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Kassos
Kassos
gets its name from the son of Kleomahos of Crete. It is a small
island with a ragged coastline has crystal clear waters and warm and
friendly people. Especially if you like gourmet food, their
specialties are absolutely delicious. This is the result of the
myriads of aromatic Greek herbs used in their preparation.
The Pelasgic Walls of the island were built around 1,200 B.C. Ikaros
showed us ruins of their ancient towns, with an abundance of
ceramics and vases of Minoan artistry. One may easily see the
architectural influence of the Minoan Era on the style of ancient
Kassos. Such influence can be seen on other ancient parts and trade
centers in the Aegean Sea called Minoa. The areas of Pigadia in
Karpathos, Akrotiri in Thera, Trianda in Rodos, Filakopi in Milos,
Saint Irene in Kea, and Militos were known Minoa.
In 1537 the Turks occupied Kassos and Karpathos. During the Turkish
occupation all of the islands of the Dodecanese enjoyed a privilege
granted by Sultan Suleiman, according to which all Turkish generals,
admirals and civil officials, should they at any time come into
contact with the islanders, were forbidden to maltreat them or
interfere in their affairs. For this reason they paid a special tax
in kind twice annually. They were allowed self-government by elected
elders of the community. The only Turkish official present was the
so-called Soumbasis who refrained from interfering in regional
issues. According to accounts of Greek and foreign travellers,
Kassos was deserted and in ruins from 1579 -1599.
The town restored by 1622, detached itself from the Archbishopric of
Karpathos and established its Patriarchal Province. In 1670 the
population totaled 5.000. In (1768 - 1774) the island was occupied
by the Russians, who repeatedly embroiled themselves in clashes with
the Greeks. After the signing of the Koutjouk Kainartji treaty
(10-12 July 1774), the Russians evacuated the island and they were
once more under Turkish domination. The French philosopher Claude
Savary, who visited Kassos in 1778, gives a very vivid account of
his landing in the historical little port known as the Bucca. He
also writes of the legendary hospitality, the traditions, dress,
customs, their bravery and most commendable abilities for survival.
The Kassiots together with the rest of the islanders of the
Dodecanese, despite Turkish oppression, managed to live their usual
lives. They were self-ruled, maintained schools and upheld national
and religious morale.
If one happens to be in Kassos on June 7th, one can witness their
commemoration of the tragic holocaust of the people of Kassos by the
Turks in the 1800’s. Ikaros reminded us that Turkey had occupied
Greece for four hundred years! He said that the Greeks owe their
existence as a nation and their ethnic survival to their brave
ancestors who fought as lions and lionesses and sacrificed
themselves to gain Hellenic Independence in 1821 from the Turkish
occupational forces. For a moment, it seemed to us that the ragged
beauty of Kassos represents the determination and perseverance of
the Greek spirit to be free.
In the 18th century, Kassos established its own merchant fleet and
grew rich from trade. It played an active role in the Greek War of
Independence of 1821, earning the revenge of the Turko Egyptian
armada, which set fire to the island in May 1824 and subsequently
slaughtered its inhabitants.
Kassos
has not been explored archaeologically. The archaeologist Ludwig
Ross visited Kassos in 1843 and wrote that Kassos, having been laid
waste repeatedly over the centuries and inflicted with raids by
Franks, Saracens, Turks, Barbarians and other Mediterranean pirates,
failed to preserve outstanding samples of its historical legacy.
Professor Ross found inscriptions "The Hellenic Writing" at Akti.
Also from that period, as well as the Late Roman/Early Byzantine
era, he found inscriptions, columns, fragments of statues, coins,
tombs and funerary & vases.
Ellinokamara - a cave enclosed with a Hellenic wall of large stone
blocks. This spot is worth visiting with a view to admiring and
paying homage to the endeavors of the Greek ancestors. It is said
that in the interior of Ellinokamara there was a plaque at one time
with the inscription: - "He who forces me will regret it, but he who
does not force me will also feel regret.
When the Greek Revolution came to its successful end and a new
nation was formed in 1829, Kassos and the rest of the Dodecanese
were omitted; they were to remain under the Turkish yoke - a period
of 400 years altogether. In 1912 the Italians, in their war against
the Turks, occupied the Dodecanese, including Kassos. Nevertheless,
the Kassiots, unable to suppress their urge to manifest their
nationalistic dreams, continued to press for union with the
motherland. This however was something that did not take place until
7th. March 1948. At this point, the fact must be mentioned that the
population of Kassos has dwindled sadly. In 1821 it amounted to
about 11.000, in 1912 it was 6.700, during the Italian occupation it
dropped considerably, and today it is only about 1.200
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