
Medieval aqueduct of Pylos

The aqueduct of Pylos probably dates to the time of sultan Murad IV (1623-1640) and was constructed to meet the needs of Niokastro, built by the Ottomans in 1573. It remained in use until 1907, when a new water supply network was put in place. Two aqueducts come to Niokastro. The earliest one starts at a spring in the location Palaio Nero (old water), ca. 4km southeast of Pylos. The route of the second one started at Koube, near the village Chandrinos, about 15km northeast of Pylos. The two aqueducts meet at Kamares, alongside the Pylos-Methoni road, to continue their way to the acropolis at Niokastro. The section at Kamares consists of 63 smaller and larger arches, built with alternating blocks of stone and bricks; 16 small arches have survived on its upper part. One of the arches was demolished during WWII and its top was given a triangular shape made of concrete (italian gate). Two distinct structural parts can be seen in the aqueduct. The first one is the low wall, without arches, which is preserved only at the central section and is the oldest construction phase of the monument. Three successive sets of terracotta water pipes are preserved on this wall, with signs of a possible repair. The second part is the one with the large and small openings, flanked by sections with no arches. A large retaining wall at its turning point, is part of a repair carried out at the time of Maison, in the 1830s.
Στην κατασκευή του υδραγωγείου παρατηρούνται δύο διακριτά τμήματα. Το πρώτο είναι ο χαμηλός τοίχος χωρίς τοξωτά ανοίγματα, που σώζεται μόνο στο κεντρικό τμήμα και αποτελεί την παλαιότερη οικοδομική φάση του μνημείου. Σε αυτόν διατηρούνται τρεις επάλληλες διατάξεις πήλινων αγωγών νερού και μια πιθανή επισκευή. Το δεύτερο είναι το τμήμα με τα μεγάλα και μικρότερα τοξωτά ανοίγματα, το οποίο έχει στα άκρα τμήματα χωρίς τόξα. Στο σημείο καμπής δεσπόζει μεγάλη αντηρίδα, τμήμα της επισκευής του υδραγωγείου που έγινε επί Μαιζώνος την δεκαετία του 1830.