Kythnos
Kythnos
Κύθνος | |
---|---|
UTC+3 (EEST) | |
Postal code | 840 06 |
Area code(s) | 22810 |
Vehicle registration | ΕΜ |
Website | www.kythnos.gr |
Kythnos (
Settlements
The island has two significant settlements, the village of Messaria or Chora of Kythnos (pop. 561 in 2011 census), known locally as Chora, and the village of Dryopis or Dryopida (pop. 325), also known as Chorio. Both villages are notable for their winding and often stepped streets, too narrow for vehicular traffic. The villages are very picturesque but have different architectural styles. Chora has the more-typical flat roofs of the Cyclades, while Dryopida's rooftops are slanted and tiled. Chora is also notable for its large Greek Orthodox Church.
There is also a growing coastal settlement called
The port town is called
Name
The first inhabitants of Kythnos were the
History
Pre-history
Kythnos can lay claim to one of the oldest known habitations in the Cycladic islands, a
Pre-classical antiquity
The earliest inhabitants of the island known to historians were the Kares (
A Hellenistic site at Vryokastro, above the bay of Episkopi on the northwest part of the island, was partially excavated in the mid-20th century, yielding floor plans of houses and a sanctuary, as well as a few artifacts. In Greek newspaper articles of December 19, 2002, archaeologist Alexandros Mazarakis-Ainian announced a spectacular discovery on this site: an inner sanctum (adyton) of the temple was found intact and unplundered. Over 1,400 objects, including precious jewels and gold, silver and bronze artifacts, terracotta figurines, and painted vases, were excavated from what the archaeologists have determined is a 2,700-year-old temple dedicated to either Hera, queen of the gods, or Aphrodite, goddess of love. The artifacts date mostly from the 7th to the 5th centuries BCE. The site at Vryokastro was inhabited until Roman times. In this era, the islands of the Cyclades suffered frequent predation by pirates, and perhaps for this reason, the main settlements moved inland and to more defensible locations.
Remains of another old settlement, with extensive stone walls, can be seen in the extreme northern headland. This site, called Kastro (Greek for Castle), was likely the capital of the island from about the 1st century through the Byzantine era and into Frankish times. This site seems nearly impregnable: on three sides is a sheer 500-foot (150 m) drop to the sea. The fourth side is approached via a narrow track, which was barricaded with a thick, high wall, parts of which are still extant (along with walls delineating hundreds of houses). Nevertheless, there is evidence that the town was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The population fluctuated dramatically during this period and at times the island was decimated due to marauders and plague (Smith, 1854 and Bent, 1885, reprinted 2002).
Classical antiquity
Only rarely is the island mentioned by ancient authors. In the
Innumerable sources repeat, without providing a citation, that Aristotle praised the government of Kythnos in his "Constitution of Kythnos." Exactly what he wrote is difficult to ascertain, since all of his essays on the constitutions of 158 city-states are lost except for the one on Athens. (Possibly, the origin of the quote is from the 2nd century lexicographer Harpocration.)[6]
In the Roman period Kythnos was a place of exile for important persons. In addition, in antiquity there were several temples on the island, which resulted in the island being visited by travelers from various regions (e.g. Egypt, Asia Minor, Italy, etc.).[7] The painters Timanthis and Cydias were born in Kythnos in antiquity. Later Kythnos became part of the Byzantine Empire.
Crusader and Venetian Era
In 1207, Kythnos was annexed to the Frankish overlord Marco Sanudo's Aegean Duchy of the Archipelago (or of Naxos). During this period, it was known as Thermia, a name derived from the hot mineral springs occurring on the northeastern coast at the village of Loutra (which means "baths" in Greek). These medicinal baths were renowned at least since Roman times and were a fashionable spa and resort area.
The island was ruled as an appanage of the Duchy of the Archipelago from the 16th century until the fall of the Duchy, where it became de facto independent.[8]
In 1600, Thermia also became the new name of a Latin bishopric on the Cyclades, formerly known as
The island capital remained at Kastro of Oria or Katakefalo, which was rebuilt as a Frankish fortress and was known as the Tower of Thermia (Bent, 1885, reprinted 2002).
After a period of depopulation in the early 15th century some Albanian communities moved from nearby Euboea. They were assimilated into the local Greek population.[9][10]
Ottoman Era
Following a siege, the Turks were victorious over the last Venetian overlord,
After its fall to the Turks, Kastro was abandoned and the new capital was located inland, as the name Messaria suggests. Later, this town became known as Hora (the generic Greek name for a capital town, also spelled Chora). During this period Kythnos was a poor, under-populated place, still beset by pirates and suffering frequent epidemics.
In 1791 a Greek school was opened in Chora (Messaria), which was housed in the monastery of Panagia of Nikous. The monk Parthenios Koulouris from Sifnos initially taught there. He was succeeded in 1809 by the monk Makarios Filippaios from Kythnos, who continued teaching during the years of Ioannis Kapodistrias.[13]
In 1806 a pirate raid, although repelled, resulted in groups of locals emigrating to the coast of Asia Minor, from where some later repatriated, bringing back customs to the island from the places where they had lived.[14]
Kythnos took part in the 1821 Revolution and during its duration was a safe haven for Greek refugees from areas such as Chios, Psara and Aivali. In 1823 a plague broke out. Kythnos was represented in the 3rd National Assembly of Epidaurus, in the 3rd National Assembly of Troizina by Moschos Filippaios (Chora) and N. Economidis Levantis (Dryopida). In the following years until 1832 Kythnos was represented in the National Assemblies by N. Vallindas. [15]
Modern Kythnos
In 1828 five schools were operating on the island, including private schools, and by 1833 there were only two schools operating.[16] They were financially supported by contributions from the residents and income from monasteries on the island.[16] During the reign of King Othon, Kythnos was a place of exile for political prisoners and was the scene of an unsuccessful revolt in 1862 by rebels from Syros who attempted to free the prisoners.
In the 19th century, Kythnians mainly earned their living as they had for centuries before: as shepherds or by fishing. The island had few natural resources and, lacking a deep-water mooring for boats, was relatively inaccessible. On the other hand ceramics and pottery flourished in Kythnos, with Kythnian craftsmen leaving for Athens in the summers and returning in the winter.
At the beginning of the 20th century the production of high quality barley and semolina increased greatly and exports increased accordingly.[17] As the new century dawned, iron ore was discovered on the island and Kythnians were able to supplement their meager incomes by working in the mines.[18] These mines, however, were mostly played out by World War II, and once again, the population of the island went into decline, as young people left to find employment and a better life in Athens or even further afield. During the Axis Occupation of Greece, many Kythnians living in Athens returned to the island for better living conditions.
The Greek tourist boom beginning in the mid-20th century largely bypassed Kythnos because its harbor lacked a deep-water dock for ferryboats. The construction of a new mole in 1974 precipitated great changes. Today, the island is a modern, prosperous place, with a burgeoning tourist trade. It is in the forefront of alternative energy experiments, with the establishment in 1982 of Greece's first wind park.
Due to its proximity to Athens, Kythnos has become a fashionable setting for vacation homes, in addition to being an accessible destination for foreign visitors. Besides its numerous beaches and picturesque villages, it also is the site of one of the largest caves in Greece,
In 2023, Kythnos celebrated the inauguration of the Archaeological Museum of Kythnos, a long-awaited dream for the island's inhabitants. It is housed in the old, Single Classroom Primary School of Chora, Kythnos, and along its exhibits visitors may find an Archaic temple treasure with various golden and precious metals offerings, plus 7th to early 5th century BC objects.[22]
Folklore
Swings
Swings or Kounies (Greek: Κούνιες) is an Easter custom that has been preserved to this day. A wooden swing is tied to a tree or to stakes in the centre of the village and young men and women swing on it, exchanging praise and poetry. [23]
May Day
On the eve of the first of May they would prepare the "May" wreath with flowers and sing to music. This is a custom that is still preserved today.[24][25]
Lazanis
At noon on the Tyrian Sunday, the "Lazanis", a straw puppet who supposedly came to "take the lasagna (spaghetti)", would be baptized. The custom is still maintained to this day, with 'Lazanis' occupying the role of King Carnival.[24][26]
Music and dance tradition
The violin and the lute are the main musical instruments of the island, which form the "Zyas", as they are called on the island. The tsampouna (or kaida) is the characteristic instrument heard on Carnival.[27]
Traditions
In the legends and beliefs of Kythnos there are multiple references to fairies, vampires, dragons etc. living in various places on the island such as: ancient ruins, mills, threshing floors, isolated beaches etc.[28]
Gastronomy
Representative dishes of the local cuisine are sfougata (fried cheese balls), kolopi (pita with greens) and poulos (a bread roll filled with salted pork). The island also has other traditional products such as honey and various types of cheese.[29]
Beaches
Kythnos has more than 90
Notable people
- Timanthes (4th century BC), painter
- Ignatius of Mariupol (1716–1786), bishop, founder of Mariupol
- Giorgos Zambetas1925–1992, composer
- Leonidas Paraskevopoulos, military officer
In popular culture
- Clive Barker's story Babel's Children[32] is set in Kythnos.
Gallery
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Throughout Kythnos, drylaid stone walls delineate individual parcels of land
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Kolona Beach
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Dryopida village, Kythnos
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Typical alley in Dryopida
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Dryopida
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Katafiki, Dryopida
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View of Chora, Kythnos
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Agios Panteleimon, Chora
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Church of Agios Savvas in Chora.
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Alley in Chora
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Landscape
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Loutra
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Kanala
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Agios Dimitrios
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A ruined mill & Agios Nektarios church
References
- ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
- ^ "Great Online Encyclopaedia of Asia Minor". www.ehw.gr. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- ^ "Port of Kythnos - Merichas". Municipal Port Fund of Syros. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ "- Αρχαιότητες της Κύθνου". extras.ha.uth.gr. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), CYTHNUS". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
- ^ "Αρχαία Κύθνος: Οι ανασκαφές αποκαλύπτουν τα μυστικά της". www.news247.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- .
- ISBN 978-1-899296-05-7.
Both Andros and Kythnos had Albanian populations that were moved there from Euboea in the early fifteenth century , after a period of depopulation .
- ^ Jochalas, Titos P. (1971): Über die Einwanderung der Albaner in Griechenland: Eine zusammenfassene Betrachtung ["On the immigration of Albanians to Greece: A summary"]. München: Trofenik. pg. 89-106
- ^ "Aegean Islands". 2006-02-17. Archived from the original on 2006-02-17. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
- .
- ^ Κορδατζή-Πρασσά p. 28
- ^ Χρυσού-Καρατζά p. 64
- ^ Βάλληνδας 1896 p. 121.
- ^ a b Κορδατζή-Πρασσά p. 69
- ^ Χρυσού-Καρατζά p. 82.
- ^ Χρυσού-Καρατζά p. 54
- ^ "Kythnos Island - 20 years' of experience of system technology for renewable energies" (PDF). SMA. 2002. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
- ^ "eletaen". Eletaen.gr. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
- ^ "Large Scale Integration Of Renewable Electricity Production Into The Grids" (PDF). Journal of Electrical Engineering. 58. 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
- ^ "Opening of the Archaeological Museum of Kythnos". The Thermia Suites. 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- ^ Βάλληνδα, Αντωνίου (1882). Κυθνιακά ήτοι της νήσου Κύθνου χωρογραφία και ιστορία μετά του βίου των συγχρόνων Κυθνίων εν ω ήθη και έθη και γλώσσα και γένη κλπ. Εν Ερμουπόλει: Τυπ. της "Προόδου". p. 119.
- ^ a b admin. "Customs". Κύθνος. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ "Ήρχεν ο Μάης". Δόμνα Σαμίου. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ Βάλληνδας 1882 p. 118
- ^ admin. "Tradititional Dances & Music". Κύθνος. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ Freely p. 34
- ^ Karamanes, Evangelos (2016-01-01). "Τοπικά παραδοσιακά προϊόντα και ανάπτυξη: οικολογία, τοπικά συστήματα, τοπικότητες". Επετηρίς του Κέντρου Ερεύνης της Ελληνικής Λαογραφίας της Ακαδημίας Αθηνών, τόμ. 33-34 (2009-2013), Αθήνα 2016, σ. 59-81.
- ^ "Κύθνος: Ο μικρός παράδεισος επί γης με τις 99 καταγάλανες παραλίες". www.ertnews.gr (in Greek). 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ admin. "Beaches". Κύθνος. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ Clive Barker (19 November 2017). "Books of Blood, Vol. 5". Sphere.
Sources
- Bent, James Theodore, "The Cyclades: Life Among the Insular Greeks," 1885, reprinted in 2002 by Archaeopress, Oxford. Chapter 17 recounts his impressions of Kythnos
- Freely, John (2006). The Cyclades : discovering the Greek islands of the Aegean. London: I.B. Tauris. OCLC 76938088.
- Herodotus, "The History," translated by David Greene, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, paperback edition, 1988
- Smith, William, ed., "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography," 1854. Can be accessed at the Perseus Project.
- Vallinda, Antoniou, "History of the Island of Kythnos," monograph (in Greek), 1896, reprinted by the Syndesmos Kythnion, Athens, 1990.
- Βάλληνδα, Αντωνίου (1882). Κυθνιακά ήτοι της νήσου Κύθνου χωρογραφία και ιστορία μετά του βίου των συγχρόνων Κυθνίων εν ω ήθη και έθη και γλώσσα και γένη κλπ. Εν Ερμουπόλει: Τυπ. της "Προόδου".
- Βάλληνδα, Αντωνίου (1896). Ιστορία της νήσου Κύθνου . Αθήνα.
- Κορδατζή-Πρασσά, Αναστασία (1996-01-01). Η ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΣΗ ΣΤΙΣ ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ ΚΑΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΚΑΠΟΔΙΣΤΡΙΑΚΗ ΠΕΡΙΟΔΟ (1828-1832). Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ), Σχολή Φιλοσοφική, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας. .
- Χρυσού-Καρατζά, Κυριακή (2006). Τροφή και διατροφή στις Κυκλάδες (19ος-20ος αι.). Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ). Σχολή Φιλοσοφική. Τμήμα Φιλολογίας. Τομέας Βυζαντινής Φιλολογίας και Λαογραφίας. .
External links
- Official website (in English and Greek)
- GigaCatholic - former bishopric of Thermia