Light, harmony, beauty, order, moderation, arts, music and poetry… are only few of the attributes connected with the personality of the ancient god Apollo. He holds a very special place in the Greco-Roman Pantheon as he is the only god that keeps his Greek name throughout the centuries!

According to mythology, Apollo, one of the many illegitimate sons of Zeus, was  born on the sacred island of Delos, the brightest island of the Mediterranean. Right after his birth… in a blink of an eye… he miraculously turned into a beautiful young god looking for the ideal place to establish his sanctuary. Soon after, Delphi developed into one of the major shrines of antiquity. For over 1,000 years, prophecies were given at the sanctuary of Apollo by the head priestess, Pythia. However, as Apollo is also regarded as the god of logic and intelligence, his oracle would never dictate rigid doctrines and a “crystal ball” type of predictions. Instead, the vague answers delivered by the priests were full of intellectual value! Prophecies were worded in a way which required the supplicant to use his free will and be held accountable for his actions. Consequently, Apollo is not only the god of beauty and harmony but also a strong advocate of good reason, logic and high intellect.

During the peak of its power (7^th and 6^th centuries BCE),  Naxos took control of Delos and built a great part of Apollo’s sanctuary including the famous Avenue of the Lions, Apollo’s Temple and his Colossal statue. Not only do the Naxians honor the god Apollo at his birthplace but also on Naxos island itself: around 530 BCE, under the leadership of the tyrant Lygdamis, the Naxians began to build a monumental scale temple directly across from the island of Delos at a location called “Pallatia” today.  According to the most popular archaeological theory, the specific temple was dedicated to the god of Light and Harmony, Apollo.

Nevertheless, due to political reasons, the tyrant was overthrown and the temple was never completed.  However, an Early- Christian Basilica was built on the same spot and, even later, in the 13 century, the remains of the temple’s marble material were used to fortify the Venetian fortification of Naxos Town. The little body of land, where only the “massive gate” (the so-called “Portara”) survives today, was, once upon a time, connected with Naxos island. However, over the centuries, due to the rise in sea level, the land gradually became a separate island, which was only artificially connected to  Naxos  in the early 20^th cent. Today the “Portara” represents  the landmark of Naxos and is the first emblematic symbol that visitors see when approaching Naxos by ship.

Manifestations of Apollo are found in each and every one of us: the desire to travel and visit new destinations, connect with nature and learn about unknown cultures embodies the Apollonian spirit of world explorers.

Enjoy a memorable sunset experience at the outstanding cultural site of the “Portara” and allow the light and harmony of Apollo to reach your soul while marveling at breathtaking views of the legendary Aegean Sea…

If you are fond of Greek Mythology, visit www.naxosculturaltours.gr and discover more about our Naxos Mythology tours.

The most famous Oracle of the ancient world was located at Delphi in Mainland Greece. The Oracle of Delphi was dedicated to Apollo, god of Light and Harmony. For over 1,000 years, pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean travelled to Delphi to receive the prophecies of  Apollo through the words of the priestess. It was such a renowned religious site that all the “Great Powers” of the times would erect a monument  to demonstrate their wealth and power to all visitors.

During the 6^th cent. BCE, Naxos was one of the most prosperous Greek islands due to its strategic location in the center of the Aegean Sea combined with  the island’s  natural resources, such as water, farm land, marble quarries, emery mines and more. Thanks to the abundance of marble in the Cyclades, the Naxians soon developed excellent skills in carving marble into works of art  which were eventually displayed at the most famous sanctuaries of the ancient world. And, the Oracle of Delphi was included in the list.

The Oracle of Delphi required some necessary operational procedures  to facilitate the process of delivering prophecies. Whenever Pythia -the head priestess- was scheduled to chew the laurel leaves, inhale the hallucinogenic vapors coming from deep  fissures in the earth and begin murmuring words, petitioners should wait in line for order of admission. In continuation, her words would take the form of prophecies with the help of the male priests of the sanctuary.

However, there was always a way to get a higher place in the line…perhaps by offering a major gift to the oracle? Oh yes, and this is the case with the massive Naxian Sphinx statue. The representatives of Naxos wanted to get the privilege of “promanteia”, which means to become eligible to consult the Oracle first whenever they needed to do so. Therefore, their offering to Apollo’s sanctuary was a 2 meter statue of a Sphinx standing majestically on a 10 meter Ionic column. The Naxian Sphinx was placed close to the “rock of the Sibyl” at a clearly visible spot along the Sacred Way- the marble road which led the pilgrims to Apollo’s temple. The selection of this prominent location symbolized the political, financial and artistic superiority of Naxos island in the Archaic period.

But why a Sphinx and not another majestic work of art?

The Sphinx was a very popular theme during this period connected to the Egyptian culture which  shared close trade ties with Greece  at that time. A Sphinx was a mythical creature with the head of a woman, the body of a lioness, the tale of a serpent and the wings of an eagle. Sphinx statues were considered to have ferocious strength and were considered as guardians often flanking the entrances to temples. Specifically, the Sphinx of the Naxians was placed very close to the most sacred spot of Delphi, where Apollo had presumably killed the Python. This impressive archaic relief dates to 560 BCE, which coincides with the peak period of Naxian artistic production. The monument was made from a solid piece of Naxian marble and its transport still remains an admirable accomplishment. The statue was transferred  all the way from Naxos to the Oracle of Delphi…crossing the Aegean Sea into the Corinthian Gulf and continuing on an upward  overland route climbing   Mt. Parnassus, from the shore to the site of the Oracle.

Today, the original art is housed  in the Delphi Museum and a modern replica stands proudly  in front of the Naxos Town Hall facing the emblematic “Portara”- all that remains of Apollo’s Temple facing the Sacred Island of Delos, birthplace of the god.

Learn more about Naxos’ fascinating ancient past with a private tour and an expert certified guide from Naxos Cultural Tours.

Zeus was the almighty father of the skies worshipped throughout Greece. He carried a thunderbolt as a weapon to keep heavenly order on Mount Olympus and mortal order on Earth.

 

Zeus,  supreme ruler and king of all Greek gods, is connected with Naxos in a very special way. Naxos plays a crucial part of his life story and the ancient Naxians were very well aware of this fact. They honored him by calling their island “Dia” and its highest mountain “Zas”. Both names are evidently connected to the god Zeus,  ‘CEO of the gods,’ whose rule on Mount Olympus was full of challenges and domestic drama.

              

More precisely, according to Greek mythology, Zeus was born on the island of Crete. Unlike other babies, he did not grow up with his mother (Rhea), as one would normally expect. Unfortunately, Zeus’ father (Cronus) was noted for the very bad habit of swallowing his children, fearful of an oracle which had pronounced that one of them would dethrone him.  As a result, Cronus and Rhea had had five children before Zeus, who all ended up in their father’s stomach. These were Demeter, Hera, Hestia, Hades and Poseidon, who would later become some of the other Olympian gods. So, when Rhea became pregnant with Zeus, she wanted to save the new baby from that fate deciding to deceive her husband by giving him a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes to swallow instead of her newborn. Right after his incognito birth, baby Zeus was given to the goat Amalthea and the nymph Melissa to raise  and keep him safe deep inside a cave  on the high mountains of Crete.

 

However, according to Aglaosthenis, an ancient historian from Naxos, Zeus was transferred from Crete to Naxos during his childhood to escape, once again, his father’s wrath. So, Zeus spent his early years in a second cave and, this time, on Zas mountain , the highest mountain in the Cyclades. Archaeological evidence shows that there was a shrine dedicated to Zeus inside this cave and that he was especially worshipped by locals as “the protector of sheep and goats”.

 

Once Zeus eventually grew up and came of age, he was ready to overthrow Cronus and assume his divine authority. Luckily, also, the Cyclops were on his side. With the help of an eagle, the Cyclops gave Zeus the “thunderbolt”, the most dangerous and powerful weapon. Full of self–confidence with this all mighty weapon in his hand, Zeus takes revenge on his father Cronus opening  his belly  to liberate the rest of his brothers and sisters.  All together they fight against the Titans and Cronus who, until then, controlled the universe. The famous War of the Titans was long and cruel but it was finally won by Zeus and his siblings, who, together with Zeus’ children, made up the Twelve Gods of Olympus!

 

Today, active travelers to Naxos can enjoy the hike to Zas cave where the majesty of Zeus can still be felt.

 

 

Contact Naxos Cultural Tours and join a Mythology Tour of Naxos island or an outstanding hiking experience to the top of Mt. Zas. All tours are led by expert certified guides who know Naxos past and present, inside out!

The day after the world opens its gates after the Covid crisis Greece will be among the top travel destinations.  Another pleasant surprise is the Lonely Planet award to our country as ‘a sustainable food destination.’ Lonely Planet author Kate Armstrong notes that Greece ‘may not be known worldwide for implementing formal initiatives surrounding sustainable practices but informally, Greeks have been green for centuries.’

 

Furthering this idea and applying it specifically to popular Greek destinations, Naxos island fits the description perfectly. From the perspective of sustainability, Naxos reflects the key points which define a sustainable tourist destination.

More specifically, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Sustainable Tourism ‘takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.’Based on this definition, let’s take a closer look at the uniqueness of Naxos and where the island stands on the ‘sustainability map of Greece:

Naxos is the largest island of the Cyclades group, which includes Santorini and Mykonos, the leading flagship islands of our national tourism industry. Although in close proximity to both, Naxos maintains its own particular character which has remained unspoiled throughout the years. Unlike the other Cycladic islands which are mostly rocky and barren due to their geological formation, Naxos has always been rich in natural water resources and fertile plains contributing to significant agricultural production and farming creating its self-sufficient and sustainable character since prehistory.

Nevertheless, over the past decade the popularity of the island has increased tremendously creating an influx in tourism. Rapid response to the demand has  resulted in an unparalleled choice of accommodation including selected villas and hotels where visitors can enjoy the luxuries of an idyllic setting while experiencing an unspoiled destination full of local flavor and authenticity. The most amazing aspect of the island’s sudden economic growth is that over 85% of hotel and villa owners are locals with a very limited number of investors non related to the island.

Until now, Naxos has preserved its authentic environmental and sociocultural characteristics without adopting massive tourism practices which inevitably result in overtourism issues and which other islands have experienced… In other words, limited presence of gigantic cruise ships, no international ‘all-inclusive’ resort chain hotels, no foreign global conglomerate investments, no excessive gas emissions in the atmosphere or the seas, no dreadful carbon footprint on the island’s natural environment. Naxos still belongs to the Naxians and they deserve full credit for the development of hospitality on their motherland! The profit from tourism remains in the hands of locals who usually re-invest in further business opportunities using exclusively local providers and creating future jobs.  

Of special importance is the fact that  Naxos is the only Cycladic island that basically does not rely economically on tourism. As a matter of fact, growth has worked in reverse: more than 40% of the island’s economy is based on the primary and secondary sectors while entrepreneurship in tourism has developed as a result of the two first.  Specifically, food, for example. Essentially all food sources are  produced locally on Naxos, such as all kinds of seasonal vegetables, dairy products, meat and fish. Once the island’s production is met providing excess for sharing, then, in turn, the tourism businesses offer these great products to their customers honouring, in this way, a real application of the “farm to table” popular concept.  Furthermore, as a result of the intense primary sector activity, visitors to Naxos interested in finding authentic experiences will find, in rural areas of the island,  genuine farmers and locals willing to share their local culture. Since “Greece has been green for centuries” according to Lonely Planet, then, definitely, Naxos, as a scale model of the whole country, has always been green in many ways, as well! 

Finally, there is no staged tourist space on Naxos. Instead, a great part of the island’s charm, which attracts travellers from around the world, is the natural environment with its untouched beaches and outstanding mountain trails. And, last but not least, travellers are delighted by the   feeling of a true discovery when taking the time to delve  deeper into the legacy of Naxos’ cultural sites and continuous history covering all historical periods from pre-history to glorious archaic days, from roman presence to byzantine tradition and living medieval architecture.  

So, is Naxos a Sustainable tourism destination?

Considering the island’s dynamics, Naxos is a paradigm of sustainable tourism development. However, local sustainability practices on Naxos were not born from intentional green design research nor officially implemented after strategic planning. Our island has been blessed with the prerequisites for a future of sustainable tourism  and will soon again be  at the top charts of Greek island destinations noted for highly  rewarding  off the beaten path experiences in a magnificent and authentic setting. We now have the knowledge and have learned from the past mistakes of other destinations.

Locally we have  realised the value of our island as a rough diamond and that we need to treat our treasure as such.  The road leading to success would highlight the design of  a long- term strategy which secures the benefits of tourism while, simultaneously, aims at upgrading local living standards, preserving the charming authentic character of Naxos, respecting the landscape, the rich historical heritage with its monuments and, of course, the living cultural heritage reflected in the people and their values which enhance intercultural understanding.

Katia Mavrelli 

Greek Tourism Professional  

Founder & Managing Director at Naxos Cultural Tours  

The story behind the Corona Borealis constellation

Greek Mythology was a source of inspiration to  explain the heavenly bodies, astronomical phenomena and astrology.  The legacy of the centuries’ -old myths remains even today.  Many of the planets, stars and zodiac signs bear names of Greek gods and mythical creatures such as Cronus, Aphrodite, Mars, Pegasus, Andromeda, Orion and many more.

Ancient Greek cartographers combined their research in mapping the earth with the drawing of star charts. Unable to make any rational sense of the night sky, they associated the movements of the planets with various gods and imagined that the stars had been set into patterns by the gods to immortalize mythical characters. Hence, in Greek mythology, the specific semicircle of stars symbolized the golden crown worn by Princess Ariadne of Crete when she married the god Dionysus on Naxos island. In the Greek language ‘crown’ or ‘wreath’ is called Στέφανος (Stephanos) and it is said to have been made by Hephaestus, the god of fire and metals, and studded with jewels from India.

‍Ariadne, ‍daughter ‍of ‍King ‍Minos ‍of ‍Crete, ‍is ‍famous ‍in ‍mythology ‍for ‍helping ‍Theseus ‍to ‍slay ‍the ‍Minotaur, ‍the ‍monstrous ‍creature ‍with ‍the ‍head ‍of ‍a ‍bull ‍on ‍a ‍human ‍body that lived inside the labyrinth of the Palace of Knossos. This maze was so complex that neither the Minotaur or anyone else who entered could find their way out. Theseus, the hero of Athens, came to Crete aiming to kill the Minotaur and Ariadne helped him to do so by giving him a ball of threat in order to be able to track his steps back out of the labyrinth. Once the mission was complete, the two lovers sailed off to Athens. On the way, they stopped at Dia (Naxos island), where Theseus decided to abandon Ariadne. Desperate as she was, crying and cursing Theseus for his ingratitude, she was heard by Dionysus,  patron god of Naxos. ‍The god’s heart melted at the sight of the despairing girl and appearing on an ornamented chariot carried by a panther, he abducted her and they got married on the spot.

Accounts ‍differ ‍regarding the origins of ‍Ariadne’s crown. ‍One ‍story ‍says ‍that ‍it ‍was ‍given ‍to ‍her ‍by ‍Aphrodite ‍as ‍a ‍wedding ‍present. ‍Others ‍say ‍that ‍Theseus ‍obtained ‍it ‍from ‍the ‍sea ‍nymph ‍Thetis, ‍and ‍that ‍its ‍sparkling ‍light ‍helped ‍Theseus ‍find ‍his ‍way ‍through ‍the ‍labyrinth. ‍Whatever ‍the ‍case, ‍after ‍their ‍wedding, ‍Dionysus ‍joyfully ‍tossed ‍the ‍crown ‍into ‍the ‍sky ‍where ‍its ‍jewels ‍transformed ‍into ‍stars.

As the original text of Ovid describes:

“Deserted and weeping bitterly, as she was, Bacchus-Liber brought her help and comfort. So that she might shine among the eternal stars, he took the crown from her forehead, and set it in the sky. It soared through the rarified air, and as it soared its jewels changed to bright fires, and took their place, retaining the appearance of a crown, as the Corona Borealis, between the kneeling Hercules and the head of the serpent (Serpens) that Ophiuchus holds” [Ovid,Metamorphoses, Bk VIII:152-182]

It is true that the open circlet of stars known as the constellation Corona Borealis was explained in different ways  by many civilizations. Middle Eastern civilizations saw it as a broken or cracked dish, while Australian aboriginals saw a boomerang.  Further West,  a myth of the Shawnee Tribe of Native Americans viewed the pattern as a  group of dancing star maidens. Only the Greeks saw the constellation  as a crown or wreath that embodies so beautifully the drama of a broken hearted princess in a glorious love story that was eventually given a “happy end” by the god of wine and revelry!

Discover more about the various shades of Greek Mythology on Naxos island with Naxos Cultural Tours (www.naxosculturaltours.gr) and book your mythology tour now!

 

 

Traditionally, kids count the days to summer vacation when the fun and excitement of  family holiday travel begins… This year, more than ever, Summer 2021 offers  a much needed bright spot in this unprecedented pandemic year when both children and parents have been restricted to virtual learning and working from home. The all-inclusive resort hotel vacation, providing children’s activities, often in limited space, is no longer a first choice. Another matter of concern is the practical issues of  traveling with children, which do matter,  in the current travel reality. Naxos offers a warm welcome and many advantages for every family member to enjoy an exceptional holiday.

 Visiting Naxos island in Greece is a great option for the following reasons:

• Accommodation is convenient and reasonably priced – Most hotels and vacation rentals have family rooms with extra single beds, extra double beds and rooms which interconnect. Moreover, baby gear such as booster seats and cradles are usually made available, on request. 

• No need to carry disposable baby equipment – Naxos is a family island and many locals are raising babies of their own. There are supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies where you can find everything you need, such as diapers, baby tissues, baby shampoo and pacifiers.

• Excellent quality food and the fun of eating- out ‘Greek Style’– Greek food is very healthy and kids friendly. Especially on Naxos, which doesn’t attract mass tourism but repeater family visits, the quality of food at local restaurants is really outstanding. Very fresh, locally -produced ingredients are used, such as meat, fish and all kinds of vegetables. Children love creamy yoghurt with fruits for breakfast and, to their delight, we recommend homemade specialties for lunch or dinner including crispy fries, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, basis of the Greek Salad, “pastitsio” (similar to Italian lasagna), “keftedakia” (small meat balls), “kalamarakia” (fried squid) and many other traditional dishes. Furthermore,  sea side tavernas are expected to be noisy and ‘ messy’ is viewed as part of the fun so there are no best-behavior rules. Some tavernas even have a special playground for young travelers.

• Locals love children – including yours! Naxos is known as a family summer destination both for Greeks and travelers. The local culture is deeply family oriented which is the main reason why many Greek families choose to spend their summer vacations on the island. So your little ones will never get disapproving looks but will be showered with genuinely affectionate smiles!

• Plenty of beaches ideal for young explorers– The Greek islands are not surrounded by the open ocean but the calmer waters of the Aegean Sea. Practically, this means that, when enjoying the beach, near the shore, there are no tides, no currents, no dangerous creatures lurking underwater and usually no waves. Instead there are clear, clean, calm and refreshing waters during the summer months. In addition, the many different types of beaches offer a variety of choices for swimming and fun including organized beaches with sunbeds and umbrellas, sandy stretches along shallow waters ideal for toddlers, some with fine sand, which is perfect for building sandcastles, or coarser sand which shakes off more easily. Of course, there are beautiful pebble beaches and coves, great for skipping stones in the water and more.

• There are no bedtime rules– Part of being on a vacation is to relax and do things differently than at home, right? We encourage travelers to mingle with local kids playing late into the evening and eating ice cream! You don’t have to look for a playground, there are car free alleyways and squares where your kids can make local friends and have a great time.

• There are cute animals which also call Naxos home. On Naxos, as in all the Cycladic islands, there are friendly stray cats taken care of by kind locals and the Naxos Animal Protection Society. If you decide to leave the seaside and explore inland Naxos, you will have the chance to see local livestock, such as goats, sheep, cows, donkeys and horses.

• Opportunity to join educational cultural experiences that your kids will love– Naxos has a long history spanning more than 7,000 years. If you love engaging with the local history of the place you’re visiting and wish to open cultural horizons for your children (which is basically one of the main values of travelling), Naxos is an ideal place to explore the Greek Civilization. Greek mythology still lives on at the island’s archaeological sites and in the surrounding nature. Ideally, before reaching Naxos, spend one day in Athens to visit the Acropolis with its museum, get your kids an engaging book about Greek mythology and it will all come to life.

 

If you wish to enhance your children’s traveling experience with some cultural insights, contact Naxos Cultural Tours (www.naxosculturaltours.gr) for an inquiry on the Kids Friendly Tours available, including visits to historical sites, mythological explorations and nature cultural walks!