Koprokefalas

A small Ottoman fortification, built in 1867 or shortly afterwards, stands atop a hill south of Fodele in Crete. Its purpose was straightforward: to keep an eye on the bay of Fodele and the road leading down to the village. Like most forts of this type on the island, it dates from the nineteenth century, a period when the Ottomans were busy reinforcing their hold on Crete with such modest outposts. The structure is described as rather small, and its condition today is fairly poor, with little in the way of substantial remains to suggest its former military role. It is known locally as Koprokefalas, a name that carries a blunt, earthy character. For the visitor, this is less a monument of grandeur and more a quiet, weathered relic of a late Ottoman defensive network, its stones now part of the hillside.