WEBVTT 00:00:03.364 --> 00:00:08.933 Ithaca Friends of Homer Association "EYXHN ODYCCEI" presents 00:00:09.487 --> 00:00:14.379 a documentary by Yiannis Arsenis 00:00:15.173 --> 00:00:22.301 "I'm from Ithaca" - Odyssey 00:00:31.058 --> 00:00:34.685 When one first sets eyes on the island of Ithaca 00:00:35.229 --> 00:00:39.943 he cannot fail to be enchanted by the natural beauty... 00:00:40.173 --> 00:00:43.416 small, rocky, green, 00:00:43.673 --> 00:00:48.281 surrounded by sea shimmering in the sunlight 00:00:48.847 --> 00:00:53.097 with paths embroidered with colorful flowers 00:00:54.031 --> 00:00:57.127 crystal waters, traditional villages 00:00:58.043 --> 00:01:00.601 ... endless light and color. 00:01:01.801 --> 00:01:06.219 What makes her unique is that is more than an island, 00:01:06.219 --> 00:01:09.633 it's an idea, a symbol 00:01:09.634 --> 00:01:16.385 Is identified with the notion of returning home and nostalgia. 00:01:16.386 --> 00:01:26.465 symbolizes, man's struggle, overcoming difficulties, his return journey to his roots 00:01:32.681 --> 00:01:40.305 No other island in the world has been identified with nostalgia as much as Ithaca 00:01:40.591 --> 00:01:42.955 and that thanks to Homer 00:01:43.344 --> 00:01:48.370 the greatest poet of antiquity, who with his epic Odyssey 00:01:48.371 --> 00:01:52.943 praised the struggle of the king of Ithaca, Odysseus (Ulysses) 00:01:52.944 --> 00:01:55.199 to return to his home 00:01:55.200 --> 00:02:00.261 and highlighted universal values through his poetry 00:02:29.678 --> 00:02:33.445 What secrets are hidden in Ithaca of today? 00:02:33.446 --> 00:02:38.161 Is Ithaca of today the one which Homer speaks of? 00:02:38.162 --> 00:02:43.506 and if so where are the remains of the kingdom of Odysseus? 00:02:59.993 --> 00:03:05.145 The Search for Homer's Ithaca began centuries ago 00:03:05.685 --> 00:03:12.276 Several opponents of Ithaca, Homer's Ithaca, argue that around the Middle Ages 00:03:12.406 --> 00:03:18.349 Ithaca lost its name, and for that reason.. It is not Homer's Ithaca! 00:03:18.494 --> 00:03:22.907 There are "Skylakas'" maps, the ones of a Roman cartographer, 00:03:22.908 --> 00:03:29.591 there is also a map of the Catalan conquerors of Greece in 1300.. 00:03:29.592 --> 00:03:33.376 and on this map this island is called Ithaca. 00:03:33.496 --> 00:03:42.526 around 1700-1600-1580 some maps call Ithaca with a different name, 00:03:42.724 --> 00:03:46.300 Picola Cephalonia, Val di Compare, 00:03:46.525 --> 00:03:51.529 Tiaki or Thiaki that we use today as a nickname. 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. 00:04:02.094 --> 00:04:07.184 You realize that Ithaca carries a great glory! 00:04:07.217 --> 00:04:09.983 a glory which was envied by many. 00:04:09.984 --> 00:04:12.558 It was envied by the Lefkadians and the Cefalonians, 00:04:12.559 --> 00:04:17.541 Certainly it wasn't the locals but some archaeologists who undertook the task of defending 00:04:17.588 --> 00:04:20.303 a Lefkadian Homeric Ithaca such as Dorpfeld 00:04:20.303 --> 00:04:25.089 and a Cefalonian Homeric Ithaca such as some other archaeologists, 00:04:25.090 --> 00:04:30.540 who assume that the Homeric Ithaca is in Cefalonia but where in Cefalonia? 00:04:30.541 --> 00:04:33.146 There are 10 controversial areas in Cefalonia 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 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:41.700 seems as if there is none. 00:04:41.705 --> 00:04:47.665 The past 10 years there have been 5 Cefalonian theories referring to Homer's Ithaca 00:04:47.666 --> 00:04:51.602 the latest the overseal, the capping stone that of Bittlestone 00:04:51.602 --> 00:04:54.130 the big hoax as I call it. 00:04:54.131 --> 00:04:59.095 Anyway that theory as we all know, although it received great publicity, 00:04:59.095 --> 00:05:02.735 since then, has lapsed into obscurity, at the moment no longer exists. 00:05:02.736 --> 00:05:06.485 Whilst the Lefkadias stayed in one theory that of Dorpfeld 00:05:05.885 --> 00:05:10.775 which actually sank immediately after it was born 00:05:10.776 --> 00:05:16.355 Dorpfeld imposed it because he was a strong archaeological personality 00:05:16.356 --> 00:05:21.636 he imposed it only on his own will and his own dynamic. 00:05:21.637 --> 00:05:24.896 But that theory immediately crashed. 00:05:25.107 --> 00:05:28.692 Cefalonia and Lefkada but mainly Cefalonia 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:33.442 is 7 or 8 times bigger than Ithaca. 00:05:33.443 --> 00:05:42.578 Is it possible for this large population, this naval, military and political power 00:05:42.580 --> 00:05:49.543 to lose its name and a rock, one seventh of its expanse, to get it instead? 00:05:49.545 --> 00:05:52.220 There is no historical precedent. 00:05:52.225 --> 00:05:55.898 The existence of so many theories about Homer's Ithaca 00:05:55.899 --> 00:06:00.528 proves that there are no compelling archaeological findings 00:06:00.529 --> 00:06:06.401 allowing us to scientifically justify one or another. 00:06:06.402 --> 00:06:08.907 Or maybe there are some finally available? 00:06:09.026 --> 00:06:13.726 Ladies and gentlemen let's go to a sensational archaeological discovery 00:06:13.727 --> 00:06:17.266 which will be discussed not only in Greece but throughout the world. 00:06:17.267 --> 00:06:23.095 in Ithaca a team of archaeologists is announcing that, after significant recent findings 00:06:23.096 --> 00:06:26.316 from the excavations on the island, it is convinced at last 00:06:26.317 --> 00:06:29.064 to have found the Homeric Palace of Odysseus. 00:06:29.065 --> 00:06:33.650 A new impetus for the identification of today's Ithaca with the Homeric one 00:06:33.651 --> 00:06:39.862 was given with University of Ioannina announcement on August 20th 2010 00:06:39.863 --> 00:06:46.217 according to which, during excavations in the area of St. Athanasius in Northern Ithaca 00:06:46.218 --> 00:06:52.529 they found a Mansion of the Mycenaean era which seems to be the Palace of Odysseus. 00:06:52.530 --> 00:06:58.252 I am really glad that as Mayor of Ithaca in 1993, I took the initiative 00:06:58.253 --> 00:07:05.730 and invited Ioannina University to come and explore the area of Northern Ithaca 00:07:05.731 --> 00:07:08.117 it was proven how right I was. 00:07:08.118 --> 00:07:16.076 15 to 16 years later, the University with Mr. Papadopoulos and Mrs. Kontorli 00:07:16.077 --> 00:07:19.801 they announce, in an archaeological conference.. 00:07:19.802 --> 00:07:25.692 that they have found the palace of Odysseus and Penelope, in this location of St. Athanasius. 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. 00:07:32.773 --> 00:07:35.430 Can you tell us what these are? 00:07:35.649 --> 00:07:39.753 Yes, the area "Homer's School - St. Athanasius" 00:07:39.828 --> 00:07:49.180 is surrounded by a cyclopean wall and inside this wall there is a building complex... 00:07:49.181 --> 00:07:53.096 in two terraces, on two levels 00:07:53.100 --> 00:08:01.404 also there are movable findings from the prehistoric, Mycenaean era and earlier 00:08:01.405 --> 00:08:06.130 but the most important element that makes us believe 00:08:06.131 --> 00:08:10.437 always with reservation because we need additional evidence 00:08:10.438 --> 00:08:16.267 is a tripartite building which was found on the lower level 00:08:16.268 --> 00:08:21.257 which has the dimensions of mansions of palaces 00:08:21.258 --> 00:08:26.600 of the palaces that have been found in Mycenae, in Tiryns, in Pylos 00:08:27.351 --> 00:08:32.720 It is obvious that such an important archaeological discovery would shoot down 00:08:32.721 --> 00:08:38.381 all the theories which question whether current Ithaca is Homer's Ithaca 00:08:40.183 --> 00:08:43.044 This significant announcement 00:08:43.044 --> 00:08:48.259 this shocking announcement that changes the facts 00:08:48.260 --> 00:08:51.529 the archaeological facts at least to date 00:08:51.530 --> 00:08:55.395 and that the archaeological establishment will fight it 00:08:55.396 --> 00:09:00.818 have no doubt, it will fight it because it has learned to do so 00:09:00.819 --> 00:09:04.554 in every announcement related to new findings 00:09:04.555 --> 00:09:06.818 Ithaca has been targeted at large 00:09:06.819 --> 00:09:09.203 Being a small island it has been fought against 00:09:09.204 --> 00:09:11.173 its glory has been fought against 00:09:11.174 --> 00:09:13.659 and is still and will continue to be fought against 00:09:13.660 --> 00:09:19.693 but I would like to believe that the opponents weapons have already been exhausted 00:09:19.694 --> 00:09:25.299 Many excavated the site, including Schliemann 00:09:25.300 --> 00:09:30.090 apparently sensing that there was something important there 00:09:31.674 --> 00:09:37.909 We can say at the outset that this area "shouted, talked archaeologically" 00:09:37.910 --> 00:09:43.354 and I really wonder why such great archaeologists who passed through here 00:09:43.389 --> 00:09:46.309 did not detect its particularity 00:09:46.310 --> 00:09:50.537 The area of St. Athanasius had almost been abandoned, for obviously too many reasons 00:09:50.538 --> 00:09:54.765 they wanted to discredit it, the depreciation was in the background of those who.. 00:09:54.766 --> 00:09:59.934 were processing theories and plans or else for this particular area to be discredited 00:10:00.035 --> 00:10:07.476 Before the archaeologists' interest turned to the area of St. Athanasius on the mountain of "Exogi", 00:10:07.477 --> 00:10:13.509 there had been other areas in Ithaca with significant archaeological discoveries 00:10:13.510 --> 00:10:17.046 The theory of Aetos (an area in southern Ithaca) lasted for many years 00:10:17.047 --> 00:10:21.613 and it affected many, among which the great Schliemann 00:10:21.614 --> 00:10:23.614 Schliemann was a partisan of Gell 00:10:23.615 --> 00:10:30.389 They believed the first theory released in 1806, the theory of William Gell 00:10:30.390 --> 00:10:33.162 which placed the palace of Ithaca in Aetos 00:10:33.163 --> 00:10:40.604 The Englishman who predicted alongside Gell that Homer's Ithaca is not in Vathi 00:10:40.605 --> 00:10:44.205 but it is in "Poli" in the region of Stavros - St. Athanasius 00:10:44.206 --> 00:10:49.159 was another Englishman, a resourceful man, William Martin Luc 00:10:49.160 --> 00:10:54.224 who came to Ithaca in '06, made small excavations and didn't find many things 00:10:54.224 --> 00:10:58.492 But he found coins and at the time coins of Ithaca were considered.. 00:10:58.493 --> 00:11:01.592 to be the very conclusive evidence of Ithaca's Homeric past 00:11:02.393 --> 00:11:06.493 One of the most important archaeological sites of Ithaca 00:11:06.494 --> 00:11:10.494 is located in the region of "Polis" near the village of Stavros 00:11:10.495 --> 00:11:15.655 This site is called "Poli" because inshore the village of Stavros.. 00:11:15.655 --> 00:11:19.033 there is an ancient submerged city 00:11:19.034 --> 00:11:22.133 In the famous "Loizos" cave in Poli 00:11:22.134 --> 00:11:26.857 have been found many significant archaeological discoveries 00:11:30.844 --> 00:11:36.933 In this cave, have been discovered twelve bronze tripods 00:11:36.934 --> 00:11:43.974 whose pieces are now exhibited at the archaeological museum of Stavros in Ithaca 00:11:43.975 --> 00:11:52.026 a Corinthian dish has also been found, dedicated to the god Apollo 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 00:11:58.001 --> 00:12:00.701 In this cave has also been discovered 00:12:00.701 --> 00:12:06.961 the triangular shell made of clay that has two words written on it.. 00:12:06.961 --> 00:12:12.247 'EYXHN ODYCCEI' (With the wish of Odysseus) 00:12:12.248 --> 00:12:20.754 It seems that the locals, as was customary in other regions of our country as well.. 00:12:20.755 --> 00:12:25.996 worshiped their hero as a demigod along with the god Apollo 00:12:25.997 --> 00:12:34.452 It was proved to be the ark attesting Ithaca's history of the past 3000 years! 00:12:35.962 --> 00:12:43.783 In 2006, during excavations by the Ioannina University, another important finding came to light 00:12:43.789 --> 00:12:50.303 A plaque, eloquently narrating one of the episodes of the Odyssey 00:12:50.304 --> 00:12:56.366 We also found plaques in linear writing, one of which may be Linear B 00:12:56.367 --> 00:13:01.326 and this has been published in the prestigious journal "Cadmus" in Germany 00:13:01.327 --> 00:13:04.173 If I'm not mistaken, Linear B is found only in palaces? 00:13:04.174 --> 00:13:06.602 Certainly, in the archives of the palaces 00:13:06.603 --> 00:13:12.454 we are not sure if that is Linear B, but hopefully we shall uncover other findings.. 00:13:12.455 --> 00:13:18.213 The plaque depicts a ship with Odysseus tied to the mast 00:13:18.214 --> 00:13:25.560 and on either side monstrous drawings, a trident and signs of possibly Linear B writing 00:13:25.561 --> 00:13:30.491 Considering the data that we currently have in Ithaca 00:13:30.492 --> 00:13:37.536 we believe this position fits the Homeric description of the palace of Odysseus 00:13:37.537 --> 00:13:40.971 I forgot to tell you that the two levels 00:13:40.972 --> 00:13:48.418 the buildings, on the two levels are connected with stairways carved into the rock 00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:52.376 Something also mentioned in the Odyssey namely that.. 00:13:52.377 --> 00:13:59.981 the occupants of the palace communicated going up and down stone stairways 00:14:00.516 --> 00:14:05.262 It is mentioned several times in Homer that Penelope goes up and down 00:14:05.263 --> 00:14:07.901 the same way that Eurycleia goes up and down 00:14:07.902 --> 00:14:13.599 So a building construction is presented where for a staircase which goes up to exist 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:18.783 it means there is a lower terrace and an upper terrace as described in Homer 00:14:18.784 --> 00:14:27.304 There is also a description, given by Telemachus to Eurycleia before his departure for Pylos 00:14:27.305 --> 00:14:32.850 He tells her: "Eldress, go to the rock.. to the depot which is under the rock 00:14:32.851 --> 00:14:36.796 and bring me wine and oil, to take with me 00:14:48.989 --> 00:14:55.717 The announcement by the University of Ioannina archaeologists, brings us closer than ever 00:14:55.718 --> 00:14:59.817 to the truth as to where Homer's Ithaca is located 00:15:02.428 --> 00:15:05.766 The archaeologists, Papadopoulos couple 00:15:05.766 --> 00:15:09.312 had accomplish something very important 00:15:10.064 --> 00:15:14.016 the expropriation of the 25-acre-area of St. Athanasius 00:15:14.017 --> 00:15:17.676 that was a really great accomplishment and it existed 00:15:17.677 --> 00:15:21.730 as a demand by the residents of Ithaca since 1904 00:15:21.731 --> 00:15:25.806 There is already a decision by the Central Archaeological Council 00:15:25.807 --> 00:15:28.682 for these 25 acres of expropriated area 00:15:28.683 --> 00:15:36.197 to demolish not only the church, this ruined residue that still exists 00:15:36.198 --> 00:15:41.581 but also the houses of "Vrettos", the lord of the area 00:15:41.582 --> 00:15:48.075 who played a very cunning role in this History of archeology in Ithaca 00:15:49.256 --> 00:15:56.304 It is a known story, on top of the palace there is the temple 00:15:56.305 --> 00:16:00.074 and on top of the temple there is the Orthodox Church 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:08.862 The area of St. Athanasius appears to meet all of those features described by Homer 00:16:08.908 --> 00:16:15.461 And there are so many answers that they cannot all be coincidences 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 00:16:23.280 --> 00:16:27.457 It strategically covers the passage towards the west 00:16:27.587 --> 00:16:33.198 If the palace is here, there are three ports around the palace 00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:36.943 A port in the town of Stavros, which is further away from here 00:16:36.943 --> 00:16:41.723 which must have been the public port from which Telemachus left for Pylos 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 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) 00:16:51.498 --> 00:16:55.328 The village above the harbor of the furrow (rithro) is called Platythreias 00:16:55.329 --> 00:16:58.660 Platy rithro (wide furrow) They all tie together 00:16:58.661 --> 00:17:02.472 Some researchers have claimed that in Ithaca 00:17:02.473 --> 00:17:06.843 a palace could not have flourished due to its lack of water 00:17:06.844 --> 00:17:11.626 Besides the fact that around "St Athanasius" and within the site there are plenty of wells 00:17:11.627 --> 00:17:14.702 ancient wells, Mycenaean wells 00:17:14.703 --> 00:17:17.560 there are two water sources 00:17:17.561 --> 00:17:21.438 "Melanydros source" and "Tykti krini" mentioned in Homer 00:17:21.439 --> 00:17:26.203 Firstly, neither a palace nor a town could have been built away from water 00:17:26.204 --> 00:17:31.540 there had to be plenty of water for the palace and the town, the "asti" 00:17:31.541 --> 00:17:35.537 Well a little further away from here there is a great water source 00:17:35.538 --> 00:17:40.044 "Kalamos" as we call it today that could supply water throughout the region at the time. 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:44.411 "Melampso" was one of Penelope handmaidens 00:17:44.412 --> 00:17:53.891 at some point tells to Odysseus "Go away, go to sleep at the coppersmith's" 00:17:54.424 --> 00:18:02.010 The archaeologists dig out a coppersmith's workshop at St Athanasius 00:18:02.352 --> 00:18:11.073 In Mycenaean era a coppersmith's workshop was a Palace's annex 00:18:11.074 --> 00:18:17.224 That was the case in Pylos, in Mycenae and in Crete 00:18:17.225 --> 00:18:26.049 It is a very strong indication, characteristic archaeological proof 00:18:26.528 --> 00:18:31.639 These archaeological findings already constitute considerable indications 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:35.523 that Odysseus once walked in today's Ithaca 00:18:35.557 --> 00:18:40.686 A reinforcing element other than this tripartite building-palace 00:18:40.687 --> 00:18:46.115 is an artificial, "tykti" as it's called, a Mycenaean fountain 00:18:46.171 --> 00:18:53.218 which we did not date ourselves, but was dated by the best specialist globally 00:18:53.219 --> 00:18:57.918 professor Jost Knaus from the Technical University of Munich 00:18:57.918 --> 00:19:04.998 who dated it to the 13th century BC, namely in the time of Homer's Odysseus 00:19:04.999 --> 00:19:09.135 These two elements, "tykti krini" and the mansion 00:19:09.135 --> 00:19:16.235 this tripartite building which resembles similar ones found in Pylos, in Mycenae and in Tiryns 00:19:16.235 --> 00:19:19.953 make us believe, I repeat with reservation 00:19:19.953 --> 00:19:25.984 that this position is the one that fits the description of Homer 00:19:25.984 --> 00:19:30.497 and we think that until someone else proves otherwise 00:19:30.498 --> 00:19:35.091 that there has to be the palace of Odysseus 00:19:35.092 --> 00:19:40.037 for which many laudable efforts have been made before 00:19:53.334 --> 00:19:59.105 The area of St. Athanasius deserves everyone's undivided attention 00:19:59.106 --> 00:20:04.315 but mainly that of the State and the scientific community 00:20:04.981 --> 00:20:09.981 Therefore, this announcement is the best news.. 00:20:09.982 --> 00:20:15.082 the international community and the world has heard originating from Greece 00:20:15.083 --> 00:20:17.878 the most pleasant news from Greece 00:20:17.878 --> 00:20:24.086 All other news is about wretchedness, misery, bankruptcy, etc 00:20:24.086 --> 00:20:28.474 This piece of news coming from a Greek university and from Greek archaeologists 00:20:28.474 --> 00:20:32.323 has not been sufficiently exploited by the Greek state 00:20:32.512 --> 00:20:35.838 Only through a systematic continuation of the excavations 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 00:20:45.705 --> 00:20:52.118 .. Until then, we shall continue our journey to Ithaca 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:56.819 and we shall feel rich for what it has offered to us so far 00:20:59.212 --> 00:21:02.537 When you set out on your journey to Ithaca 00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:07.067 pray that the road is long 00:21:07.961 --> 00:21:13.538 full of adventure, full of knowledge. 00:21:14.598 --> 00:21:17.838 The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops 00:21:18.618 --> 00:21:21.676 the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them 00:21:22.358 --> 00:21:25.473 You will never find such as these on your path 00:21:26.305 --> 00:21:28.446 if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine 00:21:29.264 --> 00:21:36.588 emotion touches your spirit and your body 00:21:38.544 --> 00:21:41.626 The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops 00:21:42.627 --> 00:21:44.887 the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter 00:21:44.887 --> 00:21:47.655 if you do not carry them within your soul 00:21:48.745 --> 00:21:53.770 if your soul does not set them up before you 00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:58.685 Pray that the road is long 00:21:58.686 --> 00:22:02.071 That the summer mornings are many, when 00:22:02.072 --> 00:22:06.357 with such pleasure, with such joy 00:22:06.358 --> 00:22:10.656 you will enter ports seen for the first time