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Kassos

 

HISTORY

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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