The village of Lechonia in Pilion during the Ottoman rule was a place of evident fortification and defensive character, due to the existence of over sixty fortress towers. In this research, we investigate the way of life and defense tactics of the 1821 Greek rebels in the country’s mountains focusing on the importance of the mountainous landscape and also on the influence of the first defensive towers on the later local architecture of Pilion. We closely examine the war tactic that the thieves used, which originates from the byzantine frontier war slip, and the characteristics of the defensive tower as well. The war slip sets the basis for the thieves’ war and develops according to the needs of the fighters of 1821.

By researching and roaming around the village of Lechonia our aim was to gather as much evidence as possible about the place’s history and details about the unique and model buildings of Pilion, leading to the modern design style of Pilion’s architecture. For this reason, this field-based research requires us to visit and record the one-of-a-kind towers that remain to this day. The observation and combination of the picture and the architectural information help us to understand further the way of construction, as well as the reasons behind the use of this specific internal and external structure of the towers.