Transcript of Syros island - Greece. The Lady of the Aegean. ( Nikos)
- 1. St. Nikolaos.Music: Fragosiriani ~ Markos Vamvakaris ~
Classic Greek Orchestral Click to continue
- 2. CycladesGREECESYROS ISLAND
- 3. Syros History The name Syros probably comes from the ancient
name "Sour" or "Osoura" which meant rocky inancient Phoenician
language. Homer mentions Syros island in Odyssey as "Syrii".
Archaelogicalfindings that came to light in the late 19th century
at "Chalandriani" site, northeast on the islandare thought to be of
the 2800 BC era, the second period of the Protocycladic
civilisation. The findings include graves, statuettes and various
artifacts which are now found at the NationalArchaeological Museum
in Athens, at the Goulandris Cycladic Art Museum and the local
SyrosArchaeological Museum. Syros has been the birthplace of
ancient philosopher, physicist and astronomer Pherekydes, mid6th
century BC. During these times, 2 cities existed on Syros. One
located as today Hermoupolis(Ermoupoli) and more specifically at
the Pefkakia-Psariana location and another one at todayGalissas
(ancient Galissos). Later, by the 5th to 4th century BC, Syros
became a member of the Athenian Alliance and after ashort period of
tension during the 3rd century BC, Syros thrives again in the 2nd
century BC.During the 1st century BC, Syros develops to an
important naval hub. For the centuries to follow,Syros is a
permanent target of the Pirates and its population decreases
significantly. During the 8th century AD, Ano Syros starts to get
built. On 1207 it is conquered by the Venetians,and during the 360
years of occupation, the local people have been converted to the
Catholicdoctrine. In 1566, Syros is conquered by the Turks, but
during the whole duration of Turkish occupation,Syros is under the
protection of France and the Pope himself. In 1617 the Turkish
fleet destroysSyros. During the 16th and until the 18th century,
Syros population has been around 2500 Catholic and150-200 Orthodox
Christians. During the 19th century, Syros had the biggest
commercial, industrial and cultural in its history.More
specifically Ermoupoli (Hermoupolis), which has been founded by
refugess that came fromChios, Smyrni, Psara, Kassos and Crete. The
Catholic influence is limited and Syros contributes financially to
the the Greek revolution. Inthe middle of the century, Syros is
already at its peak of economic and cultural development,which last
until the end of the century. The German Occupation, the famine of
1941 and the bombings, destroy the social and economiclife of
Syros. The attempt to reconstruct Ermoupoli, once again in the long
history of Syros,begins after the liberation.
- 4. Ermoupoli (Hermoupolis)History Ermoupoli, capital of Syros
Island and of the Cyclades island complex, isfounded in 1821 by
refugees that gradually arrive on the island from AsiaMinor, Chios,
Kassos, Psara and Crete. It is given that name to honor theancient
god of commerce Hermes ( Hermes = Ermis , Polis = City) Ermoupoli
rapidly develops into a great commercial centre and becomesthe most
important port of the Eastern Mediterranean. In 1823, the
firsthospital of modern Greece is founded in Syros. In 1833 it
becomes thecapital of the prefecture and the first High School of
modern Greece isfounded by Neofitos Vamvas, a school where
Eleftherios Venizelos hasbeen a student. Many shipyards are built,
which employ around 2000people and around 80 ships per year are
built there. The first greeksteamboat is built in Ermoupolis Syros
in 1854. At the same time, the banking and insurance markets
develop. Industryis also thriving with most active sectors being
tannage, soapmaking, ironmetallurgy, flour industry, textile
industry etc. The growing prosperity ofErmoupoli and Syros
continues until the end of the 19th century whenthe population
reaches 30000 inhabitants. But the changes that occuredin the
following years in maritime commerce, shake the economy ofSyros and
Ermoupoli starts to decline.
- 5. ErmoupoliThe city of Ermoupoli As a capital of the Cyclades
prefecture, Ermoupoli is host tomany public services and
administrative offices of the Greekgovernment. Courts of justice,
Prefecture Administration,South Aegean Region administration,
Customs Office, TaxOffice Fire Department and Directorates of
Agriculture, Forests,Education, Commerce, Fisheries, Urban design
etc. The areacovered by the Ermoupoli Municipality is 926 acres and
thepopulation is around 13000 inhabitants. Social life in Syros and
Ermoupoli, in contrast to the majority ofthe Cyclades islands,
remains alive even during the winterseason. Dozens of cultural,
professional, athletic, artistic andcharity clubs stimulate the
interest of the inhabitants and thevisitors to Syros island.
Theatrical and Cinema events, musicand dance festivals, lectures
and sports evente, seminars andworkshops and art exhibitions are
some of the elements of thesocial life in Syros island.
- 6. Neighborhoods in Ermoupoli Psariana, where the Kimisis
(Assumption) Church is located and alittle bit higher you can find
Pefkakia. Neapoli, Taksiarchis and Ksirokampos on the road that
leads toAno Syros, near the Church of Saint George Vaporia, just
next to Saint Nicolas church. Vaporia is the rich districtwith the
imposing mansions that overlook the Aegean Sea and havea direct
view of Mykonos island when the atmosphere is clear. Mostof these
mansions belong to shipowners and industry owners andtheir rooms
are full of murals (wall paintings) and impressive
ceilingpaintings. Vrontado can be found just below the church of
Anastasi(Resurrection) Dili on the top of the Dili hill probably
got its name from "DiliosApollo" where you can find the Anastasi
church (Resurrection) Lazareta is the area around the old
Quarantine building and islocated at the south part of Syros
port.
- 7. Ermoupoli (Hermoupolis) Sightseeing The Miaouli Square, with
the statue of Andreas Miaoulis (1889) in the centre and the marble
platform forthe Syros Philharmonic (1907) showing embossed
representations of ancient god Apollo and the 9 Muses. Syros City
Hall. The most imposing structure in Ermoupoli, took 22 years to
complete. Its founations wereset in 1876 and completed in 1898. The
architect was Ernest Chiller and the mayor of
ErmoupoliD.Vafiadakis. The Ermoupoli City Hall is open to the
public in the morning and sometimes of the year inweekends. Syros
Archaeological Museum, is located inside the Syros City Hall, in
its northeastern side, its entrancebeing on the Em. Benaki street.
You can find various exhibits, ranging from the Proto-Cycladic to
theByzantine era. Entrace to the Syros Archaeological Museum is
free of charge and the telephone number is22810-88487. The Cyclades
Historical Archive, is found on the first floor of the Ladopoulos
building, right on the left ofErmoupoli City Hall. The archives are
rich in information as early as 1821 (Greek War for
Independence)and they are open to any researcher or visitor. The
Cultural Centre of Ermoupoli is located on the first floor in the
building right on the right side ofSyros City Hall. In the same
building you can also find the Cycladic Art Museum with exhibits
replicas ofthe Proto-Cycladic civilisation. On the ground floor,
with entrance from Themidos street, you can find the"Art hall
Ermoupoli". The Public Library of Syros is housed in the ground
floor of the Cultural Centre as well. It boasts 35000books, some of
which are very old and rare. In the small terrace in front of the
building, there are busts offamous Syros historical personalities
Em. Roidis, G. Souris, Dim. Vikelas, Tim. Ampelas, Rita
Boumi-Pappa. The first High School of modern Greece opened its
doors in 1833 in Ermoupoli. Eleftherios Venizelosand Petros
Protopapadakis have been students of Syros High School. The
building is today used by the"University of the Aegean". The Church
of Metamorphosis of Jesus is located at the end of the
granite-paved street, around 200metres to the left behind the Syros
City Hall. It was in the terrace of this church, where the first
inhabitantsof Ermoupoli gathered and officially named the city as
"Ermoupoli". The church is rich in icons and relics.In the southern
entrance, the grave of Anthimos Gazis (1828) can be found. The
Church of the Assumption (Kimisis) was built in 1829 and is host to
the famous icon of "TheAssumption of Holy Mary" by El Greco
(Dominikos Theotokopoulos). The building of the Maritime School of
Syros can be found by the port next to "Kymata" beach. The
firstGreek Telegraph Office used to operate there in 1858 and
employed 160 people.
- 8. Ermoupoli (Hermoupolis) Sightseeing The impressive Syros
Customs Office buildings and Warehouses by the port have been
builtin 1861. Now except the customs office , they also house the
"Cyclades Picture Gallery" whichwas founded in 1994. The Catholic
church of Evagelistria, is found at the end of Protopapadaki street
and has beenbuilt in the early 19th century. The Apollon theatre
was built in 1864 by design of P.Sampo and enjoyed years of glory
until theGerman occupation, when it was almost completely
destroyed. In the latest decades, there havebeen consecutive
attempts to restore the Apollon theatre and today it is functional
as a theatreagain. The Church of Saint Nicolas, lies just a few
metres far from Apollon theatre. The constructionfinished in 1905
after works of 61 years! It is a magnificent church that every
visitor must visit. Inthe small garden the lies the monument of the
"unburied soldier" or "unknown soldier", which isthe first monument
to be built for the unknown soldiers that fought for freedom. It is
a work of thesculptor G.Vitalis (1880). You can also find there the
busts of "Rethymnis" brothers, which werethe main benefactors for
this monument. The Cemetery of Saint George is located in the
Neapoli area. It is separate in 3 parts: One with the simple
gravestones, the second which is still in use today and the third
which boastsa multitude of tomb monuments and vaults, small
chapels, statues, busts and looks more like anopen museum rather
than a cemetery. It is definitely worth a visit. If you decide to
visit thiscemetery, you can also find the Catholic cemetery of
Syros and the British cemetery of Syrosin walking distance. The
church of Anastasi (Resurrection) is found on top of the Dili hill,
which is the right one aswe look from the Syros port. The left
hill, where Ano Syros lies, has the Catholic church of SaintGeorge
on top. The Syros Karnagio (shipyard for small boats) and Tarsanas
(shipyard for small boatrepairs) are places where wooden boats are
being built and repaired and are located next to themajor shipyard
of Syros, Neorion shipyards. The Quarantine House, is located at
Lazareta area and is a huge building constructed in 1837 inorder to
quarantine the travellers and shipmen that arrived to Syros at
times when cholera andother deadly diseases hit Europe. During the
Cretan Revolution for Independence in 1866 it wasused as a shelter
for the Crete refugees and in the end of the 19th century as a
prison .
- 9. Possidonia, Syros InformationHomer mentions the existence of
two towns in Syros. One of themwas located in the area of
Possidonia - Finikas. It was the older ofthe two, was early
destroyed and it has also been considered as aPhoenician colony.The
specific location of this town is defined by the remaining
ofconstructions, graces, ancient objects and a necropolis of
thePrehistoric era.Ancient Possidonia, a place where Possidon (God
of the sea) wasworshipped, was given the name Delagratsia during
the VenetianEra due to the small chapel of Madonna Della Grazia.
The cave ofRozos with the Mycenean foundings was - according to the
legend -a treasures hideout guarded by a fairy.
- 10. Ano Syros InformationThe scenic "Ano Sira" as the locals
call this unique village, features walls,narrow streets and arches
and preserves its medieval form almost intactthrough the
years.Among the low ceiling houses we meet the traditional taverns
where MarkosVamvakaris and Vasilis Tsitsanis - figures of the
folkloric music - used tosing with the company of their bouzouki.
Its alleys with the innumerablesteps give to the town the charm of
a different era. From here you canadmire an outstanding view and
the sight embraces the Aegean all the wayto neighboring Tinos and
Mykonos Islands.During the summer there are often folcloric
exhibitions and every two yearsthe visitor enjoys the so-called
Apanosyria, which include cultural events,theatrical plays,
concerts and lectures. In the numerous taverns you willhear old
local songs and taste wonderful appetizers while a bar will
alwaysbe open for you to enjoy a last drink!
- 11. Markos Vamvakaris Vamvakaris was born on May 10, 1905 in
Ano Syros (aka Ano Chora), Syros, Greece.His family belonged to the
sizeable Roman Catholic community of the island, theFrankosyrians,
a name deriving from the common Greek reference to West
Europeanscollectively as "Franks". At the age of twelve, believing
he was wanted by the police, Vamvakaris left Syros andwent to
Piraeus. He worked as a stevedore, employee at a pit-coal mine,
polisher,paperman, butcher and other jobs. He heard a bouzouki
player playing, and swore thatif he did not learn to play the
instrument in six months he would cut off his hand with acleaver
(he was working in the Athens slaughterhouse at the time). He
learnedbouzouki, becoming an innovative virtuoso player, and began
to compose music, andwrite songs. At first he often played in
hashish smoking establishments known asTekes, later he and his
band, which included Giorgos Batis, Anestis Delias and
StratosPagioumtzis played in more legitimate clubs. They were
extremely popular, andMarkos made many recordings. Vamvakaris
recorded his first rebetiko disc, Na Rchosouna Re Magka Mou in
1932.Among other songs in that period, he wrote the classic love
song "Frangkosyriani" . After the liberation of Greece from the
occupation of Nazi Germany, difficult timesarrived, since his kind
of music was no longer fashionable. He also suffered badly
witharthritis in his hands that crippled his bouzouki playing and
asthma that hampered hissinging. The slump in his fortunes lasted
until the early 1960s, when after initiatives byVassilis Tsitsanis,
many of his old songs were revived, sung by modern singersincluding
Grigoris Bithikotsis, and Stratos Dionysiou. Vamvakaris died on
February 8,1972 at the age of 66. As the years pass, his towering
contribution to Greek music emerges. All other laikocomposers, of
his time and afterwards, revered him as their master teacher, and
MikisTheodorakis remarked: "We all, we are but branches of a tree.
Markos is that tree".
- 12. Ano SyrosErmoupolis Syros
- 13. Ano Syros Ermoupolis Syros St. Nikolaos.
- 14. St. Nikolaos.
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