Hydra (island): Difference between revisions
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Although the island's name is derived from ancient springs, it is now almost dry. Hydra previously had wells and three new wells have been found. Today, the island imports its water by boat from the Greek mainland but a new desalinization plant is now in operation. The dominant geographic features of Hydra are its rocky hillsides, which are bare, pine forested valleys with the occasional farmhouse and six [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] [[monasteries]]. Two particularly noteworthy ones are Profitis Ilias, founded in the 19th Century, and Ayia Efpraxia. Both are on a hill overlooking the harbor. |
Although the island's name is derived from ancient springs, it is now almost dry. Hydra previously had wells and three new wells have been found. Today, the island imports its water by boat from the Greek mainland but a new desalinization plant is now in operation. The dominant geographic features of Hydra are its rocky hillsides, which are bare, pine forested valleys with the occasional farmhouse and six [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] [[monasteries]]. Two particularly noteworthy ones are Profitis Ilias, founded in the 19th Century, and Ayia Efpraxia. Both are on a hill overlooking the harbor. |
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==Transport and |
==Transport, tourism and leisure== |
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Hydra depends upon tourism and Athenians comprise a sizable segment of its visitors. High speed hydrofoils and catamarans from [[Piraeus]], some 37 nautical miles away, serve Hydra, as do daily island ferry boats. (The ferries take about three hours for the transit; the hydrofoils and catamarans substantially less.) The island also has ferries to [[Aegina]], [[Poros]], [[Spetses]], [[Nafplion]] and [[Monemvasia]]. |
Hydra depends upon tourism and Athenians comprise a sizable segment of its visitors. High speed hydrofoils and catamarans from [[Piraeus]], some 37 nautical miles away, serve Hydra, as do daily island ferry boats. (The ferries take about three hours for the transit; the hydrofoils and catamarans substantially less.) The island also has ferries to [[Aegina]], [[Poros]], [[Spetses]], [[Nafplion]] and [[Monemvasia]]. |
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[[Image:Ydrataxi.jpg|thumb|left|210px|No cars are allowed on Hydra so the only transport is by donkey or foot.]] |
[[Image:Ydrataxi.jpg|thumb|left|210px|No cars are allowed on Hydra so the only transport is by donkey or foot.]] |
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Garbage trucks are the only motor vehicles on the island; horses, donkeys and water taxis provide public transportation. The inhabited area, however, is so compact that most people walk everywhere. |
Garbage trucks are the only motor vehicles on the island; horses, donkeys and water taxis provide public transportation. The inhabited area, however, is so compact that most people walk everywhere. |
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Hydra benefits from numerous bays and natural harbours, and is a popular yachting destination. The island is the home of the [[Kamini Yacht Club]], an international yacht club based in the port of [[Kamini]]. |
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===Captains' mansions=== |
===Captains' mansions=== |
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Revision as of 11:32, 27 August 2009
Hydra (Greek: Ύδρα, IPA: [ˈiðra], Arvanitika: Nιδρα, Nidhra[1]) is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece, located in the Aegean Sea between the Saronic Gulf and the Argolic Gulf. It is separated from the Peloponnese by narrow strip of water. In ancient times, the island was known as Hydrea (Υδρέα, derived from the Greek word for "water"), which was a reference to the springs on the island.
Hydra is also a municipality and one of the few provinces in Greece to have two municipalities—which includes the island of Dokos (pop. 13)—yet fewer than five communes. However, there are no municipal boundaries on the island and its smaller islands.
There is one main town, known simply as "Hydra port" (pop. 2,526 in 2001). It consists of a crescent-shaped harbor, around which is centered a strand of restaurants, shops, markets, and galleries that cater to tourists and locals (Hydriots). Steep stone streets lead up and outwards from the harbor area. Most of the local residences, as well as the hostelries on the island are located on these streets. Other small villages or hamlets on the island include Mandraki (pop. 33), Kamini, Vlychos (28), Palomitha (18), Episkopi (23), and Molos (2). As of the mid-20th century, the majority of the island's population were Arvanites.[1]
Although the island's name is derived from ancient springs, it is now almost dry. Hydra previously had wells and three new wells have been found. Today, the island imports its water by boat from the Greek mainland but a new desalinization plant is now in operation. The dominant geographic features of Hydra are its rocky hillsides, which are bare, pine forested valleys with the occasional farmhouse and six Orthodox monasteries. Two particularly noteworthy ones are Profitis Ilias, founded in the 19th Century, and Ayia Efpraxia. Both are on a hill overlooking the harbor.
Transport, tourism and leisure
Hydra depends upon tourism and Athenians comprise a sizable segment of its visitors. High speed hydrofoils and catamarans from Piraeus, some 37 nautical miles away, serve Hydra, as do daily island ferry boats. (The ferries take about three hours for the transit; the hydrofoils and catamarans substantially less.) The island also has ferries to Aegina, Poros, Spetses, Nafplion and Monemvasia.
Garbage trucks are the only motor vehicles on the island; horses, donkeys and water taxis provide public transportation. The inhabited area, however, is so compact that most people walk everywhere.
Hydra benefits from numerous bays and natural harbours, and is a popular yachting destination. The island is the home of the Kamini Yacht Club, an international yacht club based in the port of Kamini.
Captains' mansions
The Tsamadou mansion on the left-hand side of the harbor as one enters is now a school.
The Tombazi mansion is now part of the School of Fine Arts.
The mansions of Lazarus and George Koundouriotis, Boudouri, Kriezi, Voulgari, and Miaouli all contain collections of 18th Century island furniture.
The Cathedral
The island's Cathedral is the old Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin and sits quayside in the town. The Monastery contains the tomb of Lazarus Koundouriotis, the richest sea captain on Hydra, who gave his entire fortune to support the Greek War of Independence.
History
For much of the past, Hydra has stayed on the margins of history. From the 17th Century on, Hydra began to take on a greater importance due to its trading strength. In the 19th Century, Hydra was home to some 125 boats and 10,000 sailors. The mansions of the sea captains that ring the harbor are a testament to the prosperity that shipping brought to the island which, at the date of the Revolution, had 16,000 inhabitants. During the Greek Revolution, the fleets of Hydra and the other two naval islands of Psara and Spetses were able to wrest control of the Eastern Aegean Sea from the Ottoman Empire.
Pre-history, antiquity, and the Byzantine Era
Hydra has escaped being linked to any Greek legend, god, hero, or mythological event.
There is evidence of farmers and herders from the second half of the third millenium BCE, on the small flat areas that are not visible from the sea. Obsidian from Milos has also been found. During the Helladic period, Hydra probably served as a maritime base for the kingdoms on the Greek peninsula. Fragments of vases, tools, and the head of an idol have been found on Mount Chorissa. The large-scale Dorian invasion of Greece around the 12th Century BCE appears to have resulted in a depopulation of the island. Hydra was repopulated by farmers and herders, perhaps sailing from the mainland port of Ermioni, in the 8th Century BCE. Herodotus reports that towards the 6th Century BCE, the island belonged to Ermioni, which sold it to Samos. Samos, in turn, ceded it to Tizina.
It is clear that Hydra was populated during the Byzantine Era as vases and coins have been discovered in the area of Episkopi. However, it appears that the island again lost its population during the Latin Empire of Constantinople as the inhabitants fled the pirate depredations. On other islands, inhabitants moved inland, something that was essentially impossible on Hydra. We know that it was inhabited in the 15th Century BCE by Orthodox Albanians fleeing the Ottoman conquest.
The period of commercial and naval strength
Hydra was relatively unimportant during much of the period of Ottoman rule. Its naval and commercial development began in the 17th Century, and its first school for mariners was established in 1645.[2]. Apparently, the first truly Hydriot vessel was launched in 1657. However, the conflict between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire limited the island's maritime development until after 1718 and the Treaty of Passarowitz.
During the first half of the 18th Century, Hydra built the same kind of vessels as were built in the other Aegean Islands. These were the sachtouri of 15 to 20 tons, and the latinadiko of 40 to 50 tons. The Hydriots contented themselves with trading in the Aegean, going as far as Constantinople. The great change occured in 1757 after they launched a vessel of 250 tons. The larger boats enabled Hydra to become an important commercial port. By 1771, one could count up to 50 vessels from throughout Greece in the roads. Ten years later the island had fitted out 100 vessels.[3].
However, the Ottoman Empire and its policies constrained Hydra's economic success. Heavy tariffs and taxes limited the speed of development. The Ottoman administration limited free trade; the Ottomans permitted only Ottoman vessels to navigate the Dardenelles and the Bosphorus, and hence have access to the Black Sea, its ports, and the trade in grain from their hinterlands. The Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca changed all this. Russia gained from the Ottoman Empire the right to protect the Empire's Orthodox Christians. The religious protection had a commercial corollary: the Hydriots began to sail under the Russian flag. The Treaty also provided for free passage between the Aegean and the Black Sea. Hydra entered its commercial era. Hydriot vessels carried goods between Southern Russia in the east to the Italian ports of Ancona and Livorno in the west. From 1785 on, the Hydriote shippers began to engage in commerce, not just transport. Each vessel became its own small commercial enterprise and quickly trade with the Levant began to depend on Hydra's vessels, though not without competition from those of Spetses and Psara.
The Greek War of Independence
Hydra played a critical role in the Greek War of Independence. The Greek admiral Andreas Miaoulis, himself a settler on Hydra, used Hydriot fire ships to inflict heavy losses on the Ottoman fleet. After independence, however, the island's economy switched to fishing for sponge.
Historical population
| Year | Town population | Change | Municipal/Island population | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2,732 | - | - | - |
| 1991 | 2,279 | -453/-16.58% | 2,387 | 37.0/km² |
| 2001 | 2,526 | +247/+10.84% | 2,719 | 42.2/km² |
Cultural life
The Hydrama Theater and Arts Center hosts performances, drama and dance workshops for the local community and courses in ancient Greek theater for international participants.
The island hosts an annual conference on Rebetiko, a type of Greek urban folk music, that is held in mid-October.
Notable people
- Andreas Miaoulis (1768-1835) admiral and politician
- Laskarina Bouboulina (1771-1825) heroine of the Greek War of Independence
- Iakovos Tombazis (1782-1829) merchant, ship-owner and admiral
- Georgios Kountouriotis (1789-1858) politician, Prime Minister of Greece
- Lazaros Koundouriotis gave up his fortune to arm a Greek navy during the Greek War of Indpendence.
- Antonios Kriezis (1796-1865) revolutionary fighter and one of the first Greek Prime Ministers
- Dimitrios Voulgaris (1802-1878) revolutionary fighter, Prime Minister of Greece
- Athanasios Miaoulis (1815-1867) Prime Minister of Greece
- Nikolaos Vokos (1854-1902) painter
- Pavlos Kountouriotis (1855-1935) naval hero, admiral and President of Greece
- Nikolaos Votsis (1877-1931) naval hero and admiral
- Dorotheus (1888-1957) Archbishop of Athens and All Greece
- Nikos Nikolaou (1909-1986) artist
- Panayiotis Tetsis (1925) painter
- Leonard Cohen (1934) Canadian poet and song-writer
- Michalis Maniatis (1952) film and tv actor, producer, screen and book writer
- Rallou Manou, choreographer
- Emmanuel Tombazis
- Anastassios Tsamados, Captain of the Arès, who died in the Battle of Sphacteria (1825), holding off the Egyptian-Turkish landing force.
- Dimitrios Voulgaris
Books about or set on Hydra
- Clouds over Hydra, Charles Young (1996)
- The Colossus of Maroussi, Henry Miller (1941)
- Fugitive Pieces, Anne Michaels (1996)
- Hydra and the Bananas of Leonard Cohen, Roger Green (2003)
- Lighthousekeeping, Jeannette Winterson (2006)
- Rhubarbs from a Rock, David Fagan (2003)
- The Riders, Tim Winton (1996)
- Rien ne va plus (The Sleepwalker), Margarita Karapanou (1994)
Movies filmed on Hydra
- The Blue Villa (Un Bruit Qui Rend Fou) (1995)
- Boat Trip (2002)
- Boy on a Dolphin (1957)
- Fugitive Pieces (2007)
- Incense for the Damned (1970)
- Girl in Black (Greece 1956)
- Out of the Shadows (1988)
- Phaedra (1962)
