Previous Room  Room 6: Byzantine castles The castles were fortified settlements in which the basic functions of a town were concentrated. They were built on key sites guarding mountain passes and offered their residents and the people of the surrounding area a place of safety in time of war. The limited space and the morphology of the terrain determined the town-planning of the castles and the changes made to the architecture of the houses. The exhibition presents the organisation of a castle, as well as related everyday life and productive activities. The  archaeological material on display comes from various castles in Macedonia, most notably the one at Redina. The subject is supplemented by a video installation on the castles of Macedonia and Thrace. Arrowheads, 8th-12th cc. Apart from the fortifications, the defence of the castles also depended on military equipment. The state was strictly responsible for the production and distribution of weapons. Buttons and scissors, 8th-12th cc. The remains have been found inside the castles of facilities attesting the activities of potters, ironsmiths, tanners, weavers, and other artisans. The workshops were usually on the ground floor of the houses, which were small, two-storey structures. The video installation by the painter Marianna Strapatsaki traces the route to Constantinople, visiting the castles of northern Greece, from the westernmost -Angelokastro on Corfu- to the most easterly -Pythion in Thrace, on the River Evros.