefoot childhood, relived the stories he had seen and heard. Our research led us to the realization that the mill Tasos had mentioned was none other than the ancient Friktoria, or the Bourtzi Lighthouse.
Feeling like a modern Roman Phrictorus, I marveled at the strategic location of the lighthouse. From this vantage point, one could clearly see the coast of Ionia, Farmakonisi, and even further north, Agathonisi, often referred to as the “Island in the shape of a Cat.”
As our exploration continued, Maria Zairi descended from the mountainside, holding a chiseled and engraved marble – a discovery reminiscent of Moses presenting the Ten Commandments.
 It was a moment when the seriousness of our findings became apparent. This wasn’t just a figment of imagination; it was vital information that needed to be shared with the county archaeological office.
With a few clicks on my mobile phone, photos of the frictoria, the lighthouse, the incised carved marble with Latin letters, and the multitude of colorful tesserae were sent to the supervisor and manager of Leros’ archaeological office.
It dawned on me that we were documenting a piece of history for the first time on paper.
For this remarkable journey of rediscovery, I owe gratitude to my fellow travelers, Tasos and Maria. The random surface finds we uncovered would soon find their place in the archaeological museum, preserving the legacy of the Roman lighthouse at Bourtzi Castle for generations to come.
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Video by Markos Spanos
