The Diapontian Islands or Diapontia Islands ( el, Διαπόντια Νησιά, Diapontia Νisia, also known as Othonoi Islands ( el, Νήσοι Οθωνοί, Νisoi Othonoi) are a Greek island group in the
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea ( el, Ιόνιο Πέλαγος, ''Iónio Pélagos'' ; it, Mar Ionio ; al, Deti Jon ) is an elongated bay of the Mediterranean Sea. It is connected to the Adriatic Sea to the north, and is bounded by Southern Italy, including C ...
. They are located the northwest of
Corfu
Corfu (, ) or Kerkyra ( el, Κέρκυρα, Kérkyra, , ; ; la, Corcyra.) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the margin of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The isl ...
. The main and the only inhabited islands of the archipelago are
Othoni,
Ereikoussa
Ereikoussa ( gr, Ερεικούσσα, it, Merlera) is an island and a former community of the Ionian Islands, Greece. It is one of the Diapontian Islands; an island complex to the northwest of Corfu. Since the 2019 local government reform it ...
and
Mathraki
Mathraki ( el, Μαθράκι, grc, Μαθράκιον) is an island and a former community of the Ionian Islands, Greece. It is one of the Diapontian Islands. Since the 2019 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Central Cor ...
. The complex includes also the islets and rocks of Diakopo, Diaplo, Karavi, Kastrino, Leipso, Ostrako, Plaka, Plateia and Tracheia.
The largest island is
Othoni, with an area of 10.8 km
2 while the most populated is
Ereikoussa
Ereikoussa ( gr, Ερεικούσσα, it, Merlera) is an island and a former community of the Ionian Islands, Greece. It is one of the Diapontian Islands; an island complex to the northwest of Corfu. Since the 2019 local government reform it ...
with 496 inhabitants according to the 2011 census. The islands are the westernmost point in Greece and administratively belong to
Corfu regional unit. The islands today are a tranquil place for holidays.
Geography
The archipelago of Diapontia consists of 12 islands and islets.
Othoni
Othonoi
Othonoi ( el, Οθωνοί, also rendered as Othoni, grc, Ὀθρωνός , translit=Othrōnós) is a small and inhabited Greek island in the Ionian Sea, located northwest of Corfu, and is the westernmost point of Greece. Othonoi is the largest ...
(Greek: Οθωνοί, Italian: Fanò or Othoni) is the westernmost point of Greece and the largest of the Diapontian Islands. Othoni is divided into two regions which are
Ano Panta (Greek: Άνω πάντα) and
Kato Panta (Greek: Κάτω πάντα). There are more than 20 settlements. In the 19th century the island was the capital of the Diapontian Islands municipality, which also included Ereikoussa and Mathraki. Othoni is about 47 nautical miles from Santa Maria di Leuca cape, Italy. In Akro Kastri is an active 19th century lighthouse.
Ereikoussa
Ereikoussa
Ereikoussa ( gr, Ερεικούσσα, it, Merlera) is an island and a former community of the Ionian Islands, Greece. It is one of the Diapontian Islands; an island complex to the northwest of Corfu. Since the 2019 local government reform it ...
( gr, Ερείκουσσα, it, Merlera) is the most populated island of Diapontia. It is the northernmost island in the group, almost equidistant from Corfu to the southeast, Mathraki to the southwest, and Othonoi to the west. The only town on the island, also named Ereikoussa, had a population of 496 at the 2011 census. Its land area is , while the municipal unit has an area of 4.449 km
2.
The island is rich in green forests, filled with cypress, and olive trees. It has two beaches, Porto (Πόρτο) and Braghini (Μπραγκίνι); the names are of Italian origin, and date back to the period of Venetian rule. Braghini is rarely visited because it is further away from the main part of the island.
Mathraki
Mathraki
Mathraki ( el, Μαθράκι, grc, Μαθράκιον) is an island and a former community of the Ionian Islands, Greece. It is one of the Diapontian Islands. Since the 2019 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Central Cor ...
( el, Μαθράκι, older form: Μαθράκιον) municipal unit has an area of 3.532 km
2 and population of 329 (2011).
[ Mathraki is a 45-minute boat ride off the coast of Corfu (4 NM from Cape Arilas). It has three restaurants that double as general stores, villas and "rooms to let". Mathraki is a quiet island that manages to stay clear of tourists except for the occasional hikers that brave the rocky coastline. The municipal unit includes the three nearby islets Diakopo, Diaplo and Tracheia.
]
History
At the beginning of the second millennium, Diapontian islands were conquered alternatively by the Franks
The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools, ...
(the 11th century) and the Venetians (12th century), and often attacked by pirates of Barbary and Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
. From the end of 1383 until 1386 the domination of Corfu brought by Charles III of Naples
Charles the Short or Charles of Durazzo (1345 – 24 February 1386) was King of Naples and the titular King of Jerusalem from 1382 to 1386 as Charles II, and King of Hungary from 1385 to 1386 as Charles II. In 1381, Charles created the chivalr ...
. In his letter he stated that on April 19, 1383 granted the usufruct of Othoni Ereikoussa, Mathraki, Diapolo and Vido
Vido ( el, Βίδο) is an island of the Ionian Islands group of Greece.
It is a small island (less than a kilometer in diameter) at the mouth of the port of Corfu.
History
The island was known to the ancients as Ptychia ( grc, Πτυχία ...
, the knight Theodore Skaliti as fief.[
In 1537, the Turkish fleet under the command of Greek origin pirate and admiral ]Hayreddin Barbarossa
Hayreddin Barbarossa ( ar, خير الدين بربروس, Khayr al-Din Barbarus, original name: Khiḍr; tr, Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa), also known as Hızır Hayrettin Pasha, and simply Hızır Reis (c. 1466/1478 – 4 July 1546), was an Ot ...
massacred the inhabitants of Othoni island after a long battle. In Stavros district at an altitude of 217 m. a white stone cross exists until today to commemorate that event.[
]
The last settlers of Othoni apparently came from Paxos
Paxos ( gr, Παξός) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, lying just south of Corfu. As a group with the nearby island of Antipaxos and adjoining islets, it is also called by the plural form Paxi or Paxoi ( gr, Παξοί, pronounced in Engl ...
and Ioannina
Ioannina ( el, Ιωάννινα ' ), often called Yannena ( ' ) within Greece, is the capital and largest city of the Ioannina regional unit and of Epirus, an administrative region in north-western Greece. According to the 2011 census, the c ...
, Parga
Parga ( el, Πάργα ) is a town and municipality located in the northwestern part of the regional unit of Preveza in Epirus, northwestern Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Kanallaki. Parga lies on the Ionian coast between the ...
and the region of Epirus
sq, Epiri rup, Epiru
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Historical region
, image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinrich ...
. Dated after the Battle of Nafpaktos
Nafpaktos ( el, Ναύπακτος) is a town and a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, situated on a bay on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth, west of the mouth of the river Mornos.
It is named for Naupaktos (, Latini ...
in 1571, when the Turkish fleet was destroyed and the islanders began to move more safely. After the last movement, the residents of Othoni island colonized the two other small islands, Ereikoussa and Mathraki.
In 1815, the English conquered Othonoi and as is said, sent to the island sick soldiers to recover because of the good climate that prevailed. The Treaty signed on March 29, 1864 between the three powers (England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
) and the Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece ( grc, label=Greek, Βασίλειον τῆς Ἑλλάδος ) was established in 1832 and was the successor state to the First Hellenic Republic. It was internationally recognised by the Treaty of Constantinople, where ...
, the Ionian Islands -and Diapontian islands- passed definitively to Greek sovereignty on 21 May. On October 5, 1864, the Ionian Parliament realized the purpose of the convocation solemnly acting union with Greece as one and indivisible state under king, George I of Greece
George I ( Greek: Γεώργιος Α΄, ''Geórgios I''; 24 December 1845 – 18 March 1913) was King of Greece from 30 March 1863 until his assassination in 1913.
Originally a Danish prince, he was born in Copenhagen, and seemed destined for ...
.[ From 1869 until 1912 Othoni, Ereikousa and Mathraki formed the municipality of ''Dimos Diapontion'' with Othoni as capital.][
]
Naval history
Diapontians achieved big naval and maritime history. A lot of men were involved in shipping (1880-1990). It is significant that there is no Diapontian family without a sailor. Also, many Diapontians were senior crews in Hellenic war ships. Main maritime occupations was sailor, boatswain, master or engineer of any class. There were also many ship owners as they had a large number of yachts and commercial steamships traveling to many Mediterranean ports.
Unfortunately, within these decades of history that Diapontians wrote at sea, there were some victims because of several wrecks due to sloppiness and carelessness of those responsible in the last century. Today, there are plenty of fishing and speed boats owned by Diapontians in every island.[
]
Sinking of submarine ''Proteus''
On 29 December 1940, the Greek submarine ''Proteus
In Greek mythology, Proteus (; Ancient Greek: Πρωτεύς, ''Prōteus'') is an early prophetic sea-god or god of rivers and oceanic bodies of water, one of several deities whom Homer calls the "Old Man of the Sea" ''(hálios gérôn)''. ...
'' sank in the sea area of Othoni. The submarine had attacked an Italian convoy carrying ammunition to Vlorë
Vlorë ( , ; sq-definite, Vlora) is the third most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Vlorë County and Vlorë Municipality. Located in southwestern Albania, Vlorë sprawls on the Bay of Vlorë and is surrounded by the foothi ...
. After sinking the steamer ''Sardegna'', the submarine was rammed by the . The loss of the submarine was the first loss of the Greek Navy in World War II. A monument to honor the memory of the crew, was inaugurated in Othoni on June 15, 2015.
Mythology
According to mythology, in the ancient times, Othoni was the island of nymph Calypso, who lived in a large cave. Odysseus
Odysseus ( ; grc-gre, Ὀδυσσεύς, Ὀδυσεύς, OdysseúsOdyseús, ), also known by the Latin variant Ulysses ( , ; lat, UlyssesUlixes), is a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the ''Odyssey''. Odysse ...
fell in love and remained like a prisoner there for seven years. Homer
Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...
called thιs island Ogygia
Ogygia (; grc, Ὠγυγίη, Ōgygíē , or ''Ōgygíā'' ) is an island mentioned in Homer's ''Odyssey'', Book V, as the home of the nymph Calypso, the daughter of the Titan Atlas. In Homer's ''Odyssey'', Calypso detained Odysseus on Ogy ...
who wrote there was a strong scent of cypress
Cypress is a common name for various coniferous trees or shrubs of northern temperate regions that belong to the family Cupressaceae. The word ''cypress'' is derived from Old French ''cipres'', which was imported from Latin ''cypressus'', the ...
on Ogygia
Ogygia (; grc, Ὠγυγίη, Ōgygíē , or ''Ōgygíā'' ) is an island mentioned in Homer's ''Odyssey'', Book V, as the home of the nymph Calypso, the daughter of the Titan Atlas. In Homer's ''Odyssey'', Calypso detained Odysseus on Ogy ...
island. Odysseus left the island by a raft and he sank on Scheria
Scheria or Scherie (; grc, Σχερία or ), also known as Phaeacia () or Faiakia was a region in Greek mythology, first mentioned in Homer's ''Odyssey'' as the home of the Phaeacians and the last destination of Odysseus in his 10-year journey ...
, the island of Corfu
Corfu (, ) or Kerkyra ( el, Κέρκυρα, Kérkyra, , ; ; la, Corcyra.) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the margin of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The isl ...
.[
According to Hesychius, after the ]Trojan War
In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta. The war is one of the most important events in Greek mythology and has ...
, Elephenor
In Greek mythology, Elephenor ( grc-gre, Ἐλεφήνωρ, -ορος ''Elephḗnōr'', ''-oros'') was the king of the Abantes of Euboea.
Family
Elephenor was the son of Chalcodon by either Imenarete, MelanippeTzetzes on Lycophron, 1034 or Al ...
, king of Avantes from Euboea
Evia (, ; el, Εύβοια ; grc, Εὔβοια ) or Euboia (, ) is the second-largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. It is separated from Boeotia in mainland Greece by the narrow Euripus Strait (only at its narrowest poin ...
fled to the island after the fall of Troy
Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite language, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite language, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in prese ...
, to atone as he had killed his grandfather, Abas.[
]
Origin of Diapontians
The traditional aspect of the local population is that their roots are from Epirus
sq, Epiri rup, Epiru
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Historical region
, image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinrich ...
region and Paxos
Paxos ( gr, Παξός) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, lying just south of Corfu. As a group with the nearby island of Antipaxos and adjoining islets, it is also called by the plural form Paxi or Paxoi ( gr, Παξοί, pronounced in Engl ...
as many diapontian surnames are common with Epirote
Epirus (; el, Ήπειρος, translit=Ípiros, ) is a traditional geographic regions of Greece, geographic and modern administrative regions of Greece, administrative region in northwestern Greece.Π.Δ. 51/87 “Καθορισμός των ...
, Northern Epirus
sq, Epiri i Veriut rup, Epiru di Nsusu
, type = Part of the wider historic region of Epirus
, image_blank_emblem =
, blank_emblem_type =
, image_map = Epirus across Greece Albania4.svg
, map_caption ...
and Paxos surnames (e.x Argyros, Mastoras etc.) and it's a common opinion that their roots seem to be Epirotic, Arvanitic
Arvanitika (; Arvanitika: , ; Greek: , ), also known as Arvanitic, is the variety of Albanian traditionally spoken by the Arvanites, a population group in Greece. Arvanitika is today endangered, as its speakers have been shifting to the use ...
, Aromanian and from Paxos without forgetting the Italian and Venetian influence. The main point of view of the most Diapontians the last century is that families from Paxos and Epirus immigrated Othoni. Also, the surnames around Diapontia are in some cases completely the same on each island as many Othonians immigrated the other two islands after immigrated Othoni leaving Paxos or Epurus. There are also many villages of Diapontian Islands which have the same names with some of Paxos and Epirus (Deletatika, Argyratika etc.)
The Diapontians organized and created villages based on their relatives, that is, each village includes relatives. Each village has people related to the other villages and almost all the islanders are related to each other. With few exceptions, each village bears the name of the family surname that resides there like in Paxos. (e.g. from the adjective Argyros, Argyratika etc.)
For this reason, the Diapontians shared the same surnames. They had to bring their surnames and family nicknames so that they could stand out from each other. The nicknames in this case give the origin and the properties of each family. Most of them are hellenized-Italian, Latinized-Greek, Epirotic and Vlach.
The reasons of the migration to Diapontia are not entirely clear and may be manifold. The main reason seems to be the need of the islands in labor in agriculture. Waves of migration in Diapontia started around 1600, reached a peak some time during the 19th century, and ended around 1800 reaching Othoni starting from Ano Panta, then Ereikousa and Mathraki. Chorio seems to be the first settlement of Othoni and refers until today as "the capital of the island". The folklorist-anthropologist and specialist in Greek folklore Dimitrios Loukatos
Dimitrios "Dimitris" Loukatos (1908–2003), was a folklorist- anthropologist and specialist in Greek folklore.
Life and academic career
He was born in Argostoli, Cephalonia, in 1908. He excelled as a pupil and, like the minority of his generat ...
documented that the Diapontians origin had for sure connections with Epirus and Paxos as during his research on Diapontian Islands in 1960's found similarities between the traditional life and costumes of Diapontians with Epirots and that they are not exactly the same with the Corfiots.
The last decades the connections with Epirus and Paxos are not so many as before. The islands are completely connected with Corfu
Corfu (, ) or Kerkyra ( el, Κέρκυρα, Kérkyra, , ; ; la, Corcyra.) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the margin of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The isl ...
as the most many Diapontians are living in Corfu and as result some of them consider themselves to be of Corfu origin. Many Diapontians immigrated USA during 20th century and they have American citizenship.[
There are also many diapontian surnames and toponyms that have ]British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
, Italian and Venetian routes.
Dialect
A dialect is spoken resembling that of Corfu and having a similar prosody but is it completely the same as many diapontian words are completely different to that of Corfu. It is heavily influenced by Italian and Epirotic.
Diaspora
From the beginning of 60's many Diapontians decided to emigrate to USA, Canada and Germany due to unemployment in the Diapontian islands. There are over 300 Erikoussian families in New York. The Diapontians of North America had established their own societies and every island has its own one. In Montgomery, Alabama the house of one Othonian seaman called Alexandros Markou Kasimis was designated by the US authorities as a preservable monument as it seems that he was one of the first Greek immigrants in USA. There are plenty of Diapontians in Montgomery today.
From the beginning of 20th century many Diapontians had emigrated to the Bronx. There are about 50 Othonian families living in Pennsylvania.
Othonians of USA established in 1966 their own society called "Society of Calypso Island of Othoni Kerkyras". In 1977, renamed as "Othonian society of USA".[
]
Transport
Diapontia are accessible by boat with services from Corfu port and Agios Stefanos Avliotes
Agios Stefanos ( el, Άγιος Στέφανος, meaning Saint Stephen) was originally a fishing village for the nearby village of Avliotes located on the north west coast of Corfu island. In 2011, its population was 176. It is located 35&nbs ...
. They have heliports for emergencies. Asphalt
Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term a ...
roads are available on many parts of the islands which are extended to settlements. There is complete electrification
Electrification is the process of powering by electricity and, in many contexts, the introduction of such power by changing over from an earlier power source.
The broad meaning of the term, such as in the history of technology, economic histor ...
and a telephone network with Internet access.
Sports
A.O Othoni, A.O Mathraki and A.O Ereikoussa were amateur football teams based on each island. During the 1970s and the 1980s the teams used to play against each other on fields in Chorio and Dafni settlemt of Othoni.
There was a football team called "F.C Ereikousa" created by Greek-Americans in USA.
In 2001, some Ereikoussians established in Corfu a football team called "Α.Ο ΕΡΕΙΚΟΥΣΑ" (A.S EREIKOUSA, former A.E ROPA) and they participate in Corfiot amateur football league. The team abolished some years later.
In Othoni, there is one 5x5 football field and one basketball cort next to Agia Triada church.
Notable Diapontians
* Maria Aronis (born 1957), Greek-American Cardiothoracic surgeon
* Linda Katehi
Linda Pisti Basile Katehi-Tseregounis (born January 30, 1954) is a Greek-American engineering professor and former university administrator.
Katehi was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering (2006) for contributions to three- ...
(born 1954), Greek-American engineer, sixth chancellor of the University of California, Davis
* Dale Katechis, American, owner of the Oskar Blues Brewery in Colorado.
* Anastasios Katechis, assistant professor in University of Athens
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA; el, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών, ''Ethnikó ke Kapodistriakó Panepistímio Athinón''), usually referred to simply as the Univers ...
.
* John Katechis (born 1992), murderer in 2009 of George Weber
* Spyros Katechis (1919-unknown), Greek-Egyptian military commander and spy during World war II.
* Christos Katechis, key partner in telecommunications matters in NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
mission Apollo 11
Apollo 11 (July 16–24, 1969) was the American spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module ''Eagle'' on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC, an ...
.
Diapontia in literature
*Ionion akron. Greece in the narrow of Otranto ( el, Ιόνιον άκρων. Η Ελλάδα στοστενό του Ότραντο) ()
*Folklore mission to Diapontian islands, by Dimitrios Loukatos, 2012 ( el, Λαογραφική αποστολή στα Διαπόντια νησιά) ()
*Ereikoussa, the extra garden and the continental shelf of Diapontian islands by Greek journalist, Georgios Lekakis, 2014 ( el, Ερείκουσσα, ο επιπλέον ανθόκηπος και η υφαλοκρηπίδα των Διαποντίων νήσων) ()
*The Fiddler's daughter ( el, Στο καλύβι του Αριά) by Dimitra Kapelouzou, 2004
References
{{Authority control
Landforms of the Ionian Islands (region)
Corfu
Archipelagoes of Greece
Landforms of Corfu (regional unit)