Location map

Kastelorizo, current official name in Greek is Μεγίστη/Megisti; (Turkish: Meis , Italian: Castelrosso), is a small Greek island located in the Eastern Mediterranean. It lies roughly 1300 metres off the south coast of Turkey, about 110 km east of Rhodes, almost halfway between Rhodes and Cyprus. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... Location map of Rhodes Rhodes (Greek: Ρόδος (pron. ... Location map of Rhodes Rhodes (Greek: Ρόδος (pron. ...

It has gone by several different names in its history, including Castellorizo, Castelrosso, Meis. The meaning of its current official name Megisti (Μεγίστη) is "Biggest", a seemingly ironic choice since, at only 4 square miles (10 km²) in area, it is the smallest of the Dodecanese. The name, however, refers to the fact that it is the biggest of the small archipelago. To help compare sizes of different geographic regions, we list here areas between 10 km² (1000 hectares) and 100 km² (10,000 hectares). ... The Dodecanese (Greek: Δωδεκάνησα, Dodekánisa, meaning twelve islands; see also List of traditional Greek place names) are a group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, off the southwest coast of Turkey. ...

The harbour of Kastelorizo

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 273 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Requested and Uploaded by Wikinic 06. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 273 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Requested and Uploaded by Wikinic 06. ...

Origin of the name

There are several hypotheses about the origin of the name of the island. While there is a wide consensus that "Kastello" comes from the Italian word "Castello", meaning "Castle", the second part of the name could stem from the words:

• "rosso" (Italian: "red"), either from the reddish colour of the rocks of the island (although they are rather greyish), or from the colour of the coat of arms of the Great Master of the Knights of Rhodes Hederia, which stands above the gate of the castle;
• "rizon" (Greek: "root"), meaning "slope" of the mountain where the castle was built;
• "horizon" (French). In this case the name would have been given by the Knights of Rhodes headed by Folques de Villaret who, conquering the island in the XIV century, were so impressed by the landscape as seen from the island, that they named the castle after it.

A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... The Knights Hospitaller (the or Knights of Malta or Knights of Rhodes) is a tradition which began as a Benedictine nursing Order founded in the 11th century based in the Holy Land, but soon became a militant Christian Chivalric Order under its own charter, and was charged with the care... Foulques de Villaret (d. ...

Geography

Satellite picture of Kastelorizo

Kastelorizo is the easternmost Greek island and is situated in the Eastern Mediterranean. It lies about 2 miles (3 km) from the Anatolian coast (Lycia), more or less half-way between Rhodes and Antalya. It is six kilometers long and three kilometers wide, with a surface of 9.2 km². It has a triangular shape, and is oriented from NE to SW. The island features three capes: Agios Stefanos (north), Nifti (east) and West (rather southwest); Between the first two there is a bay, with the only town in the island. Cape Agios Stefanos, the nearest to Anatolia, is 2250 m south of the Turkish town of Kaş (Greek: Andífli, the ancient Greek City of Antiphéllos). Cape Nifti lies a little bit further away. The island is mountainous, with high and rough coasts, which become more difficult to access moving west. The soil is composed of limestone, and produces few olives, grapes and beans. On the island there is no source of potable water. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 798 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (1021 × 767 pixel, file size: 54 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) From World Wind of NASA File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 798 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (1021 × 767 pixel, file size: 54 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) From World Wind of NASA File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this... This is a list of some of the 3000 islands of Greece: Chrysi Crete Dia Euboea Gavdos Koufonisi Ydra The Cyclades Amorgos Anafi Andros Antiparos Anydro Delos Donoussa Folegandros Gyaros Ios Irakleia Kea Keros Kimolos Kithnos Makronisos Milos Mykonos (Mikonos) Naxos Paros Pholegandros Santorini (also called Thira) Serifos Sifnos Sikinos... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Lycia (Lycian: Trm̃misa) is a region in the modern day Antalya Province on the southern coast of Turkey. ... Antalya (formerly known as Adalia; from Greek: Αττάλεια Attália) is a large town and tourist destination, situated on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey. ... St. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... KaÅŸ is a district of Antalya Province of Turkey. ... For other uses, see Limestone (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Olea europaea L. 19th century illustration The Olive (Olea europaea) is a species of small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean region, from Lebanon and the maritime parts of Asia Minor and northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian... Species Vitis acerifolia Vitis aestivalis Vitis amurensis Vitis arizonica Vitis x bourquina Vitis californica Vitis x champinii Vitis cinerea Vitis x doaniana Vitis girdiana Vitis labrusca Vitis x labruscana Vitis lincecumii Vitis monticola Vitis mustangensis Vitis x novae-angliae Vitis palmata Vitis riparia Vitis rotundifolia Vitis rupestris Vitis shuttleworthii Vitis... Green beans Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae) used for food or feed. ... Impact of a drop of water Water is a chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life[1]. It covers 71% of Earths surface. ...

Description of the island

Church of Agios Nikolaos

The houses of the town are quite high and characterised by wooden balconies and windows of Eastern Aegean type. Behind the waterfront, many houses are ruined. At the beginning of the harbour, on the east side, stands the Delegation Building, erected in 1926 by the Italian architect Florestano Di Fausto, who designed the most important buildings of the Italian period in Rhodes too. Then there is a mosque, not functioning any more, which has been now restored. From here starts the town's quay, which runs parallel to the eastern side of the harbour. The central square—Plateia Ethelondon Kastellórizou—lies halfway, near the yachting jetty. Further away stands the Church of Agios Elías. Above the quay there is a pathway which leads to the Castle of the Knights of Rhodes. Of it remain the scarp curtain, part of a square tower, the remains of a cylindrical tower at the east corner, and toward the sea another cylindrical tower belonging to the oldest castle. A Doric inscription, carved in the rock, testifies the existence of a fortress during the classical age. Inside the tower there is a large covered cistern. The castle offers a beautiful view of the town and the Anatolian Coast, with the town of Kaş. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 390 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (567 × 872 pixel, file size: 208 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Requested and Uploaded by Wikinic 06. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 390 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (567 × 872 pixel, file size: 208 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Requested and Uploaded by Wikinic 06. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... Distribution of Greek dialects, ca. ...

A small but interesting museum, placed over the mosque, informs about the history of the island. Its very heterogeneous collection includes diving suits, ceramics, frescoes, jewels, vases and coins. Beyond the museum, steps lead to the Lycian tomb, (the only one existing in Greece) carved in the limestone of the mountain, with a Doric Order facade carrying a tympanum with Acroterion. The tomb is similar to those which are in Anatolia, but it is simpler. Fresco by Dionisius representing Saint Nicholas. ... The uncompleted Doric temple at Segesta, Sicily, has been waiting for finishing of its surfaces since 430–420 BC The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of Ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian. ... A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of a triangular section or gable found above the horizontal superstructure (entablature) which lies immediately upon the columns. ... An acroterion or acroterium is an ornament placed on a plinth or acroter at the apex of the pediment of a building in the Classical style. ...

Ascending the steps on the eastern side of the town, one reaches the suburb of Horafia, where there is a square surrounded by the Church of Agios Georgios, with a high dome of Byzantine type, and the Cathedral of Agios Kostantinos and Heleni. It has three naves, divided by monolithic granite columns coming from the temple of Apollo Lykios in Patara (Anatolia). The columns carry ogival arches. Further east stands the small suburb of Mandraki, the commercial harbour. Links to full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are also found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ... Deconstructing a Roman pillar. ... Temple of Hephaestus, an Doric Greek temple in Athens with the original entrance facing east, 449 BC (western face depicted) For other uses, see Temple (disambiguation). ... Lycian Apollo, early Imperial Roman copy of a fourth century Greek original (Louvre Museum) In Greek and Roman mythology, Apollo (Ancient Greek , Apóllōn; or , Apellōn), the ideal of the kouros (a beardless youth), was the archer-god of medicine and healing, light, truth, archery and also a... Patara (Lycian: Pttara), later renamed Arsinoe (Greek: ), was a flourishing maritime and commercial city on the south-west coast of Lycia on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey near the modern small town of Gelemiş, in Antalya Province. ...

West of the town, above the second highest hill of the island after Mount Vigla (270 m), stands Paleokástro (old castle) also named Panághia, after a Monastery of the Virgin. The Castle has Greek origin (see above, history section): its plan is rectangular and measures 60 x 80 m. In its interior stand an ancient tower, built with square limestone blocks, and large water cisterns. Carved on the base of the castle there is also a Doric inscription, dating back to the fourth or third century B.C., where it is summoned Megiste (the ancient name of Kastelorizo) and its dependence from Rhodes. On the east side there are remnants of Propylea. In Roman times, Vestal Virgins were strictly celibate or they were punished by death. ... Crowds of tourists climb the steps to the Propylaea, gateway to the Acropolis, Athens Stairs leading up to the Propylea The Propylaea, Propylea or Propylaia (Greek Προπυλαια) is the monumental gateway that serves as the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. ...

By far the main attraction of the island is the Blue Cave, on the SE side, named by the inhabitants phokialí (Greek for seal's refuge). Being 40-50 m long, 25-30 m wide, and 20-25 m high, it is much larger than the world famous Grotta Azzurra on Capri, Italy. The light of the Sun, refracted through the first layers of sea water, is reflected in the interior of the Grotto, producing the well-known blue colour, and other effects, like the silvery appearance of submerged bodies. The outside of the Blue Grotto The inside of the Blue Grotto The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) is a noted sea cave on the coast of the Italian island of Capri. ... Capri (Italian pronunciation Cápri, usual English pronunciation Caprí) is an Italian island off the Sorrentine Peninsula. ...

The Cave can be visited only by boat and, since the entrance is barely one meter high above the sea level, only under calm sea condition: the best time of the day to visit it, is early in the morning, when the Sun is still low.

Archipelago between Turkey and Kastelorizo

There are many islets in this area;Volos, near Kalkan (in Greek Kalamaki), Ochendra, Furmachia, Prassonisi, Rho, Tragonera, Marati, Strongili, Dhassia, Alimentaria, Kekova, besides many rocks and cliffs. The most important among these islets is Kekova (also named Caravola), not inhabited, which has an area of 4.5 km² and faces the Turkish village of Kaleköy (also named Simena). All these islets were subject to dispute between Italy and Turkey until 1932. According to Convention between Italy and Turkey, 1932, all islets - except Rho and Strongili -, attended to Turkey. (see below, History section). Kalkan (Greek: Kalamaki) is a town on the Turkish Mediterranean coast, which averages of 300 days of sunshine a year. ... Rho is a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea near Kastellórizo and less than 800 m from the Turkish coast. ... The Islet of Strongili (in the background) seen from North. ... The Northeast Part of Kekova seen from Simena. ... The Northeast Part of Kekova seen from Simena. ... The village of Kaleköy seen from South. ... The village of Kaleköy seen from South. ... The Convention between Italy and Turkey, signed in Ankara on January 4, 1932, by the Italian Plenipotentiary, Ambassador Pompeo Aloisi, and the Turkish foreign minister Tevfik Rustu Bey, settled the dispute about the delimitation of the Territorial Waters between the coast of Anatolia and the island of Kastellórizo, which...

History

Kastelorizo at dawn

The island was colonised by Dorian Greeks, who named it Megiste. Inscriptions found at the castle of Ai –Nikolas (paleokástro) confirm that during the Hellenistic period the island was ruled by Rhodes, being part of its Peraia. The Rhodians sent there an overseer. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... ... The Hellenistic period of Greek history was the period between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the annexation of the Greek peninsula and islands by Rome in 146 BC. Although the establishment of Roman rule did not break the continuity of Hellenistic society and culture, which... There are places that have the name Peraia or Perea (Greek: Περαία) in Greece: Peraia, a village in the Pella prefecture Peraia, a suburban city in the southcentral part of the Thessaloniki Prefecture This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ...

In the Byzantine Empire, Megiste-Kastelorizo was part of the 'Eparchy of the Islands', whose capital was Rhodes. This province was essentially maritime. During the middle ages, Byzantines and Ottoman Turks disputed the island. Byzantine Empire at its greatest extent c. ... In the Roman Empire, an eparchy was one of the political subdivisions of the Empire. ...

In 1306 the island was taken over by the Knights of St. John Hospitaller of Jerusalem, headed by Folques de Villaret. They were on their way from Cyprus to Rhodes, which was conquered three years later, becoming the centre of their Crusader State. They restored the castle, which was thereafter used as prison for the unfaithful knights. In 1440 the island was occupied by Sultan Djemal-el-din of Egypt, who destroyed the castle. Ten years later it was conquered by Alfons V of Aragon, king of Naples, who in 1461 rebuilt the castle and sent there a governor. Naples kept the possession up to 1512, when it was conquered by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I. The Knights Hospitaller (the or Knights of Malta or Knights of Rhodes) is a tradition which began as a Benedictine nursing Order founded in the 11th century based in the Holy Land, but soon became a militant Christian Chivalric Order under its own charter, and was charged with the care... Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (Yerushalayim) (Standard) Yerushalayim or Yerushalaim Arabic commonly القـُدْس (Al-Quds); officially in Israel أورشليم القدس (Urshalim-Al-Quds) Name Meaning Hebrew: (see below), Arabic: The Holiness Government City District Jerusalem Population 724,000 (2006) Jurisdiction 123,000 dunams (123 km²) Jerusalem (Hebrew:  , Yerushaláyim or Yerushalaim; Arabic:  , al-Quds, the Holiness)[2... The Crusader states, c. ... Sultan of Egypt was the title used for the leader of a number of Muslim dynasties that ruled over Egypt. ... Alfons V of Aragon (also Alfons I of Naples) (1396 – June 27, 1458), surnamed the Magnanimous, was the King of Aragon and Naples and count of Barcelona from 1416 to 1458. ... Naples panorama. ... Suleiman the Magnificent Suleiman I (November 6, 1494 – September 5/6, 1566); in Turkish Süleyman , (nicknamed the Magnificent in Europe and the Lawgiver in the Islamic World, in Turkish Kanuni) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566 and successor to Selim I. He was...

On September 22, 1659 during the war of Crete, the island was conquered by Venice—which destroyed the castle again— but the Ottomans were able to regain it after a while. Between 1828 and 1833 Kastelórizo joined the Greek insurgents, but after the end of the Greek War of Independence it came back in possession of the Ottoman Empire. September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... // Events May 25 - Richard Cromwell resigns as Lord Protector of England following the restoration of the Long Parliament, beginning a second brief period of the republican government called the Commonwealth. ... For the famous World War II battle, see: Battle of Crete For other uses, see Crete (disambiguation). ... Venice (Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venezsia) is the capital of region Veneto, and has a population of 271,663 (census estimate January 1, 2004). ... Combatants Greek revolutionaries United Kingdom France Russian Empire Ottoman Empire Egyptian troops Commanders Theodoros Kolokotronis, Alexander Ypsilanti Omer Vryonis, Dramalis, Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt. ... Motto: دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem: Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299-1326) Bursa (1326-1365) Edirne (1365-1453) Constantinople (Istanbul) (1453-1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 Osman I  - 1918–1922 Mehmed VI...

In 1912, during the Lybian war between Italy and the Ottoman Empire, the inhabitants asked general Ameglio, chief of the Italian occupation forces in Rhodes, to be annexed to Italy. Since this proposal was refused, on March 14, 1913 the population captured the Ottoman garrison and proclaimed a provisional government, until in August of the same year the Greek government sent from Samos an Overseer supported by gendarmes. These were expelled by the inhabitants on October 20, 1915. On December 28, 1915, a French expedition corps on board the cruiser 'Jeanne d'Arc' landed on the island. The French blocked another landing attempted in the same time by Greek Evzones. Turkish shore batteries responded to the French occupation by shelling the island, in 1917 succeeding in sinking HMS Ben-my-Chree. Due to the Treaty of Sèvres the island was assigned to Italy: the Italian navy took it from the French on March 1, 1921. Kastelórizo—under the Italian name Castelrosso—was then integrated in the possession of the Isole Italiane dell'Egeo. 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Combatants Italy Ottoman Empire Commanders Luigi Caneva Ismail Enver Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Strength 100,000 28,000 Casualties 3,380 dead 4,220 wounded 14,000 dead 5,370 wounded The Italo-Turkish or Turco-Italian War (also known in Italy as guerra di Libia, the Libyan war, and in... For the Lebanese political coalition, see March 14 Alliance. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Samos (Greek Σάμος; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is an island in southeastern Greece in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Turkey. ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ... Greek Evzone soldiers marching in formation Evzones changing the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Greek Evzones changing guards at the tomb of the unknown soldier Evzones in Athens gaurding the grave of the Unknown Soldier. ... HMS Ben-my-Chree was a passenger ferry built in 1908 by Vickers for the England—Isle of Man route and taken over by the Royal Navy as a seaplane carrier during World War I. Her name means Girl of My Heart in Manx. ... The Treaty of Sèvres is a peace treaty that the Allies of World War I and the Ottoman Empire signed on 10 August 1920 after World War I. Representatives from the governments of the parties involved signed the treaty in Sèvres, France. ... March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for full calendar). ...

The 1932 Convention between Italy and Turkey, which defined the sea border between the two powers, assigned all the islets of the small archipelago around Kastelorizo—except Rho and Strongili—to Turkey. During the 1930s it was a stopover for the French and Italian planes, these ones flying from Rome to Beirut. During the Second World War, on February 25, 1941, British Commandos were able to occupy the island, but Italian forces coming from Rhodes reconquered it some days later. When Italy capitulated to the Allies (September 8, 1943), the island was occupied again in September by British commandos briefly, until the middle of 1944, when German forces took over. During the British departure, a fuel dump caught fire and spread to an adjacent ammo dump, whose detonation destroyed half of the homes on the island. The Convention between Italy and Turkey, signed in Ankara on January 4, 1932, by the Italian Plenipotentiary, Ambassador Pompeo Aloisi, and the turkish foreign minister Tevfik Rustu Bey, settled the dispute about the delimitation of the Territorial Waters between the coast of Anatolia and the island of Kastellórizo, which... Rho is a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea near Kastellórizo and less than 800 m from the Turkish coast. ... The Islet of Strongili (in the background) seen from North. ... The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... The British Commandos were first formed by the Army in June 1940 during World War II as a well-armed but unregimented raider force employing unconventional and irregular tactics to assault, disrupt and reconnoitre the enemy in mainland Europe and Scandinavia. ... The Armistice with Italy is an armistice that occurred on September 8, 1943, during World War II. It was signed by Italy and the Allied armed forces, who were occupying the southern half of the country at the time. ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ...

Kastelorizo was assigned to Greece with the Paris Peace Treaties, 1947. In May 1945 it was still under British administration, but only on September 15, 1947 effectively came under Greek administration. The island formally joined the Greek State on March 7, 1948 together with the other Dodecanese islands. The island has been more visited in recent years, by tourists looking for an isolated Dodecanese island, also thanks to the reference in the 1992 Best Foreign Language Film-Oscar winning movie "Mediterraneo" (1991) by Gabriele Salvatores. The Paris Peace Conference (July 29 to October 15, 1946) resulted in the Paris peace treaties signed on February 10, 1947. ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... A tourist boat travels the River Seine in Paris, France Tourism can be defined as the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. ... As a Special Award 1947 Shoeshine (Sciuscià) (Italy) - Societa Co-operativa Alfa Cinematografica - Paolo William Tamburella producer - Vittorio De Sica director 1948 Monsieur Vincent (France) - E. D. I. C., Union Général Cinématographique - George de la Grandiere producer - Maurice Cloche director 1949 The Bicycle Thief (Ladri di biciclette...

Kastelórizo was the only territory of the European Union where the Solar eclipse of 29 March 2006 was visible in its totality. Solar eclipse of 2006 March 29 The solar eclipse that took place on March 29, 2006 was a total eclipse of the Sun that was visible from a narrow corridor which traversed half the Earth. ...

Demographics and economy

The population—and the economy—reached its apogee at the end of the nineteenth century with estimated 15,000. At that time Kastelorizo was still the only safe harbour along the route between Makrí (today's Fethiye) and Beirut. Its sailing ships traded products from Anatolia (coal, timber, valonia, pine bark) against Egyptian goods (rice, sugar, coffee, tissues and yarns), and carried Anatolian cereals to Rhodes and Cyprus. On the island there was also a flourishing production of charcoal (much sought after in Alexandria, where it was used for narghile). Fishing industry—mainly sponges—was important too. Fethiye is a district of MuÄŸla Province of Turkey. ... For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ... ---- Alexandria (Greek: , Coptic: , Arabic: , Egyptian Arabic: Iskindireyya), (population of 3. ... Man holding a narghile (hookah) A hookah is a traditional Middle Eastern or Asian device for smoking tobacco. ... Classes Calcarea Hexactinellida Demospongiae The sponges or poriferans (from Latin porus pore and ferre to bear) are animals of the phylum Porifera. ...

At the dawn of the twentieth century began the economy's decay, which was accelerated by the fall of the Ottoman domain and the deportation of the Anatolian Greeks in 1923. In the late 1920s the population of the island had dropped to 3,000, while about 8,000 inhabitants lived abroad, above all in Australia, Egypt, Greece and America. At that time the town had 730 inhabited houses, while 675 were already empty, and many ruined.

The Population, according to 2001 census, has dwindled to 406, heavily subsidized so as to forestall territorial claims by Turkey (under the name of Meis Adası). Many of its emigrants went to Australia, where they are known as "Kassies", and especially to the cities of Perth and Sydney. 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... The Perth skyline viewed from the Swan River This article is about the urban area of Perth, Western Australia. ...

Traditions

Kastelorizo was famous for the traditions of its inhabitants. Beautiful, rich and magnificent was the women's dress, of at least three different types. It was made with brilliantly coloured fabric , and several necklaces, brooches, pendants and earrings made with ancient Venetian or Byzantines gold coins completed the dress. It has been suggested that Textile be merged into this article or section. ... A necklace is an article of clothing or jewelry; which is worn around the neck. ... Aquamarine, platinum and diamond brooch/pendant worn by Mrs. ... A pendant (from Old French) is a hanging object, generally attached to a necklace or an earring. ... A womans ear with a large silver earring. ... A coin is usually a piece of hard material, generally metal, usually in the shape of a disc, and most often issued by a government, to be used as a form of money in transactions. ...

The women's festive dress was made of:

• One or more long silky cloaks (ipokámiso). The most external one was closed on the front by six large filigreed gold or silver buttons. These buttons was shaped as a half-sphere which was depressed in the middle. To the lowest one was hung a small chain with a cross;
• A pair of short pants (katofóri) whose lower part was made with good quality garment quilted with gold thread;
• A sleeved jacket (zepuni) made with brilliant coloured silk or velvet, opened at the front;
• Another long underskirt (kavadi), laced with gold thread , also opened at the front;
• A large scarf (zosma) made with three or four silk stripes, quilted with gold or silver thread. It was tied very low on the sides, like a loose belt;
• A large velvet coat (gunna) decorated with gold and silver lace on the hems and on the back, with fur lapels: It was always kept open.
• A woollen cap;
• A quadrangular wrinkled silken shawl (mandili), decorated with relieved flowers and fringed hems, coloured in white, red and deep blue. Folded diagonally, it was fixed above the cap, with its longest angle fallen on the back almost to the ground, while the side edges were folded on the front or put above the shoulders.

The socks were made with multicoloured wool or silk: the shoes were shaped like tipped slippers, and were made of velvet or silk. They were laced with gold or silver thread and shorter than the foot. The other types of dress were similar, but not so garish and without fur decorations. The girl dress was simpler. Also different was the dress of single and engaged girls, and the one of married women and widowers. Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. ... A cloak is a type of loose garment which is worn over indoor clothing and serves the same purpose as an overcoat – it protects the wearer from the cold, rain or wind for example, or it may form part of a fashionable outfit (e. ... Filigree (formerly written filigrann or filigrane) is a jewel work of a delicate kind made with twisted threads usually of gold and silver. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Atomic mass 107. ... For other uses of the word button, see Button (disambiguation). ... A Greek cross (all arms of equal length) above a saltire, a cross rotated by 45 degrees A famous khachkar at Goshavank (Notice the cross). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Pants. ... A quilt is a type of puppy with long fluffy ears. ... This article is about yarn fiber. ... Look up jacket in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Velvet is a type of tufted fabric in which the cut threads are very evenly distributed, with a short dense pile, giving it its distinct feel. ... Underskirt may refer to the following: Half slip Petticoat This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Lace appliqué and bow at the bust-line of a nightgown. ... A scarf is a piece of textile worn on or near the head or around the neck for warmth, cleanliness, fashion or for religious reasons. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Atomic mass 107. ... Belt can refer to the following objects: Look up belt in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Coat can refer to any one of the following: The fur coat of a mammal. ... A dogs fur usually consists of longer, stiffer, guard hairs—which can be straight, wiry, or wavy, and of various lengths, hiding a soft, short-haired undercoat. ... A cap is a form of headgear. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... SOCKS is an Internet protocol that allows client-server applications to transparently use the services of a network firewall. ... Long and short hair wool at the South Central Family Farm Research Center in Boonesville, Arizona Wool is the fiber derived from the fur of animals of the Caprinae family, principally sheep, but the hair of certain species of other mammals such as goats, alpacas, llamas and rabbits may also... shoe for right foot A shoe is a piece of footwear for humans, less than a boot and more than a slipper. ... A pair of open-heeled slippers. ...

Old customs and superstitions

The engagement, which was decided by the parents, and the wedding, which lasted 15 days, occurred through prescribed and curious ceremonies, having a symbolic and poetic meaning. The wedding was celebrated on Sunday, in the church of Agios Kostantinos, and an announcement on the main square invited the whole city to participate. Also the baptism and the funeral (with the crying women (preficae) and the dish with oil and wine crushed on the coffin) had a well established ritual. For other uses, see Engagement (disambiguation). ... Nubian wedding with some international modern touches, near Aswan, Egypt Preparing for the photographs, at a wedding in Thornbury Castle, England A traditional Japanese wedding ceremony A wedding is a ceremony which celebrates the beginning of a marriage. ... Baptism in early Christian art. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

On December 31 and on New Year, groups of children carrying small paperboard boats adorned with ribbons and small flags went around visiting houses, stores and coffee shops, singing good wishes songs and receiving coins and wheat cakes, while the old people exchanged visits. On the morning of Agios Basilios day, coming back from mass, the men customarily throw with force a pomegranate against the walls of their home, wishing for abundance and happiness for their family . The more seeds spread around the rooms, the more luck the family would have in the coming year. December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The New Year is an event that happens when a culture celebrates the end of one year and the beginning of the next year. ... Binomial name Punica granatum L. The Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 5–8 m tall. ...

During the feast of Agios Elias—on February 16—the men jumped in the sea several times, and wore the wet clothes the whole day. Those who did not want to participate, were forced to do so too. Elijah (אֱלִיָּהוּ Whose/my God is the Lord, Standard Hebrew Eliyyáhu, Tiberian Hebrew ʾĔliyyāhû), also Elias (NT Greek Ἠλίας), is a prophet of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On Easter, the mass of Resurrection took place in the open, at midnight, the faithful bearing candles. As soon as the bells started ringing, the young people let off firecrackers, and the people said to each other the ritual words "Christ resurrected". Then everyone entered the church and took from the hand of the priest the holy fire, then went home to light the fire in the fireplace. On Easter Monday the whole population gathered in the main square, and they remained there the whole day eating, drinking and singing. Single girls had to stay at home, but they were allowed to stay in the entrance, where they sang and played with swings. Easter, the Feast of the Resurrection, the Sunday of the Resurrection, or Resurrection Day, is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed between late March and late April (early April to early May in Eastern Christianity). ... Unsolved problems in physics: What causes anything to have mass? The U.S. National Prototype Kilogram, which currently serves as the primary standard for measuring mass in the U.S. Mass is the property of a physical object that quantifies the amount of matter and energy it is equivalent to. ... Look up Resurrection in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A close-up image of a candle showing the wick and the various regions of the flame. ... A bell is a simple sound-making device. ... A firecracker (also known as a cracker, noisemaker, or banger) is a small explosive device primarily designed to produce a large amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang; any visual effect is incidental to this goal. ... Christ is the English translation of the Greek word (Christós), which literally means The Anointed One. ... Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some largely Christian cultures. ...

On May 1, at dawn, all the girls of the island, in groups, each one carrying a jar, went to get water out of town, but they were not allowed to speak a single word during the route. This water (Amilito Neró, "water of silence") was supposed to bring good luck to the family. Everyone washed him/herself with it in that day, and every utensil and wall of the house was splashed with it. When a girl became engaged, she filled a crystal carafe with it and brought it to the future mother-in-law, who gave her in return a special cake and an odd number of gold coins. May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... Jar can mean: Containers: Antique fruit jar Canopic jar, used in ancient Egyptian burial Leyden jar, a simple capacitor Killing jar [municipality in Zaqatalskiy region of Azerbaijan] JAR (file format) is a file format used to package Java programming language applications Jar, Norway, a centre in the municipality of B... A decanter is a vessel used for holding the results of decantation, in which liquid from another vessel is poured into the decanter in order to separate a small volume of liquid containing sediment (such as wine) from a larger volume of clear liquid (i. ...

When a child fell seriously ill, a sorceress was invited to her/his home. She drew cross signs on the body of the child with a thurible filled with embers and branches of olive tree which had been gathered in the church on Palm Sunday, pronouncing the following words: "Christ came: then he laid down his stick and chased away the snake and the bad neighbour from our home". After this exorcism, the sorceress threw the content of the thurible in a bucket filled with water, and then counted the pieces of wood which did not burn. This number was said to be equal to the number of persons who were supposed to have enchanted the sick child. The enchantment of the child was sure, if the olive leaves burned with a loud crackling. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Witchcraft. ... Stained glass window depiction of a thurible, St. ... Binomial name Olea europaea L. 19th century illustration The Olive (Olea europaea) is a species of small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean region, from Lebanon and the maritime parts of Asia Minor and northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian... Palm Sunday is a moveable feast in the Christian calendar which falls on the Sunday before Easter. ... Saint Francis exorcised demons in Arezzo, fresco of Giotto Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure) is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities from a person or place of which they have possessed (taken control of). ... Trunks A tree trunk as found at the Veluwe, The Netherlands Wood is a solid material derived from woody plants, notably trees but also shrubs. ... Enchantment may refer to: Look up enchantment in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

When a man was going to emigrate, gentle wishful songs were sung to him by his fellows.

Geology and caves

The island's geology is almost exclusively limestone laid down at the mesozoic / cenozoic boundary. Due to the lack of significant flora covering the island, the landscape shows many features of karstification. There are a number of notable sea caves including the so called Blue Grotto and exploration undertaken in 2006 by members of the SELAS Caving club of Greece has revealed vertical caves in many parts of the island. This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... For other uses, see Limestone (disambiguation). ... The Mesozoic Era is one of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon. ... The Cenozoic Era (IPA pronunciation: ); sometimes Caenozoic Era in the United Kingdom) meaning new life (Greek kainos = new + zoe = life) is the most recent of the three classic geological eras. ... Simplified schematic of an islands flora - all its plant species, highlighted in boxes. ... Karst topography is a three-dimensional landscape shaped by the dissolution of a soluble layer or layers of bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico A cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter. ...

Postage stamps

See : Postage stamps of Kastellórizo See also : Kastellórizo Kastellórizo is the easternmost Greek island and is situated in the Eastern Mediterranean. ...

Panoramic view of Kastelorizo Town

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 212 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 423 pixel, file size: 192 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Requested and Uploaded by Wikinic 06. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 212 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 423 pixel, file size: 192 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Requested and Uploaded by Wikinic 06. ...

Reference notes

• Bertarelli, L.V. (1929). Guida d'Italia, Vol. XVII. Consociazione Turistica Italiana, Milano. 

External links

• WorldStatesmen - Greece
• Kastelorizo info for yachters
• The Greeks of the Northern Territory of Australia
• Detailed info and pictures of the island
• Greek Census 2001 (HTML, 6.94 MB)

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 36.1347° 29.5833°
  • Mapping from Multimap or GlobalGuide or Google Maps
  • Aerial image from TerraServer
  • Satellite image from WikiMapia