Anacopia Fortress

Anakopia Fortress is an ancient military citadel in New Athos in the disputed Abkhazia, Georgia located some 22 km by road along the coast from Sukhumi [1]. The site, approximately 450 × 150 meters in dimensions, is located a mile or so inland, at the top of the Iverian Mountain [1]. It is the most complete surviving building of ancient Anakopia, the former capital of the Kingdom of Abkhazia [1]. A military structure was constructed here between the second and fourth centuries [1]. At the end of the seventh century, walls were constructed around the site of the citadel, with support from the Byzantines who had become alarmed by the Islamic Caliphate's expansionism [1]. The walls, up to 60 centimeters thick, are constructed of largely tightly assembled and carefully hewn limestone blocks [1]. At the centre lies a Roman-styled tower, four storeys high, with excellent views in all directions across the surrounding landscape and, to the south-west of the fortress, the Black Sea [1]. A small Christian basilica was also constructed in the centre of the fortress during or before the eighth century [1].