| Page Views: 12,837 Last Visit to Lesvos: August, 2005 I Visit Here Frequently | Lyrism Through The Air by Nick_Greek - last update: Sep 13, 2005 |
Geography And History Of The Island | Mithimna (Molyvos), Lesvos isl., Greece |
Lesvos is located on the north-eastern part of the Aegean Sea in Greece and is populated by around 95.000 people. It is the third in size Greek island after Crete and Evia capturing 1636 square km. The main town is Mytilene (or Mytilini) which is located in the eastern part of the island.Mytilene has a harbor connecting it with the rest of Greece and an airport where there are daily arrivals from Athens and Salonika. The main products of Lesvos are all olive derivatives including 1 of the best selections of Greek extra virgin olive oil, salt, goat cheese, fish and ouzo. Actually Lesvos is the main and the most famous ouzo producing area in Greece. Every Greek knows that the best of this famous Greek spirit is produced on Lesvos isl.
History : the first human steps on Lesvos are lost somwhere between history and mythology. The only sure is that Lesvos is one of the first islands to be inhabited as there are several foundings showing that it was one of the main places where The Northern Aegean Civilization reigned. Actually this civilization is the first to exist in Greece and it used as a centre the nearby island of Lemnos and historians believe that it first appeared back in 3500-3000 BC (long before the Cretan Minoan civil.). The most amazing thing is that the first steps of Democracy seem to have taken place on Lemnos where it was found the first parliament ever.. But the major history of Lesvos begins at the 7th century BC. By then the Aeolic island of Lesvos gave birth to Lyrism. Ancient Greek Lyric Poetry flourished and we can say died on Lesvos. The major representors were Sappho and Alkaeos. Actually, Sappho who was born in Eressos was maybe one of the few women in ancient Greece to gain such an infuence. She was known of her homosexuality and her name was connected with the global female homosexuality movement .She was the one to give birth to the word "lesbian" indicating female homosexuality in the whole world (actually lesbian means the inhabitant of Lesvos (or Lesbos in latin). She found the first lyric school in Eressos that was originated strictly for women and she sang very freequently the female love. But above all these she is thought to die after commiting suicide because of her love to a man. During the antiquity Lesvos had 4 major cities.These were Mytilene, Mithimna, Eressos and Antissa.The island was so wealthy and its nature was (and remains) so pure and various that made Herodote to call Lesvos " The Paradise On Earth " (I could hardly disagree with this opinion..:)). Moreover Lesvos was the first Greek region to step foot to the Athenian Ally during the classic years (5th cent. BC). After the Roman years, Lesvos followed the faith of the rest Greece. She was driven to the Byzantine Orthodox medieval times. The isl. still has got something from the Byzantine glory mixed with oriental and Genobeze characteristics (this place was gradually conquered by Byzantines, Genobese, Saracaens and finally Ottomans).The Ottomans conquered Lesvos at the first years of the 16th century AD and found this as a great achievement. They actually used to call Lesvos " The Empire's Gardens" (an Empire which captured all the south-eastern part of Europe, Asia Minor, Middle East and Northern Africa) because of the island's rich nature. The island inclined during the Ottoman years as trade became the inhabitants' favorite "sport".The island was rich and people were wealthy. Lesvos was set free in 1913 after the first Balkan War and since then it is rejoint to Greece. |
| Colors in Petra, Lesvos isl. Greece |
|  | Mythology Mythology of Lesvos is rich and expected for such a big island as Lesvos is. here are two stories connected to Lesvos :
Names: Mythology wants the first inhabitant on the isl. to be a king from the Makaran islands named Lesvos. Lesvos found a colonny on the place and he gave birth to 2 daughters: Mytilene and Mithimna. When his daughters grew up he gave them as a dowry the island's biggest cities by then and named them after their names.
Dafnes And Chloe: Dafnes and Chloe was a very in-love young couple living in the magnificent countryside of Lesvos. Chloe was a really beautiful girl and Zeus the Greatest of The Gods who had a delicassy in young women fell in love with her turned her lover into a bush very known in Greek nature and chased her. Chloe then begged her protector goddess Hera who turned her into grass.. Pretty sad? |
Nowadays Nowadays Lesvos tries to overpass all the Greek econimc problems. Tourism and oil production remain the main economic activities on Lesvos and the locals are giving their best efforts to show the best side of their island. Some public use works have been constructed but there is way to go..The streets on Lesvos are dangerous with lots of turns and the tourism activity is low financed and not always on the right steps. Despite the difficulties though, Lesvos is in my opinion the most beautiful Greek island which keeps its own character and remains picturesque no matter what. Greek artists who first visit the island are so fascinated by its beauty that they chose to buy a house and live there permanently. | | |
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| Pros: | "Pure and Rich nature, fascinating mature landscapes good food and original character (difficult to find this in Greece nowadays..)" | | Cons: | "As a big island, Lesvos' villages are in a long-distance the one from another. Tourism is being developped only in specific villages." | | In A Nutshell: | "The Perfect Combination Between People And Nature" |
Nick_Greek's Lesvos Travel Tips
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 Comments for Nick_Greek about Lesvos | | | | |
chloeanne Wed Apr 22, 2009 15:08 UTC
I lived on the island for 5 months (winter) I think I was the only tourist in Molivos. I fell in love of course..with the island, and of course a cat. She now lives in Canada with me. I finally coming back to my island...who knows, maybe another cat too. | sayedaburas Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:16 UTC
Thavmasio ! | Tina-Perth Sat Apr 29, 2006 13:32 UTC
Great and interesting tips Nick. You've put me in the mood for some Ouzo now! : ) | DPando Fri Apr 28, 2006 23:11 UTC
jajj !! i love this page!!! remind menorca ..and i always try too shot any cat on my pages !! lol well done |
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