1 00:00:03,364 --> 00:00:08,933 Ithaca Friends of Homer Association "EYXHN ODYCCEI" presents 2 00:00:09,487 --> 00:00:14,379 a documentary by Yiannis Arsenis 3 00:00:15,173 --> 00:00:22,301 "I'm from Ithaca" - Odyssey 4 00:00:31,058 --> 00:00:34,685 When one first sets eyes on the island of Ithaca 5 00:00:35,229 --> 00:00:39,943 he cannot fail to be enchanted by the natural beauty... 6 00:00:40,173 --> 00:00:43,416 small, rocky, green, 7 00:00:43,673 --> 00:00:48,281 surrounded by sea shimmering in the sunlight 8 00:00:48,847 --> 00:00:53,097 with paths embroidered with colorful flowers 9 00:00:54,031 --> 00:00:57,127 crystal waters, traditional villages 10 00:00:58,043 --> 00:01:00,601 ... endless light and color. 11 00:01:01,801 --> 00:01:06,219 What makes her unique is that is more than an island, 12 00:01:06,219 --> 00:01:09,633 it's an idea, a symbol 13 00:01:09,634 --> 00:01:16,385 Is identified with the notion of returning home and nostalgia. 14 00:01:16,386 --> 00:01:26,465 symbolizes, man's struggle, overcoming difficulties, his return journey to his roots 15 00:01:32,681 --> 00:01:40,305 No other island in the world has been identified with nostalgia as much as Ithaca 16 00:01:40,591 --> 00:01:42,955 and that thanks to Homer 17 00:01:43,344 --> 00:01:48,370 the greatest poet of antiquity, who with his epic Odyssey 18 00:01:48,371 --> 00:01:52,943 praised the struggle of the king of Ithaca, Odysseus (Ulysses) 19 00:01:52,944 --> 00:01:55,199 to return to his home 20 00:01:55,200 --> 00:02:00,261 and highlighted universal values through his poetry 21 00:02:29,678 --> 00:02:33,445 What secrets are hidden in Ithaca of today? 22 00:02:33,446 --> 00:02:38,161 Is Ithaca of today the one which Homer speaks of? 23 00:02:38,162 --> 00:02:43,506 and if so where are the remains of the kingdom of Odysseus? 24 00:02:59,993 --> 00:03:05,145 The Search for Homer's Ithaca began centuries ago 25 00:03:05,685 --> 00:03:12,276 Several opponents of Ithaca, Homer's Ithaca, argue that around the Middle Ages 26 00:03:12,406 --> 00:03:18,349 Ithaca lost its name, and for that reason.. It is not Homer's Ithaca! 27 00:03:18,494 --> 00:03:22,907 There are "Skylakas'" maps, the ones of a Roman cartographer, 28 00:03:22,908 --> 00:03:29,591 there is also a map of the Catalan conquerors of Greece in 1300.. 29 00:03:29,592 --> 00:03:33,376 and on this map this island is called Ithaca. 30 00:03:33,496 --> 00:03:42,526 around 1700-1600-1580 some maps call Ithaca with a different name, 31 00:03:42,724 --> 00:03:46,300 Picola Cephalonia, Val di Compare, 32 00:03:46,525 --> 00:03:51,529 Tiaki or Thiaki that we use today as a nickname. 33 00:03:52,376 --> 00:04:02,093 This is not proof that Ithaca lost its name and for that reason it isn't Homer's Ithaca. 34 00:04:02,094 --> 00:04:07,184 You realize that Ithaca carries a great glory! 35 00:04:07,217 --> 00:04:09,983 a glory which was envied by many. 36 00:04:09,984 --> 00:04:12,558 It was envied by the Lefkadians and the Cefalonians, 37 00:04:12,559 --> 00:04:17,541 Certainly it wasn't the locals but some archaeologists who undertook the task of defending 38 00:04:17,588 --> 00:04:20,303 a Lefkadian Homeric Ithaca such as Dorpfeld 39 00:04:20,303 --> 00:04:25,089 and a Cefalonian Homeric Ithaca such as some other archaeologists, 40 00:04:25,090 --> 00:04:30,540 who assume that the Homeric Ithaca is in Cefalonia but where in Cefalonia? 41 00:04:30,541 --> 00:04:33,146 There are 10 controversial areas in Cefalonia 42 00:04:33,147 --> 00:04:39,799 In my opinion the equation of 10 areas referring to the palace of Odysseus or the city of Ithaca 43 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,700 seems as if there is none. 44 00:04:41,705 --> 00:04:47,665 The past 10 years there have been 5 Cefalonian theories referring to Homer's Ithaca 45 00:04:47,666 --> 00:04:51,602 the latest the overseal, the capping stone that of Bittlestone 46 00:04:51,602 --> 00:04:54,130 the big hoax as I call it. 47 00:04:54,131 --> 00:04:59,095 Anyway that theory as we all know, although it received great publicity, 48 00:04:59,095 --> 00:05:02,735 since then, has lapsed into obscurity, at the moment no longer exists. 49 00:05:02,736 --> 00:05:06,485 Whilst the Lefkadias stayed in one theory that of Dorpfeld 50 00:05:05,885 --> 00:05:10,775 which actually sank immediately after it was born 51 00:05:10,776 --> 00:05:16,355 Dorpfeld imposed it because he was a strong archaeological personality 52 00:05:16,356 --> 00:05:21,636 he imposed it only on his own will and his own dynamic. 53 00:05:21,637 --> 00:05:24,896 But that theory immediately crashed. 54 00:05:25,107 --> 00:05:28,692 Cefalonia and Lefkada but mainly Cefalonia 55 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:33,442 is 7 or 8 times bigger than Ithaca. 56 00:05:33,443 --> 00:05:42,578 Is it possible for this large population, this naval, military and political power 57 00:05:42,580 --> 00:05:49,543 to lose its name and a rock, one seventh of its expanse, to get it instead? 58 00:05:49,545 --> 00:05:52,220 There is no historical precedent. 59 00:05:52,225 --> 00:05:55,898 The existence of so many theories about Homer's Ithaca 60 00:05:55,899 --> 00:06:00,528 proves that there are no compelling archaeological findings 61 00:06:00,529 --> 00:06:06,401 allowing us to scientifically justify one or another. 62 00:06:06,402 --> 00:06:08,907 Or maybe there are some finally available? 63 00:06:09,026 --> 00:06:13,726 Ladies and gentlemen let's go to a sensational archaeological discovery 64 00:06:13,727 --> 00:06:17,266 which will be discussed not only in Greece but throughout the world. 65 00:06:17,267 --> 00:06:23,095 in Ithaca a team of archaeologists is announcing that, after significant recent findings 66 00:06:23,096 --> 00:06:26,316 from the excavations on the island, it is convinced at last 67 00:06:26,317 --> 00:06:29,064 to have found the Homeric Palace of Odysseus. 68 00:06:29,065 --> 00:06:33,650 A new impetus for the identification of today's Ithaca with the Homeric one 69 00:06:33,651 --> 00:06:39,862 was given with University of Ioannina announcement on August 20th 2010 70 00:06:39,863 --> 00:06:46,217 according to which, during excavations in the area of St. Athanasius in Northern Ithaca 71 00:06:46,218 --> 00:06:52,529 they found a Mansion of the Mycenaean era which seems to be the Palace of Odysseus. 72 00:06:52,530 --> 00:06:58,252 I am really glad that as Mayor of Ithaca in 1993, I took the initiative 73 00:06:58,253 --> 00:07:05,730 and invited Ioannina University to come and explore the area of Northern Ithaca 74 00:07:05,731 --> 00:07:08,117 it was proven how right I was. 75 00:07:08,118 --> 00:07:16,076 15 to 16 years later, the University with Mr. Papadopoulos and Mrs. Kontorli 76 00:07:16,077 --> 00:07:19,801 they announce, in an archaeological conference.. 77 00:07:19,802 --> 00:07:25,692 that they have found the palace of Odysseus and Penelope, in this location of St. Athanasius. 78 00:07:25,693 --> 00:07:32,772 I imagine that, to proceed in such a significant announcement, you have equally important findings in your hands. 79 00:07:32,773 --> 00:07:35,430 Can you tell us what these are? 80 00:07:35,649 --> 00:07:39,753 Yes, the area "Homer's School - St. Athanasius" 81 00:07:39,828 --> 00:07:49,180 is surrounded by a cyclopean wall and inside this wall there is a building complex... 82 00:07:49,181 --> 00:07:53,096 in two terraces, on two levels 83 00:07:53,100 --> 00:08:01,404 also there are movable findings from the prehistoric, Mycenaean era and earlier 84 00:08:01,405 --> 00:08:06,130 but the most important element that makes us believe 85 00:08:06,131 --> 00:08:10,437 always with reservation because we need additional evidence 86 00:08:10,438 --> 00:08:16,267 is a tripartite building which was found on the lower level 87 00:08:16,268 --> 00:08:21,257 which has the dimensions of mansions of palaces 88 00:08:21,258 --> 00:08:26,600 of the palaces that have been found in Mycenae, in Tiryns, in Pylos 89 00:08:27,351 --> 00:08:32,720 It is obvious that such an important archaeological discovery would shoot down 90 00:08:32,721 --> 00:08:38,381 all the theories which question whether current Ithaca is Homer's Ithaca 91 00:08:40,183 --> 00:08:43,044 This significant announcement 92 00:08:43,044 --> 00:08:48,259 this shocking announcement that changes the facts 93 00:08:48,260 --> 00:08:51,529 the archaeological facts at least to date 94 00:08:51,530 --> 00:08:55,395 and that the archaeological establishment will fight it 95 00:08:55,396 --> 00:09:00,818 have no doubt, it will fight it because it has learned to do so 96 00:09:00,819 --> 00:09:04,554 in every announcement related to new findings 97 00:09:04,555 --> 00:09:06,818 Ithaca has been targeted at large 98 00:09:06,819 --> 00:09:09,203 Being a small island it has been fought against 99 00:09:09,204 --> 00:09:11,173 its glory has been fought against 100 00:09:11,174 --> 00:09:13,659 and is still and will continue to be fought against 101 00:09:13,660 --> 00:09:19,693 but I would like to believe that the opponents weapons have already been exhausted 102 00:09:19,694 --> 00:09:25,299 Many excavated the site, including Schliemann 103 00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:30,090 apparently sensing that there was something important there 104 00:09:31,674 --> 00:09:37,909 We can say at the outset that this area "shouted, talked archaeologically" 105 00:09:37,910 --> 00:09:43,354 and I really wonder why such great archaeologists who passed through here 106 00:09:43,389 --> 00:09:46,309 did not detect its particularity 107 00:09:46,310 --> 00:09:50,537 The area of St. Athanasius had almost been abandoned, for obviously too many reasons 108 00:09:50,538 --> 00:09:54,765 they wanted to discredit it, the depreciation was in the background of those who.. 109 00:09:54,766 --> 00:09:59,934 were processing theories and plans or else for this particular area to be discredited 110 00:10:00,035 --> 00:10:07,476 Before the archaeologists' interest turned to the area of St. Athanasius on the mountain of "Exogi", 111 00:10:07,477 --> 00:10:13,509 there had been other areas in Ithaca with significant archaeological discoveries 112 00:10:13,510 --> 00:10:17,046 The theory of Aetos (an area in southern Ithaca) lasted for many years 113 00:10:17,047 --> 00:10:21,613 and it affected many, among which the great Schliemann 114 00:10:21,614 --> 00:10:23,614 Schliemann was a partisan of Gell 115 00:10:23,615 --> 00:10:30,389 They believed the first theory released in 1806, the theory of William Gell 116 00:10:30,390 --> 00:10:33,162 which placed the palace of Ithaca in Aetos 117 00:10:33,163 --> 00:10:40,604 The Englishman who predicted alongside Gell that Homer's Ithaca is not in Vathi 118 00:10:40,605 --> 00:10:44,205 but it is in "Poli" in the region of Stavros - St. Athanasius 119 00:10:44,206 --> 00:10:49,159 was another Englishman, a resourceful man, William Martin Luc 120 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:54,224 who came to Ithaca in '06, made small excavations and didn't find many things 121 00:10:54,224 --> 00:10:58,492 But he found coins and at the time coins of Ithaca were considered.. 122 00:10:58,493 --> 00:11:01,592 to be the very conclusive evidence of Ithaca's Homeric past 123 00:11:02,393 --> 00:11:06,493 One of the most important archaeological sites of Ithaca 124 00:11:06,494 --> 00:11:10,494 is located in the region of "Polis" near the village of Stavros 125 00:11:10,495 --> 00:11:15,655 This site is called "Poli" because inshore the village of Stavros.. 126 00:11:15,655 --> 00:11:19,033 there is an ancient submerged city 127 00:11:19,034 --> 00:11:22,133 In the famous "Loizos" cave in Poli 128 00:11:22,134 --> 00:11:26,857 have been found many significant archaeological discoveries 129 00:11:30,844 --> 00:11:36,933 In this cave, have been discovered twelve bronze tripods 130 00:11:36,934 --> 00:11:43,974 whose pieces are now exhibited at the archaeological museum of Stavros in Ithaca 131 00:11:43,975 --> 00:11:52,026 a Corinthian dish has also been found, dedicated to the god Apollo 132 00:11:52,027 --> 00:11:58,000 and so it can be deduced that it was a worshiping cavern in the name of Apollo 133 00:11:58,001 --> 00:12:00,701 In this cave has also been discovered 134 00:12:00,701 --> 00:12:06,961 the triangular shell made of clay that has two words written on it.. 135 00:12:06,961 --> 00:12:12,247 'EYXHN ODYCCEI' (With the wish of Odysseus) 136 00:12:12,248 --> 00:12:20,754 It seems that the locals, as was customary in other regions of our country as well.. 137 00:12:20,755 --> 00:12:25,996 worshiped their hero as a demigod along with the god Apollo 138 00:12:25,997 --> 00:12:34,452 It was proved to be the ark attesting Ithaca's history of the past 3000 years! 139 00:12:35,962 --> 00:12:43,783 In 2006, during excavations by the Ioannina University, another important finding came to light 140 00:12:43,789 --> 00:12:50,303 A plaque, eloquently narrating one of the episodes of the Odyssey 141 00:12:50,304 --> 00:12:56,366 We also found plaques in linear writing, one of which may be Linear B 142 00:12:56,367 --> 00:13:01,326 and this has been published in the prestigious journal "Cadmus" in Germany 143 00:13:01,327 --> 00:13:04,173 If I'm not mistaken, Linear B is found only in palaces? 144 00:13:04,174 --> 00:13:06,602 Certainly, in the archives of the palaces 145 00:13:06,603 --> 00:13:12,454 we are not sure if that is Linear B, but hopefully we shall uncover other findings.. 146 00:13:12,455 --> 00:13:18,213 The plaque depicts a ship with Odysseus tied to the mast 147 00:13:18,214 --> 00:13:25,560 and on either side monstrous drawings, a trident and signs of possibly Linear B writing 148 00:13:25,561 --> 00:13:30,491 Considering the data that we currently have in Ithaca 149 00:13:30,492 --> 00:13:37,536 we believe this position fits the Homeric description of the palace of Odysseus 150 00:13:37,537 --> 00:13:40,971 I forgot to tell you that the two levels 151 00:13:40,972 --> 00:13:48,418 the buildings, on the two levels are connected with stairways carved into the rock 152 00:13:48,419 --> 00:13:52,376 Something also mentioned in the Odyssey namely that.. 153 00:13:52,377 --> 00:13:59,981 the occupants of the palace communicated going up and down stone stairways 154 00:14:00,516 --> 00:14:05,262 It is mentioned several times in Homer that Penelope goes up and down 155 00:14:05,263 --> 00:14:07,901 the same way that Eurycleia goes up and down 156 00:14:07,902 --> 00:14:13,599 So a building construction is presented where for a staircase which goes up to exist 157 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:18,783 it means there is a lower terrace and an upper terrace as described in Homer 158 00:14:18,784 --> 00:14:27,304 There is also a description, given by Telemachus to Eurycleia before his departure for Pylos 159 00:14:27,305 --> 00:14:32,850 He tells her: "Eldress, go to the rock.. to the depot which is under the rock 160 00:14:32,851 --> 00:14:36,796 and bring me wine and oil, to take with me 161 00:14:48,989 --> 00:14:55,717 The announcement by the University of Ioannina archaeologists, brings us closer than ever 162 00:14:55,718 --> 00:14:59,817 to the truth as to where Homer's Ithaca is located 163 00:15:02,428 --> 00:15:05,766 The archaeologists, Papadopoulos couple 164 00:15:05,766 --> 00:15:09,312 had accomplish something very important 165 00:15:10,064 --> 00:15:14,016 the expropriation of the 25-acre-area of St. Athanasius 166 00:15:14,017 --> 00:15:17,676 that was a really great accomplishment and it existed 167 00:15:17,677 --> 00:15:21,730 as a demand by the residents of Ithaca since 1904 168 00:15:21,731 --> 00:15:25,806 There is already a decision by the Central Archaeological Council 169 00:15:25,807 --> 00:15:28,682 for these 25 acres of expropriated area 170 00:15:28,683 --> 00:15:36,197 to demolish not only the church, this ruined residue that still exists 171 00:15:36,198 --> 00:15:41,581 but also the houses of "Vrettos", the lord of the area 172 00:15:41,582 --> 00:15:48,075 who played a very cunning role in this History of archeology in Ithaca 173 00:15:49,256 --> 00:15:56,304 It is a known story, on top of the palace there is the temple 174 00:15:56,305 --> 00:16:00,074 and on top of the temple there is the Orthodox Church 175 00:16:01,820 --> 00:16:08,862 The area of St. Athanasius appears to meet all of those features described by Homer 176 00:16:08,908 --> 00:16:15,461 And there are so many answers that they cannot all be coincidences 177 00:16:15,613 --> 00:16:23,279 The position of St. Athanasius is a geostrategic one that happens to have what it has on it 178 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:27,457 It strategically covers the passage towards the west 179 00:16:27,587 --> 00:16:33,198 If the palace is here, there are three ports around the palace 180 00:16:33,199 --> 00:16:36,943 A port in the town of Stavros, which is further away from here 181 00:16:36,943 --> 00:16:41,723 which must have been the public port from which Telemachus left for Pylos 182 00:16:41,724 --> 00:16:46,696 The port of Afales which is in the north and is their own port, the royal port 183 00:16:46,697 --> 00:16:51,497 And the third port is the port of Frikes, which is the port of the furrow (rithro) 184 00:16:51,498 --> 00:16:55,328 The village above the harbor of the furrow (rithro) is called Platythreias 185 00:16:55,329 --> 00:16:58,660 Platy rithro (wide furrow) They all tie together 186 00:16:58,661 --> 00:17:02,472 Some researchers have claimed that in Ithaca 187 00:17:02,473 --> 00:17:06,843 a palace could not have flourished due to its lack of water 188 00:17:06,844 --> 00:17:11,626 Besides the fact that around "St Athanasius" and within the site there are plenty of wells 189 00:17:11,627 --> 00:17:14,702 ancient wells, Mycenaean wells 190 00:17:14,703 --> 00:17:17,560 there are two water sources 191 00:17:17,561 --> 00:17:21,438 "Melanydros source" and "Tykti krini" mentioned in Homer 192 00:17:21,439 --> 00:17:26,203 Firstly, neither a palace nor a town could have been built away from water 193 00:17:26,204 --> 00:17:31,540 there had to be plenty of water for the palace and the town, the "asti" 194 00:17:31,541 --> 00:17:35,537 Well a little further away from here there is a great water source 195 00:17:35,538 --> 00:17:40,044 "Kalamos" as we call it today that could supply water throughout the region at the time. 196 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:44,411 "Melampso" was one of Penelope handmaidens 197 00:17:44,412 --> 00:17:53,891 at some point tells to Odysseus "Go away, go to sleep at the coppersmith's" 198 00:17:54,424 --> 00:18:02,010 The archaeologists dig out a coppersmith's workshop at St Athanasius 199 00:18:02,352 --> 00:18:11,073 In Mycenaean era a coppersmith's workshop was a Palace's annex 200 00:18:11,074 --> 00:18:17,224 That was the case in Pylos, in Mycenae and in Crete 201 00:18:17,225 --> 00:18:26,049 It is a very strong indication, characteristic archaeological proof 202 00:18:26,528 --> 00:18:31,639 These archaeological findings already constitute considerable indications 203 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:35,523 that Odysseus once walked in today's Ithaca 204 00:18:35,557 --> 00:18:40,686 A reinforcing element other than this tripartite building-palace 205 00:18:40,687 --> 00:18:46,115 is an artificial, "tykti" as it's called, a Mycenaean fountain 206 00:18:46,171 --> 00:18:53,218 which we did not date ourselves, but was dated by the best specialist globally 207 00:18:53,219 --> 00:18:57,918 professor Jost Knaus from the Technical University of Munich 208 00:18:57,918 --> 00:19:04,998 who dated it to the 13th century BC, namely in the time of Homer's Odysseus 209 00:19:04,999 --> 00:19:09,135 These two elements, "tykti krini" and the mansion 210 00:19:09,135 --> 00:19:16,235 this tripartite building which resembles similar ones found in Pylos, in Mycenae and in Tiryns 211 00:19:16,235 --> 00:19:19,953 make us believe, I repeat with reservation 212 00:19:19,953 --> 00:19:25,984 that this position is the one that fits the description of Homer 213 00:19:25,984 --> 00:19:30,497 and we think that until someone else proves otherwise 214 00:19:30,498 --> 00:19:35,091 that there has to be the palace of Odysseus 215 00:19:35,092 --> 00:19:40,037 for which many laudable efforts have been made before 216 00:19:53,334 --> 00:19:59,105 The area of St. Athanasius deserves everyone's undivided attention 217 00:19:59,106 --> 00:20:04,315 but mainly that of the State and the scientific community 218 00:20:04,981 --> 00:20:09,981 Therefore, this announcement is the best news.. 219 00:20:09,982 --> 00:20:15,082 the international community and the world has heard originating from Greece 220 00:20:15,083 --> 00:20:17,878 the most pleasant news from Greece 221 00:20:17,878 --> 00:20:24,086 All other news is about wretchedness, misery, bankruptcy, etc 222 00:20:24,086 --> 00:20:28,474 This piece of news coming from a Greek university and from Greek archaeologists 223 00:20:28,474 --> 00:20:32,323 has not been sufficiently exploited by the Greek state 224 00:20:32,512 --> 00:20:35,838 Only through a systematic continuation of the excavations 225 00:20:35,842 --> 00:20:44,813 will this place be able to pull from within its well kept secrets and reveal Homer's Ithaca 226 00:20:45,705 --> 00:20:52,118 .. Until then, we shall continue our journey to Ithaca 227 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:56,819 and we shall feel rich for what it has offered to us so far 228 00:20:59,212 --> 00:21:02,537 When you set out on your journey to Ithaca 229 00:21:04,360 --> 00:21:07,067 pray that the road is long 230 00:21:07,961 --> 00:21:13,538 full of adventure, full of knowledge. 231 00:21:14,598 --> 00:21:17,838 The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops 232 00:21:18,618 --> 00:21:21,676 the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them 233 00:21:22,358 --> 00:21:25,473 You will never find such as these on your path 234 00:21:26,305 --> 00:21:28,446 if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine 235 00:21:29,264 --> 00:21:36,588 emotion touches your spirit and your body 236 00:21:38,544 --> 00:21:41,626 The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops 237 00:21:42,627 --> 00:21:44,887 the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter 238 00:21:44,887 --> 00:21:47,655 if you do not carry them within your soul 239 00:21:48,745 --> 00:21:53,770 if your soul does not set them up before you 240 00:21:56,100 --> 00:21:58,685 Pray that the road is long 241 00:21:58,686 --> 00:22:02,071 That the summer mornings are many, when 242 00:22:02,072 --> 00:22:06,357 with such pleasure, with such joy 243 00:22:06,358 --> 00:22:10,656 you will enter ports seen for the first time