IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος Μετάφραση : Ντοβλέτης Ονούφριος (4/8/2006) Για παραπομπή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , "Donousa", 2006, Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Κωνσταντινούπολη URL:

Περίληψη : Γενικές Πληροφορίες Area: 13.652 km2

Coastline length: 31 km

Population: 163

Island capital and its population: Donousa (137)

Administrative structure: Region of , Prefecture of the , Province of , Community of Donousa

Archaeological sites and monuments: Vathy Limenari, Stavros, Kalotaritissa, Mesaria, Mersini, Charavgi

Natural monuments: Cave of Toichos, Phokospilia. The island has been declared an Important Bird Area of

Events: Cultural events in August

Religious feasts: Holy Cross at the Church of the Holy Cross (September 14th), Dormition of the Virgin Mary (August 15th), on St Sophia's day at Mersini (September 17th)

1. Geographical Position - Environment

Of all the islands of the Small Eastern Cyclades group, Donousa is the one situated farthest to the northeast. The group is located between Naxos and , also including , Schoinousa, and . Donousa is located 9 miles to the east of Naxos and 14 miles to the north of Amorgos, with an area of 13 km2, and holds a resident population of 160 (2001). Its ground is semi-mountainous and mount Papos (383 m), located approximately in the center of Donousa, is its highest peak. Plains on Donousa are few. Vegetation is bushy though, favoring stock farming. Its subsoil is also rich in zinc. It has many short shores that form steep oblong capes and successive coves, many of which harbor beautiful quite beaches with thin sand.

2. History

First traces of habitation on Donousa date from the Protocycladic Period (3rd millennium BC), as shown by the two settlements at the sites Achtia ton Agrilion and Myti tou Trachyla. Residents had obviously formed two small communities based on stock farming and fishing, integrated into the broad cultural network of the Protocycladic civilization.

The island prospered during Geometric Times (10th-7th century BC), as illustrated by the fortified settlement of Vathy Limenari (at the southeastern part of the island), near Myti tou Trachyla. Significant findings uncovered there demonstrate a greater influence from the rather than the Cyclades.

Numerous funeral pyres –a very common burial rite at that time– have also been uncovered around the settlement. Little is known about the following periods, although we do know Donousa was used as an exile destination during Roman Times. During Middle Ages and Ottoman rule, it was a pirate lair and an ideal place for herding and fishing.

In 1941, Donousa initially came under Italian rule, since the Axis Powers had taken over Greece. After Italy capitulated in 1943, the island came under German rule until it was finally liberated in 1944.

3. Archaeological sites – Monuments

Δημιουργήθηκε στις 30/9/2021 Σελίδα 1/3 IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος Μετάφραση : Ντοβλέτης Ονούφριος (4/8/2006) Για παραπομπή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , "Donousa", 2006, Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Κωνσταντινούπολη URL:

Donousa (aka Stavros), located on the eastern coast, is both the capital and the port. There are four more settlements (Kalotaritissa, Mersini, Mesaria and Charavgi) along the southeastern side of Donousa, connected with each other with the main road network. An asphalted secondary road network leads to the rest of the island, as to the beaches of Kedros and Livadi or Vathy Limenari, which is the island’s most important archaeological site. There are many paths too, running through massifs and inaccessible areas. Only through such paths can someone visit the Toichos cave, on Aspros Kavos cape to the northwest, and Fokospilia (“Seal cave”) to the southeast, which used to be a refuge for the Mediterranean seal.

4. Traditional architecture

The island’s five settlements have a remarkable architecture, a lot different than the modern image of larger Cycladic islands with many tourists. The Aegean tradition is expressed through the stone lime-rendered houses, the spacious cool interiors, the large yards and the impressive balconies, and the narrow slab-paved streets, points of social interaction.

5. Donousa today

The residents occupy themselves basically with stock farming and fishing. Bushy vegetation, which covers much of the island’s area, favors apiculture, an occupation also found on other small or large mountainous Cycladic islands. More and more travellers choose Donousa for their vacation over the past years, since there are more itineraries connecting the Small Eastern Cyclades with one another, with Piraeus (all year long), and with the large nearby islands and the Dodecanese. This has affected the locals, who try to create the appropriate infrastructure without spoiling the traditional character of the island. Stavros, apart from being the port (it recently developed its docking infrastructure) and the capital, it is also the administration center. It therefore tries to fulfill yearlong, in the best way possible, the needs of locals and tourists that choose Donousa for their vacation.

6. Churches

Beautiful churches complement the landscape. They are strongly connected with the social milieu, and their large yards are a place of social interaction. Some of the most beautiful churches are at Stavros (e.g. Timios Stavros/Holy Cross, Panagia/Virgin Mary, Agios Ioannis/St John). The churches are the centers of settlements or neighborhoods, as demonstrated by their being larger than all other buildings. Very often, they have blue cupolas, higher than all buildings, so that it they are visible from a distance. That also underlines the church’s prominent place amongst all other buildings. Many small Aegean settlements have been declared listed, a fact that helps preserve this image, and promotes development in a human scale.

7. Alternative energy sources – Technological parks

We must also mention a mixed system used for producing electricity, which combines the traditional hydraulic production system with modern accumulators for storing the energy produced. This proves how useful such "untouched" places can be for experimenting on technologies that respect renewable sources of energy, so that alternative solutions to daily problems of modern life can be provided.

Βιβλιογραφία : Barber R.L.N., Οι Κυκλάδες στην Εποχή του Χαλκού, Εμπορική Τράπεζα της Ελλάδος, Αθήνα 1994, Χατζηαναστασίου, Ο. (μτφρ.)

Κυκλάδες: Ταξιδιωτικός Οδηγός, Explorer, Αθήνα 2003

Δημιουργήθηκε στις 30/9/2021 Σελίδα 2/3 IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος Μετάφραση : Ντοβλέτης Ονούφριος (4/8/2006) Για παραπομπή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , "Donousa", 2006, Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Κωνσταντινούπολη URL:

Λούπης Δημήτρης, Ο Πιρί Ρεΐς (1465-1553) χαρτογραφεί το Αιγαίο. Η οθωμανική χαρτογραφία και η λίμνη του Αιγαίου, Αθήνα 1999

Hope Simpson R., Dickinson O.T.P.K., A Gazetteer of Aegean Civilisation in the Bronze Age. Vol. I: The Mainland and Islands, Göteborg 1979, SIMA LII

Οι Μικρές Κυκλάδες. Τουριστικός Χάρτης-Οδηγός

Δικτυογραφία : Hiking around Donoussa http://www.cycladen.be/DonoussaEngFrame.htm Η Δονούσα Σήμερα www.donoussa.net

Πηγές Δημήτρης Λούπης (ed.), Ο Πιρί Ρεΐς (1465‑1553) χαρτογραφεί το Αιγαίο: η οθωμανική χαρτογραφία και η λίμνη του Αιγαίου (Athens 1999).

Παραθέματα Piracy in Donousa

ʺNortheast of Naxos is situated the uninhabited island Tenuse Donousa( ), which the Turks name Hacılar [hacı: pilgrim of the Holy Places]. Once the infidel pirates slaughtered here some pilgrims of the Holy Places. Its port is a bay that sees to the northeast. It is not a good anchorage. It is rocky. There is drinkable water in the southeast part of the island.

Δημήτρης Λούπης (ed.), Ο Πιρί Ρεΐς (1465‑1553) χαρτογραφεί το Αιγαίο: η οθωμανική χαρτογραφία και η λίμνη του Αιγαίου (Athens 1999), p. 277.

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