Corrections? As a result, the town was almost completely abandoned for a while. In ancient times, the island was known as Hydrea (Ὑδρέα, derived from the Greek word for "water"), a reference to the natural springs on the island.[2]. lol! Some of the later Permian limestone strata are rich in well-preserved fossils. Hydra’s History The small island has served an integral role in modern Greece history as a naval stronghold and hotspot for celebrities. By World War II, the Hydriots were again leaving the island; many of them went abroad. A third reason was that the new conditions made illegal activities such as piracy impossible. From the 13th through the 15th centuries, Albanians, known as Arvanites, came to … But, it had been “absent” from history in prior eras. Hydra entered its commercial era. A view of the Greek island Hydra. Further, he dipped his arrows in the beast’s poisonous blood (or venom) to be able to inflict fatal wounds. Statue of Andreas Miaoulis, admiral during the Greek War of Independence. On the left the Museum of Hydra. Steep stone streets lead up and outward from the harbor area. However, the Ottoman Empire and its policies constrained Hydra's economic success. Fragments of vases, tools, and the head of an idol have been found on Mount Chorissa. [7] The Tsamados family donated the mansion for the purpose of hosting the Greek Maritime Academy on their island. Hydra was relatively unimportant during much of the period of Ottoman rule. The Lernaean Hydra, one of the many offspring of half-woman and half-serpent Echidna and 100-headed Typhon, was a many-headed serpent who lived in the swamps. This brought prosperity again until 1932, when Egypt forbade fishing along its coast. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Heracles (Hercules) battling the Lernaean Hydra; at the southern entrance to the Hofburg (Imperial Palace) in Vienna. The treaty also provided for free passage between the Aegean and the Black Sea. [13] The island is known in Arvanitika as Nίδρα.[13]. In the 16th century, the island began to be settled also by refugees from the warfare between the Ottomans and Venetians. The plague of 1792 killed a large part of the population, and many people moved away. The descendants of Lazarus Kountouriotis donated his mansion to the Historic-Ethnologic Institute of Greece. The breath or venom of the Hydra was deadly. As for history, Hydra had plenty of modern glories to celebrate, as a key center of the Greek Revolution. [14] Apparently, the first truly Hydriot vessel was launched in 1657. There are numerous churches and six Orthodox monasteries on the island. Hydra sounds absolutely wonderful, I would love to go and visit, I have been to Kos, Corfu and Cyprus and love them all to bits! #Hydra - # Greece A brief history of this important region and its links to the # Arvanites. Note: not all prefectures were subdivided into provinces. 1,900 in 2011). It is also said that the Hydra's teeth were able to raise skeletons from the dead. One of the hydra's heads was impervious to weapons. Hydra: center of the Greek Revolution. ). Samos, in turn, ceded it to Troizina. There is one main town, known simply as "Hydra port" (pop. The island's cathedral is the old Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin and sits on the quayside in the town. Today the municipality of Hydra is part of Islands regional unit of Attica region. Hydriot vessels carried goods between Southern Russia in the east and the Italian ports of Ancona and Livorno in the west. Hydra’s municipality covers 72 square kilometers and comprises Hydra, Dokos island, and a few uninhabited islets. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hydra-Greek-mythology, Hydra - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). In Greek mythology, the Lernaean hydra was a ferocious snake-like monster with multiple heads, one of which was immortal and the rest of which would spawn multiple new heads if destroyed. The municipality of Hydra is twinned with: The Epitaphios being carried, Good Friday. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The highest point, Mount Ere, is 1,936 feet (590 metres). Hydra previously had wells, and three new wells have been found. The harbour is a tight semicircle of deep water, able to accommodate boats of considerable draught: protective spurs of rock rise steeply to both sides of its entrance. Written sources mentioning the island date to the 15th century, after the fall of Constantinople, when people began moving towards the steeper heights of mountainous islands to … There is a passenger ferry service providing an alternative to Hydrofoils that operates between Hydra Harbour to Metochi on the Peloponnese coast. Obsidian from Milos has also been found. The Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca changed all this. During the Helladic period, Hydra probably served as a maritime base for the kingdoms on the Greek peninsula. The mainstay of the island's economy became fishing for sponge. Hydra has been known by many different cultures and represents many different things for these cultures throughout history. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. By 1771, there were up to 50 vessels from throughout Greece in the roads. A great change occurred in 1757 after they launched a vessel of 250 tons. Travel Guide to Hydra. Together, they gave the Hydra its immortality, monstrous shape, and evil disposition.Hera, wife of Zeus, adopted the Hydra when it was a baby. The boat was coming, and the plaque only registered for a moment, as I took a last look out on Hydra’s magnificent harbor, architecturally pretty much the same scene as it was in 1821, when the Greek War of Independence began, or in 1810, when a young Hydriot named Nicholas Kolmaniatis left … Horses, mules and donkeys, and water taxis provide public transportation. In the 1950s and 1960s Hydra was the adopted home of a community of artists, expatriates from their own countries, that included celebrated Norwegian novelist Axel Jensen, Australian writers Charmian Clift and George Johnston, and Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. From the 17th century on, Hydra began to take on a greater importance because of its trading strength. The British Royal Navy and the Greek Navy have named ships Hydra since the 18th century. Hesiod, Theogony 313 ff (trans. In the 19th century, Hydra was home to some 125 boats and 10,000 sailors. The most recent Hydra in the British fleet was not a warship, but rather one dedicated to scientific research. 18, area 13.5 km2 (5.2 sq mi)), and a few uninhabited islets, total area 64.443 km2 (24.9 sq mi). Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipality. Herodotus reports that toward the 6th century BCE, the island belonged to Ermioni, which sold it to Samos. :\"And third again she [Ekhidna (Echidna)] bore the grisly-minded Lernaian (Lernaean) Hydra, whom the goddess white-armed Hera nourished because of her quenchless grudge against the strong Herakles (Heracles). In April 1821, when Antonis Oikonomou expelled the governor, Nikolao Kokovila and proclaimed Hydra's adherence to the independence struggle, he met strong opposition from island leaders who were reluctant to lose the relatively privileged position they had under Ottoman rule. Both are on a hill overlooking the main harbour. Since 1460, Arvanites are settled on the island, refugees from Peloponnese, and create the modern town port. The HMS Hydra was launched in 1965 as an oceanic survey vessel and is still in use under a different name in Indonesia. Hydra, Modern Greek Ídhra, dímos (municipality) and island of the Saronic group in the Aegean Sea, Attika (Modern Greek: Attikí) periféreia (region), central Greece.It lies just off the eastern tip of the Argolís peninsula of the Peloponnese and has a maximum length, northeast-southwest, of 13 miles (21 km). Overview of Hydra. Eventually the fleet of Hydra - along with those of the other two naval islands of Psara and Spetses - were able to wrest control of the eastern Aegean Sea from the Ottoman Empire. Hydra, or Ydra or Idra (Greek: Ύδρα, romanized: Ýdra, pronounced: ˈiðra in Modern Greek), is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece, located in the Aegean Sea between the Myrtoan Sea and the Argolic Gulf. A new desalinization plant has been finished but is not in operation. Although the island's name is derived from ancient springs known to the Ancient Greeks, it is now almost dry. However, the fire left untouched some forest above Kamini and at the west end of Hydra. Updates? Pre-history, antiquity, Byzantine and Venetian era, Ottoman era: period of commercial and naval strength, Greek War of Independence and later decline. Oikonomou was imprisoned, hounded off the island and eventually his opponents sent assassins to chase and kill him in December 1821. Architecture and history of the town The *town and harbour of Hydra only come into view at the last moment, hidden in a deep breach in the wall of limestone slopes which constitute the north coast of the island. There is evidence of farmers and herders from the second half of the third millennium BCE on the small, flat areas that are not visible from the sea. 1,948, area 49.6 km2 (19.2 sq mi)), Dokos (pop. History, architecture and tradition create a unique fusion in Hydra, one of the most cosmopolitan Greek islands.Argosaronic Hydra shares a common past with Spetses, with significant naval commerce activity that helped in contributing to the 1821 Greek Revolution. The island of Hydra in the Saronic gulf is unique in its architecture, significant in its role in modern Greek history, a home for artists, a Paradise for lovers, a playground of people who have learned to say ‘ yes’ to donkeys, to climbing endless steps and blending with an island village that has remained intact despite its international fame. Δε λες κουβέντα" (“Athens Undocumented”), This page was last edited on 28 January 2021, at 11:38. It is estimated that some eight percent of the population died of starvation. Hydra’s past is obscure. For that and other labours, Heracles enlisted the aid of his nephew Iolaus. But conventional wisdom made it clear that Hydra had been “absent” from history in prior eras. The dominant geographic features of Hydra are its rocky hillsides, which are bare, pine forested valleys with the occasional farmhouse. 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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 11), Kamini, Vlychos (19), Palamidas, Episkopi, and Molos. They participated in the Revolutionary secret alliance called "Philiki Etairia" (founded in 1814) and many wealthy sea-captains used their vessels as warships and helped the … The monster’s haunt was the marshes of Lerna, near Árgos, from which he periodically emerged to harry the people and livestock of Lerna. The large-scale Dorian invasion of Greece around the 12th century BCE appears to have depopulated the island. There is evidence of farmers and herders from the second half of the third millennium BCE on the small, flat areas that are not visible from the sea. There are many types of wildflowers, including rare 'spentzes' or cyclamen and poppies. The residents of Hydra played a pivotal role in the Greek War of Independence. Credit: Wikipedia commons The only acknowledgment of ancient times is that the first settlers of Hydra were Mycenaeans. High-speed hydrofoils and catamarans from Piraeus, some 37 nautical miles (69 km) away, serve Hydra, stopping first at Poros before going on to Spetses. [16] Cohen wrote several of his better-known songs on Hydra, including "Bird on the Wire" and "So Long, Marianne", while living with Jensen's ex-wife, Marianne Ihlen. Fragments of vases, tools, and the head of an idol have been found on Mount Chorissa. nell The Hydriots contented themselves with trading in the Aegean, going as far as Constantinople. Background information about Hydra Island Greece, town, villages and harbours, Hydra churches, community, history, tourism, motorised vehicles banned. Still, Hydra eventually did join the cause of independence, and Hydra's contribution of some 150 ships, plus supplies, to fight against the Turks played a critical role. [6], The Tsamadou mansion, on the left side as one enters the harbour, is now a Maritime Academy. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) As Heracles severed each mortal head, Iolaus was set to the task of cauterizing the fresh wounds so that no new heads would emerge. [8], The Tombazis mansion is now part of the Athens School of Fine Arts,[9] owned by University of Athens.[10]. Hydra was repopulated by farmers and herders, perhaps sailing from the mainland port of Ermioni, in the 8th century BCE. Rubbish trucks are the only motor vehicles on the island, since by law, cars and motorcycles are not allowed. Hydra played a key role in the creation of the Greek Merchant Marine, which for the past fifty years has held the title of the world’s largest fleet. During the first half of the 18th century, Hydra built the same kind of vessels as were built in the other Aegean Islands: the sachtouri of 15 to 20 tons, and the latinadiko of 40 to 50 tons. The inhabitants of Hydra were beginning to fear attacks from the Ottoman fleet so they used their wealth to fortify the harbor with bastions of cannons, and their fleet power during the Greek Revolution against the Turkish yoke. The house now belongs to the Colloredo-Mansfeld family and became known as the Old Carpet Factory. The Ottoman administration limited free trade, permitting only Ottoman vessels to navigate the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, and hence to have access to the Black Sea, its ports, and the trade in grain from their hinterlands. Two particularly noteworthy monasteries are Profitis Ilias, founded in the 10th century, and Ayia Efpraxia. During the Helladic period, Hydra probably served as a maritime base for the kingdoms on the Greek peninsula. Its naval and commercial development began in the 17th century, and its first school for mariners was established in 1645. The island hosts an annual conference on Rebetiko, a type of Greek urban folk music, in mid-October. History of Hydra. Get to know Hydra Island, the most sophisticated & unspoiled of the Greek Islands. Hydra’s Secret History and the Riddle of Its Name I remember growin... g up on Hydra every summer in the 1980s, leaving my Salt Lake City, Utah home, to go to our home on my father’s native island. Heavy tariffs and taxes limited the speed of development. Chronological listing of classical literature sources for the Lernaean Hydra: München: Trofenik. A fire during the 2007 European heat wave destroyed much of the pine forest to the east of Hydra Port. The mansions of Lazaros and George Kountouriotis, Boudouris, Kriezis, Voulgaris, Sachinis, and Miaoulis all contain collections of 18th-century island furniture. Little is known about the island until the beginning of the Ottoman rule. The main reason was that with the creation of the Greek state, Hydra's fleet lost the privileges that the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca and the use of the Russian flag had given it. The name is mentioned in ancient Greek mythology while evidence of human traces is lost in the depths of ancient times. after going to other places too I found that I really missed going to Greece, and Hydra sounds perfect, what a history, venice, russians and turks as well as greek, amazing, great hub suzette, voted up! 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). Hydra has a very rich history. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Who is the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Ares? The monastery contains the tomb of Lazaros Kountouriotis, the richest sea captain on Hydra, who gave his entire fortune to support the Greek War of Independence.[11]. Information about the History of Saronic islands, in Greece but also information about the history of many islands of the group: The Saronic history is strongly associated with the sea. As well as pine trees, there are cypress and olive trees.

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