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Why I love summers in Chios

(by Aspasia Kakari, journalist and travel blogger girandoperilmondo.it) 

 

Chios is a blessed place, the more you get to know it, the more you want to explore it. From the cosmopolitan picturesque little ports of the east side, facing the Turkish coast, to the blue-green waters of the free beaches at the piney west coast, and from the wild beauty of the mountainous north side, to the soft hills hosting the famous Mastiha villages in the south, Chios is not just an island, it’s rather many islands in one. That’ s why the summers in Chios have something for everyone. For me, they have mastic perfumed promenades, swimming in the countless beaches, hiking on ancient trails, but also appetizers (greek “mezedes”), music, summer movies.

 

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The temporary exhibition “REVOLUTION ’21 REFRAMED: CHIOS” in the Chios Mastic Museum

   As a part of the Anniversary Activities of Piraeus Bank and with the anniversary of 200 years from the Greek Revolution in 1821,  Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation (PIOP)  connects its power with the National Historical Museum (NHM) to present the temporary exhibition “REVOLUTION ’21 REFRAMED: CHIOS” which takes place at the Mastic Museum of Chios.

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Travelling to Chios, by Mary Axiotis (PART I)

(editor’s note: Personal impressions of a Greek American who is visiting Chios every summer for forty years now)

The island of Chios is one of the largest islands in Greece located in the north eastern part of the Aegean Sea. 

A few years ago, Chios was an undiscovered island in the world of tourism.  Lately it’s becoming quite known to European tourists and many Greek Americans who visit the island during the summer months, especially in August.  As with any other Greek American, my husband and I visit Chios every summer for the past 40 years. 

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8+2 facts that make Chios a unique island in the Aegean

Chios island, lying at the crossroads of East and West, with the islets Oinousses and Psara, is a trademark of authentic holiday destination.

  1. Α well preserved natural environment and a landscape with dramatic changes
  2. Αn extensive network of medieval villages, castles and watchtowers
  3. Α high quality of life based on the local culture (combination of the culture of mastiha, the maritime tradition and the locals’ cosmopolitan attitude)
  4. Remote secluded beaches with turquoise and green waters
  5. Hiking trails in mountainous, forest and agricultural areas
  6. Unique local products and excellent local cuisine
  7. Hospitable people
  8. A vibrant nightlife
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August 15th on Chios Island, Greece

On August 15th, Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Virgin’s Dormition. The Feast of Dormition is also known as “the summer’s Easter”, signifying the importance of the feast and the holiday. At the peak of the summer holidays, this celebration is an opportunity for families and friends to come together and for visitors of the island to experience traditional events and local dishes at the “panigiria” that take place at the villages. At the same time, during August, a lot of cultural events take place, offering many options for fun and entertainment.  

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Maritime tradition of Chios island

Chios’ long maritime tradition has determined the history and social organization of the island as well as the identity of the destination and its people. It is as important as the cultivation of the unique Chios natural mastiha (PDO).

The maritime villages of the island are full of exciting stories of hard work and success as well as grief and separation. At the kafeneia (coffee shops) mariners (retired or not) will tell stories of journeys at exotic places and ports.

Vrontados, Sykiada, Lagada, Kardamyla and Oinousses are proud of their mariners, captains and engineers. This long tradition of work at sea continues today with a lot of young people choosing to follow a career at the Greek Merchant Navy. The fact that a lot of powerful shipowners that dominate today’s global maritime industry are from Chios has played an important role in this tradition. 

 

Built by the sea, Chios’ maritime villages are living examples of this long tradition, which is evident in their architecture, the works of art in the public places, the infrastructure projects that have been donated by shipbuilding families (such as the Fafalieion Stadium in Vrontados, the Livaneio High School of Kardamyla and the Schools of Merchant Navy). Everyday life here is built around and based on the sea.  

A landmark that one cannot miss at the seaside of Vrontados is the Lost Sailor, a sculpture by Thanasis Apartis, dedicated to the mariners that were lost at sea. Accordingly, Maramaro, the seaside of Kardamyla village, is dominated by the sculptures dedicated at the mariner of Kardamyla and the mothers of Kardamyla that bid farewell to their sons and husbands, as they set out for a long journey at sea. On arrival at Oinousses, we are greeted by the Mermaid, a sculpture by Mary Papakonstantinou, dedicated to the magic sea creature that wishes well to mariners on their trips and a speedy and safe return.

 

 

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Homer, poet of the world, and his relationship with Chios island

The great epic poet of the ancient world, creator of the Iliad and the Odyssey, is connected to Chios island through a tradition that dates back to ancient times and is alive until nowadays. Homer never mentioned his hometown sparkling thus a long dispute about it, as neither his biographers nor the researchers have agreed upon it. In this long dispute various Greek cities have claimed him, but Chios is always among them, and has become the predominant city claiming Homer’s origin. This connection is supported by a series of evidence from philological sources and archaeological findings to old local traditions. All this evidence has prompted the travelers that visited the island after the 14th century to seek zealously for signs of Homer’s school, his house and his grave. The travelers’ research on Homer added to this tradition that connect the epic poet to the island – a tradition that the people of Chios are very proud of.

On Homer’s trail

Which areas of Chios island are traditionally connected to the great epic poet of antiquity?

The temple of ancient goddess Cybele at Daskalopetra, also known as Homer’s Rock

The rock of Daskalopetra has been traditionally connected to the School of Homer. The main part of the rock has been thought of as the throne where the poet would sit, teach his students and recite his poems. The rock has always been visible since ancient times: an important site and reference for travelers and visitors.  

The interpretation of the ancient monument has long been disputed as well. The archaeological research has now concluded that it was an open-air temple of the ancient goddess Cybele, patron of nature and fertility, whose worship was popular in Chios. However, the misunderstanding with Homer might not be accidental. Some researchers have observed that the goddess’ worship could be connected to poetry competitions and Homerides, bards from Chios, who claimed that their ancestry dated back to Homer himself.


 Volissos &  Pityos

In ancient times there were no authentic historic records on the life and work of Homer, there were a lot of authors who tried to gather evidence that were part of the tradition and the collective memory. This way, the poet’s biographies were created mostly like fairy tales. The oldest and longest biography we know of is by Herodotus of Alicarnassus, known as Pseudoherodotus. The author describes Homer’s arrival and life in Chios. Among other things, he mentions his arrival on the island from Focea of Erythrea, when he spent one night at the beach. After that, he travelled into the mainland and arrived at the village we know today as Pityos. There he wandered in the forest where he had various adventures and he was taken in by a shepherd named Glaucus. The shpeperd led him to Volissos village, where he stayed and worked as a teacher, teaching the local lord’s children. Similar accounts are repeated in other biographies of the poet, connecting Homer to these parts of North Chios.  

 Homer and the travelers: “Epano merea”

 This connection was further supported by the accounts of the travelers that visited Chios from the 14th to the 19th century. They enthusiastically searched “Homeric sites”, recorded their experiences and the locals’ accounts and created maps marking important sites, such as Homer’s settlement and Homer’s grave.

Traveller Christoforo Buondelmonti was a characteristic example. He refers to “Epano merea” the Northwest past of the island, marking on the map he designed "Homer’s grave" and "Homer’s citadel".

 

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Όμηρος, ο ποιητής του κόσμου και η σχέση του με τη Χίο

Ο μεγάλος επικός ποιητής της αρχαιότητας, δημιουργός της Ιλιάδας και της Οδύσσειας, συνδέεται με το νησί της Χίου με μια παράδοση που ξεκινά από τα βάθη των αρχαίων χρόνων και παραμένει ζωντανή μέχρι σήμερα. Ο ίδιος ποτέ δεν αναφέρθηκε άμεσα στο όνομα της πατρίδας του, πυροδοτώντας μια αιώνια διαμάχη για την καταγωγή του, αφού τόσο οι βιογράφοι του, όσο και όλοι οι συγγραφείς που ασχολήθηκαν με αυτόν στην πορεία των αιώνων δεν συμφωνούν μεταξύ τους για την πόλη καταγωγής του.  Σε αυτή την προαιώνια διαμάχη, εμφανίζονται διάφορες πόλεις να τον διεκδικούν, αλλά η Χίος είναι η επικρατέστερη, καθώς δεν λείπει ποτέ από τις σχετικές απαριθμήσεις.  Η Χίος στηρίζει τη σύνδεση αυτή με μια σειρά από στοιχεία, από φιλολογικές πηγές και αρχαιολογικά ευρήματα μέχρι μακραίωνες τοπικές παραδόσεις. Όλα αυτά έκαναν τους περιηγητές που επισκέπτονταν το νησί στα νεότερα χρόνια να αναζητούν με ζήλο τα ίχνη του διδασκαλείου του, του σπιτιού και του τάφου του, ανατροφοδοτώντας έτσι την παράδοση που τον συνδέει με το νησί – μία παράδοση για την οποία οι Χιώτες αισθάνονται ιδιαίτερα περήφανοι.

Στα ίχνη του Ομήρου

Ποιες περιοχές του νησιού συνδέει η παράδοση με τον μεγάλο επικό ποιητή της αρχαιότητας;

Ναός της Θεάς Κυβέλης στη Δασκαλόπετρα, Πέτρα του Ομήρου

Ο βράχος της Δασκαλόπετρας έχει συνδεθεί από την παράδοση με το Σχολείο του Ομήρου. Το κεντρικό έξαρμα του βράχου θεωρήθηκε ο θρόνος, όπου καθόταν ο ποιητής –δάσκαλος και δίδασκε τους μαθητές του, απαγγέλλοντας τα ποιήματά του. Ο βράχος αυτός ήταν ορατός πάντοτε από την αρχαιότητα μέχρι σήμερα, αποτελώντας πολύτιμο αξιοθέατο και σημείο αναφοράς για τους περιηγητές και τους επισκέπτες.

Για την ερμηνεία του αρχαίου μνημείου υπήρχε για πολλούς αιώνες διαμάχη μεταξύ των λογίων. Η αρχαιολογική έρευνα βεβαιώνει πλέον ότι πρόκειται για ένα υπαίθριο ιερό της Θεάς Κυβέλης, που ήταν προστάτιδα της φύσης και της γονιμότητας και η λατρεία της ήταν πολύ διαδεδομένη στη Χίο. Δεν αποκλείεται πάντως η σύγχυση αυτή να μην είναι τυχαία, καθώς όπως παρατηρούν κάποιοι ερευνητές, η λατρεία της θεάς είναι πιθανό να συνδεόταν με ποιητικούς αγώνες και με τους Ομηρίδες, Χιώτες ραψωδούς, που ισχυρίζονταν ότι η καταγωγή τους κρατούσε από τον ίδιο τον Όμηρο. 

 Βολισσός & Πιτυός

Καθώς από την αρχαιότητα δεν υπήρχαν αυθεντικά ιστορικά στοιχεία για τη ζωή και τη δράση του Ομήρου, υπήρξαν αρκετοί συγγραφείς που προσπάθησαν να συγκεντρώσουν στοιχεία που η παράδοση είχε διατηρήσει στη λαϊκή μνήμη, με τρόπο σχεδόν παραμυθικό, συνθέτοντας βιογραφίες του ποιητή. Η αρχαιότερη και μεγαλύτερη σε έκταση βιογραφία είναι του Ηροδότου Αλικαρνασσήος «Περί της Ομήρου γενέσιος και βιοτής», γνωστή ως Ψευδοηρόδοτος, στην οποία ο συγγραφέας περιγράφει την άφιξη και τη ζωή του Ομήρου στη Χίο. Μεταξύ άλλων αναφέρει ότι μετά την άφιξή του από τη Φώκαια της Ερυθραίας, ο Όμηρος έμεινε μια νύχτα στην ακρογιαλιά και στη συνέχεια ανεβαίνοντας το όρος έφτασε στο χωριό που ονομάζεται «Πίτυς», δηλαδή στο σημερινό Πιτυός. Εκεί περιπλανήθηκε στο δάσος και μετά από διάφορες περιπέτειες φιλοξενήθηκε στη στάνη ενός βοσκού, του Γλαύκου. Αυτός τον οδήγησε στη Βολισσό, όπου έμεινε και εργάστηκε ως οικοδιδάσκαλος για αρκετά χρόνια, διδάσκοντας τα παιδιά ενός τοπικού άρχοντα, που ονομαζόταν Χίος. Τα ίδια επαναλαμβάνονται σε αρκετές μεταγενέστερες βιογραφίες του ποιητή, συνδέοντας με αυτό τον τρόπο τις περιοχές αυτές της βόρειας Χίου με τη ζωή του μεγάλου ποιητή.

Ο Όμηρος και οι περιηγητές: «Επάνω Μερέα»  

Η σύνδεση αυτή ενισχύθηκε ακόμη περισσότερο από τις καταγραφές των περιηγητών οι οποίοι από το 14ο μέχρι και το 19ο αιώνα επισκέπτονταν  το νησί, και γεμάτοι ενθουσιασμό αναζητούσαν τους «Ομηρικούς τόπους», καταγράφοντας τις εμπειρίες τους από την επιτόπια έρευνα και τις διηγήσεις των ντόπιων και αποτυπώνοντας σε χάρτες τοποθεσίες και τοπωνύμια, όπως οικισμός του Ομήρου, τάφος του Ομήρου.

Χαρακτηριστική είναι η περίπτωση του Christoforo Buondelmonti, ο οποίος αναφέρεται στην «Επάνω μερέαν», σημειώνοντας στο χάρτη που σχεδίασε τον «τάφο του ποιητή Ομήρου» και την «κώμη-φρούριο Ομήρου» στο βορειοδυτικό τμήμα του νησιού. 

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An unforgettable walk in Chios Castle

Walking in Chios Castle is like time travel. Let’s get lost in the narrow spiral alleys marked by history and time. Although in the city center, everything here is tranquil, while at the same time it is one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods of the city. Every time we walk around Chios Castle there is something new to discover.

We enter the Castle via the Great Entrance at the south part of the castle. Also known as “Porta Maggiore”, it is an example of the Italian influence on Chios island, as it was built by the Venetians in 1694.

Next to the Dark Dungeon, the Giustiniani palace was the headquarters of the Genovese administration. Today, after its renovation, it hosts periodical exhibitions by the Ephorate of Antiquities.

The Ottoman cemetery is located at the Castle square, where members of the Ottoman administration were buried between 1822 and 1890. Among other elaborate tombstones we can see the one dedicated to Captain Pasha Kara Ali, head of the Turkish navy, whose flagship was set on fire by Constantine Kanaris, at Chios port, in June 1822.

Bairakli Cami, the only surviving mosque in Chios Castle, was built at the beginning of the 20th century on the ruins of an older one. Walking on the main street, St. George is the central church of Chios Castle. It was built in 993 A.D. and during the ottoman times it operated as a mosque. The church’s courtyard is shared with the building of the old ottoman school which has now been restored and serves as the offices of the Ephorate of Antiquities.

Our next stop is the group of the Ottoman Baths, also known as hammam. They were successfully restored in 2012 and have since become one of the most impressive buildings one can visit in the Castle. Cultural events and exhibitions are often held there. 

Walking on after the baths, we can walk up to the eastern Castle Seawall. We can enjoy the view of the Aegean and the island’s east coastline. From this point, we can get a better sense of the size and shape of the castle as well as experiencing walking on the walls of one of the few castles of Greece that has retained its original seaside character.

Back to the Castle square, we can enjoy our coffee or drink at one of the cafes. In the streets of the Castle, we discover the traditional taverns to relax with a couple of local meze and ouzo – admittedly the best way to end this beautiful day at Chios Castle.

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