Mir Castle Complex

To the Discussion on the Time When the Byzantine Castle Was Built a Top of Mangup

Recent research challenges the long-held belief that the Byzantine castle atop Mangup, Crimea, was built during Emperor Justinian I's reign (527–565). Using archaeological evidence and re-evaluating historical sources like Procopius of Caesarea’s De aedificiis and a building inscription attributed to Justinian, scholars argue for construction dating between 550–565. The study highlights the absence of Justinian-era materials in excavations and questions the inscription's authenticity, suggesting the castle was likely built under Emperor Maurice (582–602) or later. This re-dating significantly reshapes our understanding of Byzantine military architecture in the region.