ABSTRACT
Emperor Justinian, in his efforts to restore the dynamism of the cities, sometimes changed their site, as seen in Chapter 1, and usually, their name also changed subsequently.1 When the inhabitants of Lakedaimonia were transferred to the Rock with the only entrance, the new city took the name Monemvasia, the characteristic single entrance to the new location (Plate 2.1). Since it was not unusual for bishoprics to preserve their original name, even when the location of the city changed, the old name continued to be used for the Episcopal See and is mentioned in the late seventh century in the minutes of the Sixth Oecumenical Synod in Constantinople. The bishop of the ‘City of the Lakedaimonians’, Theodosios, who was present, put his signature under some resolutions.2 It is certain that at that time Lakedaimonia was deserted and this City of the Lakedaimonians cannot be other than the newly founded city.3
