Ithaca is an island with its uneasy history and beautiful nature

Ithaca is an island that is not the most visited in Greece. Tourists from Russia often prefer other exotic places in the Mediterranean. Most likely, this is due to the absence of domestic charter flights to this part of the world. You can get there by ferry.

From a long distance this island is no different from the others, dozens of which are found in the Ionian Sea. It has a relatively small mountainous territory, inhabited by several thousand inhabitants. The capital and port of the island is the city of Wafi, whose appearance indicates that on this modest piece of land at one time ruled the epic Odyssey.

Origin of the name of the island

The name of the island exists from ancient times. His celebrity is associated with the work of Homer "The Odyssey." Almost all specialists and researchers agree that the modern and Homer's Ithaca is one and the same. And different definitions of geographical location are associated with the poet's ignorance of anything about the features of the printing house of the island. Or is this his "poetic fantasy"

In history, there are several versions of the origin of its name. According to one of them, it was named after the first indigenous inhabitant - Ithaki. Other versions speak of his Phoenician origin.

Greek period of Ithaki's existence

The oldest finds archaeologists found on the north side of the island. They date from the early Greek period. The highest peak of the island was observed during the Mycenaean times, when the eldest of the island of Ithaca was Odysseus. The kingdom in those days consisted of the islands surrounding it and parts of the mainland Hellas. Therefore, this small land plot in the middle of the water has many stories and legends. According to one of them, Penelope was once here - this is the queen on the island of Ithaca, who was waiting there for her husband for 20 years. The inhabitants of this plot of land, surrounded by sea waters, were sailors. They swam far beyond the Mediterranean Sea.

Over time, the island begins a period of decline. Ithaka (island) becomes uninteresting for the Dorians. The main reason for this is infertility of local soil. But the population from the island did not go anywhere, but began to cultivate its northern part. It becomes a very important center where many trade routes intersect. There is an economic and cultural rise of Ithaca.

The island in the years of Roman rule

Ithaca from 180 BC to 394 AD is the diocese of Iralia. Christianity here was established in Byzantine times. Then the construction of Jerusalem was conducted on the island, which is referred to in the work of Alexiad A. Komnina.

Since 1086, Vandal, Gothic, Visigothic and Saracenian military groups have been raiding their raids. In 1185, his capture by the Norman representatives takes place. The Orsini family, which has maintained a personal anarchy for 150 years, received this island from the Normans in 1200. After that, it becomes the possession of the Venetians.

Venetian rulers on the island

The capture of Ithaca by the Venetians occurred in 1499 after the Turco-Venetian military events. According to the treaty of 1503, Ithaca is an island in the possession of Venice.

The rulers of the country made an enormous amount of effort to revive it. The land was transferred to local and new residents. New settlers are massively sent here due to the fact that an absolute exemption from all taxes with a duration of 5 years has been introduced. Since 1697, the island is governed by elders. There is a steady increase in the population of Ithaki, which becomes quite a significant and important sea power.

Ithaca - an island with semi-independent Venetians - was the only place where there was no aristocracy and class distinctions.

The French period of Ithaki's existence

After the victory of the French Revolution, all the islands in the Ionian Sea are transferred to the power of the French. By the end of 1798 there was an intensive displacement of them by Russians and Turks. There is the creation of the Ionian Republic, in which Ithaca was also part. Its capital was located on the island of Corfu. From 1807 to 1809 years. These islands again become subject to the French.

Relations with Greece

Even after the entrance of the island in 1815 into the Ionian Republic, which was under the patronage of England, its ties with Greece did not end. In the Greek uprising of 1821, many islanders became heroes.

Not once they opposed the existence of the power of England. In particular, these activities became active and numerous after Greece freed itself from the Turkish yoke. And only in 1864 the British government agreed with the requirement of the islanders. As a consequence, they were annexed to Greece.

For each arrived, the island of Ithaca (Greece) opens with its unique and unforgettable side. And those tourists or ordinary people who have been here at least once in their lives, come back again and again.