Showing posts with label Greek Island Myths and Legends. Show all posts

Greek Island Giants, Dolphin Pirates and Ancient Dragons (Part 2 of 2)

Of the 24 islands comprising what we know as the Northern Sporades, only four are inhabited. These are Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros and Skiathos. The sea surrounding these islands is filled with a spectacular array of marine life including dolphins known to have swum here millions of years before humans ever learned to build boats or even doggie paddle. So much so that the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades was the first marine park in Greece. It is also the largest marine protected area in all of Europe.

 Dolphin pirates of old

The ancient Greeks revered and respected dolphins as depicted in their emblematic association with Poseidon, God of the Sea. In fact, many people believe that some dolphins were once human pirates and there’s a story about this that involves Dionysus, the Greek God of Wine.

Standing alone on the shore looking handsome and regal, pirates nabbed him thinking he was a prince they could ransom or sell as a slave. A struggle ensued but they managed to get him to their ship. His captors had no idea he was a god until strange things started to happen on deck. A vine, full with grapes suddenly curled over the topsail. Ivy full with flowers wrapped itself around the mast. Wreaths circled the oar hole pins. Fragrant wine flowed along the decks. Even though the winds were strong the ship stopped dead in the ocean. Pandemonium broke out when wild animals manifested from nowhere.

Too far from land and terrified, the pirates dived into the watery depths to their death. Dionysus took pity on them, turned them into dolphins and made them playful so that they would be unable to harm humans.

Beware the dragon’s lair

People from all over the world come to marvel at the proliferation of marine life in the Northern Sporades. This includes the playful pirates who bob, dive and swim at formidable speeds alongside day-tripper boats. Legend also has it that some time ago, a dragon with “teeth as sharp as knives and claws sharp as arrows” made his presence known on Skopelos. Whether he had been in a deep slumber or had just arrived, the island inhabitants fled. For many years, only those condemned to death were sent to Skopelos where the dragon was said to carry out the gruesome sentence.

 Baiting the beast

When St. Reginos, a priest from the mainland heard of this practice, he was appalled at its barbarism. Disguised as a prisoner he was sent off to Skopelos and on arrival asked the other convicts about the dragon’s location. Confronted by the drooling visage of this powerful, fire-breathing creature he taunted it into chasing him across the island to a hill where he knelt and prayed. When the dragon arrived, God collapsed the hill on top of the monster. Buried under rocks the place became forever known as the Ravine of the Dragon, a local talking point still today. On windy days some people even claim to hear, when approaching or residing on Skopelos, a muted yet angry roaring sound coming from within the bowels of the island.

Greek Island Giants, Dolphin Pirates and Ancient Dragons (Part 1 of 2)

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Greek Island Giants, Dolphin Pirates and Ancient Dragons (Part 1 of 2)

Islands are formed in several ways, but no discussion about Greek islands would be complete without some reference to myth and legend. In ancient Greece stories about gods, heroes, monsters and villains were critical to everyday life. Not only did they explain and justify everything, from religion and birth to the weather and war, they also gave meaning to the world in which the ancients lived. In fact, legend has it that the Northern Sporades islands were created not by nature but by giants.

 Why the islands are “scattered”

Skiathos Island lies just off the east coast of the Greek mainland. On a map, you will notice that it forms a relatively close-knit trio of three islands with Skopelos in the centre, Skiathos to the west and Alonissos to the east. 

There are some 24 islands in the Northern Sporades but only four are permanently inhabited. These include the aforementioned trio and one other further east called Skyros. The name “Sporades” from which we get the word “sporadic” means scattered, and as taken from popular legend passed down through the ages, there’s good reason for this.

 A rocky clash of titans

According to mythology the creation of Skiathos and other islands in the Northern Sporades were the result of an argument between two giants from the Greek mainland. Little is known about how the argument began but it culminated in a competition of strength and some angry rock throwing. Some of these gargantuan boulders landed in the sea, in a scattered formation, and became the Northern Sporades islands as we know them today.

 Targeted by conquerors

Athenians, Cretans, Franks, Macedonians, Persians, Romans, Turks and Venetians have conquered the Northern Sporades islands. Most recently, they were invaded by Germans in the second World War. Still they rise up defiantly from the Aegean sea targeted nowadays by visitors rather than invaders, particularly Skiathos with its 64 incredibly beautiful and diverse beaches.

 Daring pirate escape

Not even savage attacks by pirates could conquer the spirit of the people of Skiathos Island. Tired of pirate attacks, Skiathos townfolk at one point packed up all the worldly belongings their backs and donkey’s could carry and started a new life for themselves. They hiked to the highest hilltop on the island and built the medieval fort of Kastro, the remnants of which can still be visited today. According to myth some of the dolphins in the surrounding island oceans were themselves once human pirates but that’s a continuation of our story in part 2 of 2.

Greek Island Giants, Dolphin Pirates and Ancient Dragons (Part 2 of 2)

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