Arcadia, Greece

ARCADIA GREECE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7ck2zQ_xqM&feature=fvsr

History of Arcadia
~Arcadia entered the Greek Byzantine Empire, from end of Roman Rule to 1460.
~After varies rulers, became a part of the Ottoman Turks.
~On September 23, 1821 Arcadia fighters were the first to rebel against the Ottoman Turkish Empire.
~After 360 years under the Ottomans, Arcadia was one location for the Greek War of Independence, most famous battle in Tripoli.
~20th century, Arcadia experienced a mass emigration, mainly to America.
~Population lower every year.
~After World War II and the Greek Civil War, villages and towns were restored.
~1965, earthquake hit a city in Arcadia (Megalopoli) .
~1967, Megalopoli Power Plant was built.
~Plant opened in 1970, providing more electricity for southern Greece.
~July and August 2007 forest fires in mountains of Arcadia.
~2008, research about the mummifies remains of Alexander the Great in Arcadia.

Arcadia
-Arcadia is a country in the Peloponnese region of Greece.
-Arcadia’s capital is Tripoli.
-Arcadia’s population is about 86, 820.
-A thermoelectric power station, provides electricity for southern Greece, in Megalopolis.
-Also a coal mine.
-Potato farms, mixed farming, olive groves, and pasture leads the plains of Arcadia, more in Megalopolis, Tripoli and Levidi.
-Many towns and sites with mountains, forests, beautiful vegetation.
-Ancient cities with ancient churches and forts.
-Festivals throughout the year, most popular Easter.

Interesting Facts: Arcadia
*Arcadia gets there name from the mythological character Arcas.
*In Greek mythology Arcadia is the “home of the god Pan”.
*Ancient Olympic victors: Androsthenes of Maenalus, won gold in 420 and 416 BC; Euthymenes of Maenalus, won gold in 400 and 392 BC.
*One of the birth-places reported for Zeus, Mount Lycaeum in Arcadia. 
*The phrase “Et in Arcadia ego” is the name of a painting by Nicolas Poussin in 164, also known as "The Arcadian shepherds,“ shows as inscription on a tomb.

Map of Greece

(http://www.billcasselman.com/canadian_food_words/acadia_one.htm)

(http://www.maps-of-greece.com/maps-of-greece.htm)
Arcadia, Greece

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/dslewis/4151003884/)

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/46785945@N07/4311784612/)

( http://www.flickr.com/photos/gkarpodinis/5377177511/)

(http://www.greecetravel.com/matt-blog/2008-10-29.htm)

( http://www.flickr.com/photos/arcadiaabroad/4311784374/)

(http://www.kusadasi.tv/arcadia-greece.html)

(http://www.aroundpeloponnese.com/arcadia-peloponnese.html)

(http://www.parnasse.com/etpnt.htm)

(http://www.hotels-in-greece.com/arkadia/kallisto/index-e.php)

ITHACA

QUICK FACTS:

-Ithaca is an island located in the Ionian Sea

-The area of the island is less than 45 sq. miles

-There are a little over 3,000 inhabitants

-The capitol, Vathy (or Ithaki) has one of the world's largest natural harbors

-Ithaca is a very green, lush island surrounded by beautiful water

-Because of its small size, it's not as touristy as the neighboring islands

-Rich people live by the water, poorer people live in the mountains.

-Most of what happens in the mountains is olive trees and goats

-Trading happens by the water, which is why it's more luxurious to live there

Most people in the modern world identify Ithaca with Homer's Odyessey

-He made it the home of the main character, Odysseus

History:

-Mycenaean Period: 1500-1100 BCE

• Ithaca at highest level of ancient history
• Homer's Odyssey
• Ithaca became powerful
• characterized as great navigators and explorers who went on daring expeditions beyond the Mediterranean Sea

-Hellenistic Era: 800-180 BCE

• From Mycenaean to Byzantine, population thought to be several thousand (most in the north)
• Population decreased in the middle ages due to the continuous invasion of pirates
• This is why people moved into the mountains to live
• In the southern part, Aetos was founded
• Many important historical objects have been found here, including coins imprinted with the name Ithaca and the image of Odysseus
• This suggests that the island was self-governed

-Ottoman Era: 1484-1499

• Posession of the island was taken by the Ottoman Empire from 1484 to 1499
• During this time, the Venetians showed interest in Ithaca and the Ionian Islands
• In 1499 a war between the Venetians and Turks began
• From 1500 onwards, Venetians controlled the islands

-French Era: 1797-1798

• The Ionian area was under the rule of the First French Republic from 1797-1798
• At first, the French were well received, but later when heavy taxing began it caused tension
• Prominent citizens of Ithaca participated in the secret "Filiki Etairia" which was vital in the organization of the Greek Revolution of 1821

-Pictures!

MAPS:

THE ISLAND:

By: Amalea Chininis

Mt. Athos

History

• Athos challenged the Greek gods during the Gigantomachia. Athos threw a massive rock against Poseidon which fell in the Aegean sea and became the Athonite Peninsula.
• Said to be visited by the Virgin Mary.
• Said to have an Apollo temple in 7^th century.
• Monks as early as 3^rd century.
• During Byzantine Empire it was inhabited by monks. (~726-1300’s)
• Allegiance with Ottoman Empire let Athonites live peacefully.
• Monasteries were left alone, but heavily taxed and land parcels were taken.
• Athonite Academy taught ancient philosophy and modern physical science in 1749.
• Ottomans forced out in 1912 during Balkan Wars.
• Greece obtained control from Treaty of London in May 30, 1913

Modern History

• Self-governed state of Greece
• Occupied during the Nazi regime
• Mt. Athos was nearly untouched during WWII
• Holy Community consists of 20 main monasteries
• 17 Greek, 1 Russian, 1 Serbian, 1 Bulgarian
• 1145 monks in 1971.
• 2000 monks in 2009.
• Capital of Karyes

Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra

The keli of a hermit monk

Mt. Athos Today

• UNESCO world heritage site
• Important site of Byzantine and Postbyzantine painting

Interesting Facts

• No women allowed in.
• Uses Julian Calendar, 14 days behind normal
• Only accessible by boat
• Ancient decree to build a road from Karyes to the rest of the world.
• No overnight stay for visitors
• During the reign of Julian the Apostate (361–363), the churches of Mount Athos were destroyed, and Christians hid in the woods and inaccessible places.
• The peninsula was on the invasion route of Xerxes I, who spent three years excavating a channel across the isthmus to allow the passage of his invasion fleet (483 BC)
• After the death of Alexander the Great, the architect Dinocrates proposed to carve the entire mountain into a statue of Alexander.

Sources

· http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Athos

· http://www.ouranoupoli.com/athos/athos.html

· http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Athos/General/Art.html