Icaria

For the utopian place see the entry for Étienne Cabet

Icaria, also spelled Ikaria (Greek: Ικαρία), locally Nikaria or Nicaria (Νικαριά), ancient name: Doliche (Δολίχη), is a Greek island 10 nautical miles (19 km) south-west of Samos. It derived its name from Icarus, the son of Daedalus in Greek mythology, who fell into the sea nearby.

History

Icaria has been inhabited since at least 7000 B.C. when it was populated by the Neolithic pre-Hellenic people that Greeks called Pelasgians. Around 750 B.C., Greeks from Miletus colonized Icaria establishing a settlement in the area of present day Campos, which they called Oenoe for its wine. Icaria was absorbed by Samos and became part of Polycrates' sea empire. At this time the temple of Artemis at Nas, on the northeast corner of the island, was built. Nas was a sacred spot to the pre-Greek inhabitants of the Aegean, and an important port of the island in antiquity, the last stop before testing the dangerous seas around Icaria. It was an appropriate place for sailors to make sacrifices to Artemis, who, among other functions, was a patron of seafarers. The temple stood in good repair until the middle of the 19th century when it was pillaged by the villagers of Christos, Raches, for marble for their local church. In 1939 it was excavated by the Greek archeologist Leon Politis. During the German and Italian occupation of Icaria in the Second World War many of the artifacts unearthed by Politis disappeared. Local custom has it that there are still marble statues embedded in the sand off the coast.

Genoese Era

In the 14th century A.D. Icaria became part of a Genoese Aegean empire. At one stage, during this time, the Icarians actually destroyed their harbours to deter the aggressive visitors. According to local historians, the Icarians left to their own devices, built seven watchtowers around the coast. As soon as a hostile or unknown sail was seen, the watchers immediately lit a fire and then ran to a cistern that was always filled with water. They pulled out a wooden bung in the bottom, and the water, of course, began to leak out. The garrisons of the other towers had been alerted by the fire to do the same thing at the same time. Inside each cistern in each castle were identical lines, like those on a measuring jar. Each of these calibrations had a different message attached to it: "pirates attacking", "unknown sail approaching", etc. When the water level reached the level of the appropriate message, the senders rebunged the cistern and put out the fire, and everyone in the other towers could read off the size and proximity of the danger.

During this time, the Icarians seldom built villages. Each house was remote from its neighbour, had only one door and was barricaded behind high walls. A working chimney could be a giveaway, so they endured smoke-filled rooms which were kept bare of lootable belongings. Tradition promises that everyone slept on the floor and hid their belongings in niches in the walls. Men and women wore much the same clothes: woven linen skirts for the women, kilts for the males. This lifestyle is said to have procured longevity and also classlessness.

Ottoman Era

Further information: Ottoman Greece

The Knights of St. John, who had their base in Rhodes, exerted some control over Icaria until 1521 when the Ottoman Empire incorporated Icaria into its realm. The Icarians hanged the first Turkish tax collector, but somehow managed to escape punishment.

The Turks imposed a very loose administration, not sending any officials to Icaria for several centuries. The best account we have of the island during these years is from the pen of the Bishop J. Georgirnees who in 1677 described the island with 1,000 inhabitants who were the poorest people in the Aegean. In 1827 Icaria broke away from the Ottoman Empire, but was forced to accept Turkish rule a few years later. It remained part of the Ottoman Empire until July 17, 1912 when the Icarians expelled a Turkish garrison and thereby achieved independence.

George Spanos (c.1872 - 1912) of Evdilos, killed in a Turkish ambush on July 17, is honored as the hero of the Icarian Revolution. His bust, depicting him with bandoliers and defiant rifle in hand, may be seen in the National Resistance Square in Evdilos.

Free State of Icaria

Flag of the Free State of Icaria (1912)

On July 18, 1912 the Free State of Icaria was declared. The neighboring islands of Fournoi Korseon were also liberated and became part of the Free State. Ioannis Malachias was the first and only president of the short-lived nation. For five months, it remained an independent state, with its own armed forces, flag, stamps, and anthem. These five months were difficult times. There were food shortages, the people were without regular transportation and postal service, and they were at risk of becoming part of the Italian Aegean empire. But in November 1912, after a delay due to the Balkan Wars, Icaria became part of Greece.

The island suffered tremendous losses in property and lives during the Second World War as the result of the Italian and then German occupation. There are no exact figures on how many people starved, but, in the village of Karavostamo alone, over 100 perished from starvation.

Red Rock

The ravages of W.W. II were followed by those of the Greek Civil War (1945-1947), fought between the nationalists and the communists. Subsequently, the Greek government used the island to exile about 13,000 communists. To this date, many of the islanders have remained sympathetic to communism, and, for this reason, Icaria is referred to by some as the Kokkino Nisi (Greek: Κόκκινο νησί) (Red Island) or the Kokkinos Vrahos (Greek: Κόκκινος Βράχος) (Red Rock). In his analysis, "Rebels and Radicals; Icaria 1600-2000," historian Anthony J. Papalas (East Carolina U.) examines modern Icaria in light of such 20th-century questions as poverty, emigration to America, the nature of the Axis occupation, the rise of Communism, the Civil War, and the rightwing reaction to the radical post-war movements.

The quality of life improved greatly after 1960 when the Greek government began to invest in the infrastructure of the island to assist in the promotion of tourism. Despite a difficult history, which during different eras involved defending against pirate attacks, surviving a 400-year Turkish occupation, war, civil war, starvation, and poverty, the spirit of the Icarians has never been broken, it has survived, overcome, and prevailed. Icarians exhibit a great pride in their island and a love of family and education. Many Icarians and their descendants have gone on to great success - whether success is defined as the achievement of wealth or power (both at home and abroad) or as the overcoming of great obstacles to achieve a balanced life. Icarians pursue not only work but also the pleasure of being with family and friends, enjoying together a cup of coffee or a shot of ouzo accompanied by octopus or kalamari (caught earlier that day from Icarian waters), a glass (usually more than a glass) of wine and good food, including bread right out of the town baker's oven, fruits and vegetables cut fresh from the gardens, and grapes from the vineyards. Icarians look forward to the various Saint's days when, in the central square of different towns and villages, they can feast and dance the "Kariotiko" throughout the night to the music of live bands featuring the clarinet, violin and bouzouki. Time, for most Icarians, is something to enjoy and savor with good company and surrounded by nature and the beauty of the mountains and the Aegean Sea.

Landmarks

Monastery in central Icaria

Agios Kyrikos, the capital of Icaria in the sixth century B.C.

Landmarks include the ancient temple of Artemis at Nas, the statue of Icarus at Agios Kyrikos, and a number of beautifully constructed ancient churches. The most valuable asset of Icaria, are the hot mineral springs in the spa town of Therma, healing from arthritis to female infertility, and from gout to rheumatism. They had been known since 2000 BC, and nowadays they are surrounded by modern facilities ideal for a combination of healing and family vacations. These springs are the most radioactive in Europe.

Geography

It is one of the middle islands of the northern Aegean, 255 km² (99 mi²) in area with 102 miles (160 km) in coastline and a population of 8,312 inhabitants. The topography is a contrast between verdant slopes and barren steep rocks. The island is mountainous for the most part. It is traversed by Aetheras range, whose highest summit is 1,037m. Most of its villages are nestled in the plains near the coast, with only some of them on the mountains. Icaria has a tradition in the production of strong red wine. Many parts of the island are covered by large bushes, especially ravines, making the landscape lush with green. There are no rare species of fauna on the island. Besides pets, only small goat herds make their presence known, disturbing the serenity of the island with their bells. Icaria exhibits a typical Mediterranean climate.

Municipalities

Municipality	YPES code	Seat (if different)	Postal code	Area code
Agios Kirykos	4601		833 00	22750-2
Evdilos	4603		833 02	22750-3
Fournoi Korseon	4608	Fournoi	833 01	22750-5
Raches	4607		833 01	22750-4

Communities and settlements

• Agios Polykarpos
• Agios Kirykos
• Amalo
• Arethousa
• Armenistis
• Chrysostomos
• Dafni
• Evdilos
• Faros
• Fournoi Korseon
• Frantato
• Gialiskari
• Kalamos
• Kampos
• Karavostamo
• Karkinagri
• Kouniados
• Lagada
• Lapsachades
• Manganitis
• Nanouras
• Nas
• Panagia
• Perdiki
• Pezi
• Proespera
• Raches
• Therma Ikarias
• Trapalo
• Vrakades

Notable people

• Aris Poulianos (1924) anthropologist

External links

• The Official Web Page of Icaria -Icarian Province
• Municipality of Aghios Kirikos
• Municipality of Evdilos
• Ikaria National Airport
• Ikaros International Chess Tournament
• Icarus Festival

37°35′N 26°10′E