Islands off the Beaten Track. An archaeological journey to the Greek islands of Kastellorizo, Symi, Halki, Tilos and Nisyros

Edited by Nicholas Chr. Stampolidis, Yorgos Tassoulas & Melina Filimonos-Tsopotou

City: Athens

Year: 2011

Publisher: Museum of Cycladic Art & Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Description: Paperback, 440 p., color illustrations, maps, 24x28 cm

Abstract

Islands off the beaten track is the name of a series of archaeological exhibitions being organised by and held at the Museum of Cycladic Art, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The exhibitions focus on the most remote, inaccessible, small and medium-sized islands of the Aegean archipelago. They include some of the farthest removed and least known regions of Greece in which people have lived and worked, and whose works and culture will be highlighted in separate exhibitions. The exhibitions are curated by the Director of the Museum of Cycladic Art, Professor Nicholas Chr. Stampolidis, and the Museum’s curator and archaeologist George Tassoulas.These exhibitions will be presented every two or three years in groups of one, two or more islands or regions, grouped according to their similarity or geographic proximity and to the breadth of their archaeological wealth.

The first exhibition starts out in the remotest south eastern corner of Greek territory, the islands of Kastellorizo and Rho, and proceeds from there to the sea between Rhodes and Kos, which embraces Symi, Halki, Tilos and Nisyros, islands whose myth and history go back to very ancient times and are largely unknown. The exhibition begins with a presentation of the islands’ geographical, geological, geophysical and other features (size, shape, mountains, harbours, bays, etc.) and goes on to describe their mythology and history through a multitude of architectural and other artefacts (statues, reliefs, vases, weapons, tools, jewellery etc.) that highlight their human presence: human society, occupations, interests, allegiances, beliefs, customs and manners. In this way their richness and periods of prosperity are illustrated, as is their decline, and their intense presence or silence at specific periods of history. In addition to the ancient artefacts, wall panels and captions, there will also be maps, pictures, photographs and brief videos about each region, as well as time charts showing every island’s main period of development.

Contents

Forewords [13]

Preface [17]

KASTELLORIZO-RHO-STRONGYLI

Introductory Texts [24]

Catalogue of Objects [50]

SYMI

Introductory Text  [84]

Catalogue of Objects [108]

HALKI-ALIMNIA

Introductory Texts [166]

Catalogue of Objects  [190]

TILOS

Introductory Text [230]

Catalogue of Objects [252]

NISYROS-YALI-PYRGOUSA

Introductory Texts [306]

Catalogue of Objects [338]

Abbreviations – Bibliography [420]