The castle is called Castle of Argos or castle of Larissa. The first to settle Argos were the Pelasgians and the names are Pelasgian. “Argos” means plain and “Larissa” means acropolis.
It is one of the oldest and most historic castles in Greece. The site had been fortified since prehistoric times. The final configuration of the castle was done by the Franks.
North of Argos, where the city ends, there are two hills. To the right, to the NE, is the hill of Aspidos and to the NW, the highest of the two (289 m.), Is the hill of Larissa where the castle is located. And on the hill of Aspidos there was an ancient castle that is not preserved. The two castles were joined by walls to protect the city of Argos in antiquity.
The castle was built against them prehistoric times. Its base in some places has boulders, which remind us of the cyclopean walls. In the 5th and 6th c. e.g. the Argives repaired and completed the wall, following the older traces. Important parts of that time are preserved in the northern and western part.
In the 10th c. A.D. The medieval castle was built and was for the Byzantines one of the most important fortifications in the Peloponnese. In 1203 it came under the jurisdiction of the lord of Nafplio Leontas Sgouros.
In the years of the Greek Revolutionwhen the great army of Dramalis arrived in Argos, Kolokotronis considered that the Greeks had to occupy the castle, in order to occupy the enemy and gain valuable time. Kolokotronis initially sent 100 selected men, to whom others were later added and became 700. Their leader was Dimitrios Ypsilantiswho gave a sample of his administrative capacity.
The Greeks held the castle until July 24, 1822 and managed to escape after a distraction, caused to the enemy by the Greeks of the Mill camp. The fighters had managed to delay the enemy for about 15 days, which was a valuable time for their organization and the triumph in Dervenakia after two days.
The castle has two enclosures· The outside, 200 m long, and the inside, about 70 meters long. Inside there was a temple of Larissa Zeus and Athena Poliados (Paus. II, 24.3). There was also a cross-roofed church of the 12th century. Its founding inscription with the name of Bishop Nikitas was preserved, which is kept in the warehouses of the museum of Argos.
Ancient building materials were used for the construction of the church. But also in many other parts of the castle masonry the visitor can distinguish built-in architectural members.
The castle has changed its appearance (for the better, of course) after the last restoration operations, with its large towers and high walls, it looks imposing and creates the impression at night that it is hovering.
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