105
Earthen Domes and Habitats
Fig. 11: Drakospito on the top of mount Ochi, Euboea
0 1 2
4
0
1
2
3
Fig. 10a: Typical layout, after Apostolou (1 sitting-room, 2 stall, 3 barn, 4 threshold-floor)
Fig. 12: Square drakospito at Pali Laca, Styra, Euboea. Plans (after Moutsopoulos) Fig. 13: Gaeon, tholos sanctuary at the ancient town of Voura, Peloponnese. Section (by Moutsopoulos)
the ideal function of the whole. The original masons, fully exploiting the possibilities of dry-stone building, have produced technically exemplary results. In rectangular edifices the corners have a special structure with projecting slates, to safely accept stepping of curviform corbelled domes. The case of corbelled walls covered with slates or stone beams and terracing is technically simple, hence adopted in modest structures, such as kyphes of dodecanese and certain calyvia of Mani (Figs. 22-23).
Evaluation of the state of conservation and pathologies Most common pathologies The greater part of Greek corbelled constructions are of dry-stone structure; their main ‘enemy’ is Englouvi therefore unfavorable climatic conditions. Usually located at high altitudes and in inhospitable environments, they are exposed to humidity and vulnerable to frost; in winter, crystallized ice among the stones pushes the joints, and dry-stone masonries are therefore gradually dispersed. If abandoned or not regularly maintained, these edifices are threatened with rapid collapse. For the same reason, if built Fig. 10: Lefcada, Voltoi, site of the plateau of Englouvi with mortar, special care is taken for the protection of the domes from humidity with thick coverings of mortar. Evaluation of the state of conservation The vernacular corbelled architecture of Greece is nowadays almost totally abandoned. In Crete, only a few of the mitata remain in use, on the White Mountains and in the Rouvas Wood (Fig. 23). On the deserted plateau of
Fig. 10b: Aspect of a ruined voltos (Photo by Eleonora Fiorou)
LEFKADA