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One of the interesting things people notice about the island of Chios, Greece, are the many medieval watchtowers scattered along the coastline.
The west and southwest coasts have some of the best preserved examples of these watchtowers, called vigles (βίγλες). They were used between the 11th and 18th centuries for the defense of the island. There were at least 30 in total around the island.
How Did It Work?
Each watchtower had a cylindrical shape with no entrance. The watchmen had to climb up using a rope. They were about 12 to 20m tall and filled with rubble to ⅔ their height. From each tower, watchmen could see the next tower on each side up and down the coast.
If a pirate or enemy approached, the watchman would light fires (at night) or send smoke signals (during the day) to notify the other towers, allowing the villagers to quickly prepare for an attack. The news of an invasion would reach Chios Town within two hours, allowing for military forces to gather and fend off an attack, and for villages to prepare their defenses. They were able to communicate the number of ships approaching the island as well.
