Ancient fortress of Filis

The ancient fortress of Filis is located on the slope of Mount Parnitha, at an altitude of 650 meters. The fortress was built in the 4th century b.c. and served as an observation post, as it offered an unobstructed view of the surrounding road. It is one of the fortresses built by the Athenians to monitor the Attica area. The fortress occupies a strategic position on not the easiest road between Athens and Thebes. The western side of the hill is so steep that it did not need to be surrounded by a wall. The dwellings and buildings have not survived to this day, and only the foundations remain. The fortress had four towers, three rectangular and one round. On the eastern side of the wall, next to the round tower was the main gate, the second gate was located on the southern side. To the north of this fortress was an older fortress, traces of which have not survived to this day. From this fortress, in 403 b.c., Frasivoulos with 70 soldiers overthrew the regime of thirty Athenian tyrants. The construction of the fortifications was carried out by the Athenians after their defeat in the Peloponnesian War. The fortress was systematically used in the wars against the Macedonians in the 3rd century b.c.