Chios island in Greece. Chios Island in Greece A brief excursion into history

Chios is an island in the Eastern Sporades archipelago in the Aegean Sea, near the western coast of the Asia Minor peninsula.

TRAGEDY OF CHIOS

On April 11, 1822, the Chios Massacre occurred - the massacre of the Turks against the inhabitants of the island of Chios in retaliation for the islanders' support of the independence fighters.

The Greek island of Chios lies along the Asia Minor coast.

Millions of years ago, the island was part of the Aegean - a single land mass that lay on the site of the current Aegean Sea and included mainland Greece, the Ionian Islands, the peninsula of Asia Minor and the entire area from Crete to Thrace. As a result of tectonic activity at the end of the Neogene, the subsidence of the land began, magma made its way into the cracks and the added volcanic activity formed the modern appearance of the archipelagos of the Aegean Sea. In addition, the end of the Ice Age raised the level of the world's seas and finally separated Chios from Asia Minor. Today it is the Chios (Chesme) Strait between Chios and the Turkish Karaburun Peninsula. In the middle of the strait lies the maritime border between Greece and Turkey.

The surface of the island is rocky with hills and the Provatas mountain range, which divides the island into eastern and western parts. The island is composed mainly of limestone and shale, the coastline is broken.

Chios is one of the centers of Aegean culture; its most ancient inhabitants were the Leleg and Carian tribes. Since the 8th century. Chios was a large trade and craft slaveholding city that traded the best wine in Greece, mastic, marble, clay for making pottery and figs throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. The first slave market in Greece also appeared in Chios: it was closest to Asia Minor, from where slaves were brought.

In the 1st century Chios fell under the rule of the Roman Empire, from the end of the 4th to the 13th centuries. it was owned by the Byzantine emperors until the 16th century. - Genoese.

In 1566, the island came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. The inhabitants of the island, including because they mined precious mastic for the Sultan's court, enjoyed some privileges under the Turks. There was brisk trade here: Chios served as a stopover for ships sailing between Constantinople, Syria and Alexandria.

The apparent prosperity of the islanders ended as soon as the Greeks on the continent began the war of liberation in 1821, and the inhabitants of Chios supported them. In 1822, the Turks dealt with the population of the island. This most terrible page in all of Greek history was called the Chios Massacre.

Before this bloody event, the Turks had already carried out massacres on other Greek islands. The inhabitants of Chios assumed that their somewhat privileged position in the Ottoman Empire would save their lives, but they were sadly mistaken. Vahit Pasha, sent from Istanbul by Sultan with an army, ordered “to grant life only to the young who agree to accept Islam, old people are excluded.” By order of Vahit Pasha, children under three years of age, boys and men over twelve, and women over forty were killed. Of the island's 120,000 inhabitants, 25,000 were killed, about 45,000 were sold into slavery, and 23,000 fled the island. Subsequently, the refugees formed a large Chios diaspora abroad. It was they who spread the details of this monstrous atrocity throughout the world, and the Greek word “sphagi” (massacre), which they used, still means the Chios massacre today.

The survivors on the island were forcibly converted to Islam, and Chios itself lost its economic significance for a long time. They simply did not dare to return and live here.

In 1881, the island was almost destroyed by a powerful earthquake that lasted intermittently for more than a week: up to 10,000 people died, and the city of Chios was almost completely destroyed.

Chios joined independent Greece only in 1912.

FRAGRANCES OF CHIOS

Even the ancients noted that Chios is a mixture of several magical aromas: mastic, which makes the trees cry, and wine, which to this day has retained the glory of the best in this region of the Mediterranean.

Chios is not small at all, it is the fifth largest of the Greek islands. However, after the Chios Massacre of 1822, the population of Chios never recovered to its previous size. Today, just over a third of the population of 1822 lives here.

The islanders receive income from citrus plantations, vineyards and olive groves. Wine is made here, which has been in great demand in Europe since ancient times. However, most of the island is covered not with vineyards, but with shrubs and groves of Aleppo pine - a typically Mediterranean thorny vegetation adapted to heat and relatively little moisture.

The most famous product from Chios remains mastic, collected by residents of mastic villages since the times of Ancient Rome, although it is no longer the main source of income: winemaking and international tourism provide much more money.

Despite wars and a sharp decline in population, the islanders have preserved the ancient tradition of collecting mastic, dating back to ancient times, an aromatic resin from the mastic tree, used in perfumery, cosmetology and in the production of expensive varnish. The resin is released from cuts in the tree in the form of drops, hence its local name - “Tears of Chios”. And the “Mastic” trademark officially belongs to Chios. In the south of the island there is a mastic collecting area called Masticochoria, and in it there are seven so-called mastic villages with narrow streets and fortified towers and gates, built centuries ago to protect against pirates.

No less famous are the Easter celebrations in Chios, in the village of Vrontados, called “ruketopolemos” (missile war) - the largest fireworks display in the entire Mediterranean. The peaceful village turns into a “battlefield” between the “Bogorodniki” (parishioners of the Church of the Virgin Mary) and the “St. Mark’s Church” (parishioners of the Church of St. Mark). For a whole year, both sides stock up on homemade rockets and on the night of Holy Saturday begin to launch thousands of rockets in the direction of rival churches. Due to the indescribable barrage of fire, the night becomes as bright as day. The tradition of “ruketopolemos” appeared during the Turkish yoke (XV-XIX centuries).

Here, in Vrontados, according to legend, the great Hellenic poet Homer, creator of the epic poems “Iliad” and “Odyssey,” was born (or lived for some time). On the shore, where, according to legend, Homer gathered students and listeners to his works, lies a stone nicknamed Daskalopetra, or “teacher’s stone.”

On the island of Chios there is a site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990 - the monastery of Nea Moni, founded in the first half of the 11th century. It was heavily damaged during the Chios massacre of 1822 and the earthquake of 1881.

The main city and port bears the same name as the island - Chios, it faces the Turkish coast. The port hosts a lively trade in wine and citrus fruits produced on the island. The main historical building of the city is the Byzantine fortress of Kastro, which was later completed by the Genoese. In ancient times, the walls of the fortress were also the border of the city. When the Turks captured the city in 1566, Christians were forced to settle outside the city walls, and a Muslim quarter remained outside the fortress walls.

ATTRACTIONS OF CHIOS ISLAND

Natural:

■ Kambos Plain.

■ Mastic tree groves.

■ Black pebble beach of Mavra Volia.

Historical:

■ Sanctuary of Apollo Fangaios (from the 9th century BC) with a temple (second half of the 6th century BC).

■ Village of Emporio (circa 1800 BC).

■ Memorable places of the Chios massacre, mastic villages (IV-XVI centuries).

■ Byzantine fortress Kastro (1042-1056, completed by the Genoese in 1346).

■ Byzantine church (XIII century) with the Porta Maggiore gate.

■ Turkish fountain (1768).

■ Daskalopetra (“teacher’s stone”).

Cultural:

■ Justiniani Museum.

■ Byzantine Museum (Christian art).

■ Philippe Argendi Museum (exhibition about the Chios massacre of 1822).

Iconic:

■ Monasteries of Nea Moni (1042), St. Markella of Chios and Mundon (XVI century).

■ Cave chapels of Ayo-Gala (XV century).

■ There are several versions of the origin of the name of the island of Chios: from the name of Chione - the daughter of the character of the Greek myths Oenopion - the first king of Chios, from the name of Chios - the son of the god of the seas Poseidon, from the Latin letter X (the island is similar in outline, and in Greek it is read as Russian X), and, finally, from the mastic tree, which the Phoenicians called “chios”.
■ In ancient times, the city of Chios was one of the first in Ancient Greece to mint coins from electron, an alloy of silver and gold. Electron was very suitable for making coins because it is harder than gold and wears out more slowly.
■ The island of Chios is mentioned in the Bible (Acts 20:15) as one of the islands of the Aegean Sea, past which the Holy Apostle Paul sailed and stopped for some time during his last journey from Philippi (a Macedonian city on the Aegean coast) to Jerusalem .
■ In 1922-1923, after the Second Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922, a population exchange took place between Greece and Turkey, and at the same time the few Turks who still remained on Chios left the island. And some of the Greek refugees from Ionia moved to the island.
■ One of the most famous natives of the island of Chios is the Greek composer and politician Mikis Theodorakis (born 1925). The composer's most famous work is the music for the sirtaki dance, which is sometimes mistakenly considered an ancient folk dance. In fact, the music and dance were specially created for the Greek film Zorba the Greek, released in 1964. Sirtaki became the most popular Greek dance in the world and a cultural symbol of Greece.
■ The black sand beach of Mavra Volia, according to legend, appeared on Chios after the eruption of the Santorini volcano around 1645-1600. Don. e.
■ Almost every village on the western coast of Chios, which is located at the foot of the hills and mountains, has a system of stone “balconies” built on the slope, built at an equal distance from one another. “Balconies” are unique observation points from which the islanders watched ships approaching the shore in order to have time to hide from pirates.
■ On the rock facing the village of Kardamila, a giant Latin letter V is painted in white paint; it is visible from afar. The letter was made immediately after the liberation of Greece during the Second World War: V - from the word Victory (victory). The paint is renewed every year and the letter looks like new.
■ The Justiniani Museum displays Christian frescoes, including one depicting Saint Isidore, revered on the island, who taught local residents the skill of making liqueur from mastic.

Chios in Greece is a picturesque island located in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Turkey. Until recently, mainly Greeks came here to relax, but in recent years the island has gained popularity among foreign tourists. It's not surprising! Untouched nature, excellent beaches, the authenticity of the local colorful villages, the variety of ancient architectural monuments and the mild Mediterranean climate make Chios a tasty morsel for travel lovers who like to combine a wonderful holiday on the coast with interesting excursions.

Business card

This is a special island in Greece! Chios is known throughout the world as the main supplier of mastic - a special resin produced by mastic trees. It is called here “Tears of Chios” and is used to produce all kinds of cosmetics, food products and alcoholic beverages. It is impossible to confuse it with anything! The aroma of mastic is very specific and always recognizable; it’s worth getting to know it once.

History and modernity

The first official mentions of life on Chios date back to the first millennium BC. By that time, tribes of Carians and Leleges had lived here for quite a long time, but the Ionians forced them out, later forming a trading city famous for its wine, mastic and marble. At the same time, Chios is also famous for the fact that it was here that the first slave market in Greece appeared. From the second half of the 1st century AD, the island became part of the Roman Empire, and then, after its fall, it came under the rule of Byzantium. Chios was under the Venetians, the Genoese, and the Crusaders. The Turks, of course, also did not ignore the beautiful island, periodically capturing it. The most terrible chapter in the history of Chios is also connected with them, when on April 11, 1822, the infamous Chios massacre took place here, in which out of 155 thousand Greeks inhabiting the island at that time, the Turks slaughtered 25 thousand people, the rest were sold into slavery, leaving no more untouched 2 thousand inhabitants. For many decades after this tragedy, the island was practically uninhabited; the local population was dominated by Muslims and Sephardic Jews from Spain. And only starting in 1912, having again become part of Greece, Chios was gradually repopulated by Greeks - refugees from Ionia, who were exchanged for Turks and Jews.

What to see, where to visit

There are really a lot of attractions here. One of the main ones is the Chios Fortress, a 10th-century architectural monument that miraculously survived the events of 1822 and the earthquake of 1881. It is also worth a look at Kambos, the southern suburb of the capital of the island - the city of Chios. Buildings from the reign of the Genoese have been preserved here. You should definitely visit one of the medieval fortified villages in the south of the island. The most famous of them is Pyrgi. It is famous not only for its endless groves of mastic trees, but also for its unique technique of finishing buildings - the so-called “xista”, which is an unusual, non-repeating engraving on stone. In the village of Olympia you can admire an impressive cave covered with stalactites and stalagmites. And the village of Vrontado is famous for the fact that, according to legend, Homer was born here. It is here that the Daskalopetra rock is located, on which the poet shared his knowledge with his students. The octagonal monastery of Nea Moni, built in the 11th century, is very interesting to visit.

Beaches

The numerous islands of Greece are famous for beaches for every taste. Chios is not inferior to others in this matter! Here you can relax on the popular sandy beach of Karfas, which is located near the capital, on the pebble beach near Daskalopetra, you can choose the unusual Mavra Volia, covered with black pebbles and located in the village of Emborio. The island has a large number of picturesque bays where you can find privacy, and crowded coastal strips and ports with numerous taverns. It is worth noting the beach of Ayia Markela, next to which the monastery of the same name rises.

Entertainment and active recreation

Marine activities are very popular on the island: here you can go water skiing, jet skiing, catamarans, sailing or rent a boat. In the evening, life boils in the coastal bars and clubs, of which there are especially many in the cities of Chios and Karfas.

Among all the countries that most attract tourists to visit, Greece rightfully occupies one of the first places. Many vacationers, trying to escape from the languid life, go to the islands, of which there are a great many in Greece. One of the places worthy of the eyes of a true gourmet and esthete is the small island of Chios, which lies in the Aegean Sea in the Eastern Sporades archipelago. The island is surrounded by a series of very tiny islands, and just a few kilometers away is the Turkish Cesme Peninsula.

A little history

From the very beginning of the history of this island we know of two indigenous tribes who inhabited it from ancient times, but were later mixed with the Ionians. These are the Lelegs and Carians. After the arrival of the Ionians, the island began to develop rapidly economically. In particular, the first slave market appeared, and trade relations with neighbors were established.

Climate and nature

Of course, like all of Greece, the island delights its visitors with a true Mediterranean climate, which makes it attractive almost all year round. A particularly hot period for the islanders is July-September, when many tourists from different parts of the world flock to the untouched nature of Chios.

It is worth noting that the nature here is truly incredibly beautiful. For many years, Chios has been a holiday destination for the Greeks themselves, but recently the authorities have been actively developing resources and the tourism industry.

So far, the tourism system is not very strong, but many attractions can be seen quite easily. In addition, in Chios, tourists are greeted by the warmth and smiles of local residents, as well as numerous local holidays, delicious and inexpensive food in small cozy cafes, as well as all kinds of souvenir shops.

The beaches on Chios delight guests with the purity of the sand and clear water, so the coasts of the island are dotted with vacationers all year round, exposing their sides to the warm sun.

Business cards of the island

As in all of Greece, olives grow in Chios, and some of the best plantations. In addition, the island is famous for its wines, as well as pottery. But the most exclusive calling card of Chios is mastic. The entire territory of the island is dotted with shrubs of this plant. By the way, Mastic is one of the names of the island, which has been fixed on it since time immemorial precisely because of the abundance of mastic bushes.

Since ancient times, resin extracted from mastic has been used in food and other industries. In particular, mastic was an integral ingredient in chewing gum, wines, medicines, cosmetics, artistic paints and many other products. With the growing role of the oil industry, interest in mastic faded. However, recently, due to the growing popularity of natural ingredients and natural products, the demand for real mastic has risen sharply.

Sights of Chios

Just a couple of minutes from the capital, tourists can visit Avgonima village, where you can buy and try the suma drink, made from figs according to a very old recipe. A little further from this village you can find Avantos– a real museum of antiquity. This is another village that is considered a kind of “ghost” because it is not inhabited.

Medieval lovers should visit Mesta village, which is surrounded on all sides by a fortress wall and has only one entrance. Various festivals and holidays of Chios often take place here. Pyrgi is similar to it with its unique architecture.

Do you want to relax in the shade of heavy branches and admire the numerous flower beds and old narrow streets? You are welcome to Emborios Bay! Here you will find magnificent beaches and beautiful green groves.

Useful information for tourists about the island of Chios in Greece - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

In the northern Aegean Sea, just about 7 km from the Anatolian coast of Turkey lies the picturesque Greek island of Chios. It is the fifth largest and perhaps one of the most interesting islands in Greece.

A trip to the island of Chios, known for its amazing centuries-old history and strong long-standing traditions, colorful medieval settlements, ancient temples and many attractions, is a great opportunity to combine a traditional beach holiday with educational excursions. The island has long been famous for its mastic trees (growing mainly in the southern part of the island in the area known as Masticochoria), the resin of which is considered unique and is known throughout the world.

Getting acquainted with the island of Chios, perhaps, it is worth starting with its capital of the same name - the city of Chios or, as the locals call it, Chora. Among the most interesting sights of the capital, it is worth noting the Archaeological, Byzantine and Maritime Museums, the Fortress of Chios, the Justinian Palace Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the Argenti Art Gallery, and the Church of St. James. A magnificent example of Byzantine architecture, the Nea Moni Monastery (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List), located 15 km from the capital, deserves special attention. Not far from the capital there are also the monastery of Agios Minas and the monastery of Panagia Sikelia.

It is definitely worth visiting one of the oldest settlements on the island, the town of Volissos, where, according to one version, the legendary Homer was born, lived and worked. The city reached its greatest prosperity in the Middle Ages, and to this day has managed to preserve the unique atmosphere of the old city, which you can fully feel while walking along its narrow winding streets and admiring the beautiful ancient mansions, Byzantine temples, water and windmills. Just 8 km from Volissos there is another interesting attraction of Chios - the monastery of St. Markela.

The famous Masticochoria region and its colorful medieval fortified towns of Mesta, Olympia, Vessa, Kalamoti and Pyrgi also deserve special attention. From an architectural point of view, such settlements of Chios as Ano Kardamilla (“upper” Kardamilla) and picturesque Kambos are also of particular interest. It is also worth visiting the abandoned medieval settlement of Anavatos, the monastery of Zoodochos Pigi and the Byzantine fortress of Apolichnon near Armolia, the Church of the Holy Trinity and the Church of St. John in Elata, the Church of Panagia Krina in Vavili and the ruins of the ancient Acropolis in Emporios.

You will also have a lot of fun by going to the nearby islands - Inousses, Psara and Antipsara.

Magnificent natural landscapes, many excellent beaches, crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea and the well-developed tourist infrastructure of Chios annually attract thousands of holidaymakers from all over the world. The most popular beach centers of Chios are Vrontados, Emporios, Kardamyla (or rather its coastal part of Kato Kardamyla, or Marmara) and Karfas. Here you will be offered an excellent choice of accommodation, shops, markets, many good restaurants and taverns, and for lovers of active recreation - the opportunity to go scuba diving, ride jet skis, kayaks and canoes, play beach volleyball, etc. Among the best beaches on the island, it is also worth noting such beaches as Mavro Volia, Lifi, Managros, Agia Fotia, Agia Irini, Elinda, Didima and Apofika.

Chios- an island in the Aegean Sea, near the Asia Minor peninsula within the territory of Greece. Population 50,388 (2001 census).

The island of Chios, as well as the smaller nearby islands of Psara (14.2 km to the northwest) and Inousses (6.3 km to the east) form the Chios Prefecture within the Republic of Greece. The largest settlements are: Agia Ermioni, Volissos, Vrondados, Kambos, Karfas, Kataraktis, Lilikas, Megas Limionas, Mesta, Flatsia and Chios.

Geography

It is washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea, has a maritime border with the Republic of Turkey, passing in the middle of the Chios (Chesme) Strait, separating the island from the Turkish Karaburun Peninsula (Cesme village) in Anatolia at a distance of about 7 km from Chios. The island's area is 842,289 km² (325 sq mi). The island has a crescent shape, arching to the east, a length of about 50 km, a maximum width of about 20 km. Like other islands of the Aegean Sea, Chios is characterized by a rocky terrain with hills and a low mountain range that follows the outline of the island along its middle part with very sparse thorny vegetation. The island's highest points are the Pelineon (1,297 m/4,260 ft) and Oros (1,188 m/3,900 ft) peaks, both located on the northern curve of the island. The central part is divided into western and eastern by a chain of low Provatas mountains. It is composed mainly of limestone and shales. Shrubby Mediterranean vegetation; Aleppo pine groves.

Story

Antiquity

Chios is one of the centers of Aegean culture. Its most ancient inhabitants - the tribes of Lelegs and Carians - at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. e. were driven out by the Ionians. From the 8th century BC e. trade and craft policy (center - the city of Chios). The best wine, mastic, marble, and figs in Greece were exported from here; The first slave market in Greece arose in Chios. During early antiquity, Chios was one of the ancient centers of ancient Greek literature and art.

During the Greco-Persian Wars, it became part of the First Athenian Naval League, but in the last stage of the Peloponnesian War it left it and fought against Athens on the side of Sparta. He was also part of the Second Athenian Naval League, but during the Allied War he also opposed Athens as part of the anti-Athenian coalition. Chios was one of the theaters of the Allied War, and the Battle of Embate took place here.

Was located from the 2nd half of the 1st century. n. e. under the rule of the Roman Empire, after its fall at the end of VI to 1204 as part of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.

Middle Ages

The Turkish emir Chaka Bey was the first foreign invader of the island since the Roman conquests. After the defeat of Byzantium at Manzikert, he managed to advance across Anatolia and capture the island, controlling it in 1090-1097. The Crusader invasion during the First Crusade drove the Turks deep into Anatolia and returned the island to Byzantium.

After the first fall of Constantinople (1204), the island passed into the hands of the Republic of Venice. In 1225 it was captured by the Nicaean Empire. However, due to its gradual weakening under the onslaught of the Turks, it was forced to cede Chios to the Genoese Republic under the Treaty of Nymphaeum in 1261. In 1302-1303, the island was attacked by Turkish pirates, then in 1304-1329 the lordship of Chios, led by the Zaccaria family, existed here, after which the Genoese trading clan Giustiniani managed to restore control over the island, which lasted until 1566.

Catholic families (French and Italians - mainly officials, military and maritime merchants) made up 10% of the island's population, living mainly within the walls of the old castle of Chios (Kastro). The local Greek population (landowners and peasants) maintained the Orthodox way of life in the rural regions of the island. In 1566 the island was conquered by the Turks.

In 1822, the island was shocked by the so-called Chios Massacre - a brutal massacre of the Greek inhabitants by the Turks on April 11, 1822 because the islanders supported the fighters for Greek independence. Of the 155,000 inhabitants of the island, only about 2,000 survived the massacre. Of these, according to rough estimates, 25,000 were slaughtered, the rest were sold into slavery, deported, or ended up in exile, forming the Chios diaspora of Western Europe and the United States. These residents subsequently contributed much to the unification of the island with Greece in 1912. After 1822, the island was practically uninhabited for several decades. Then the surviving residents began to gradually return. In 1922-1923 Chios, like Lesbos, became a transit point for hundreds of thousands of Greek refugees from Asia Minor, but only a small proportion of them remained on the island.

Until 1912, Muslims (Turks and Turkishized Greeks) and Jews (Sephardim) invited to settle permanently from Spain occupied the old part of the city (Kastro), in which Greeks were forbidden to settle. Since 1912 - part of Greece. In 1922-23, during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, Turks and Jews left the island, and part of the Greek refugees from Ionia settled on the island instead.

Historical and cultural monuments

In the southern part of Chios, near the village of Pyrgi, there is the sanctuary of Apollo Fanaios (founded in the 19th century BC) with a temple (2nd half of the 6th century BC). The monastery of Nea Moni (between 1042-1056) is famous for its Byzantine mosaics. The small village of Vrontados (Βροντάδος), a northern suburb of the capital of the island - Chios, is considered by the Chios people to be the birthplace of Homer. This is confirmed by the archaeological find “Teacher’s Rock” (Δασκαλóπετρα).