Lefkada and its Tragic Mythic Past

Lefkada, the Greek island in the Ionian sea, is known internationally for its breathtaking landscape and crystalline, turquoise waters.

Yet Lefkada‘s mythic past holds many tragic tales, specifically in terms of the iconic Cape Lefkada, topped with the Doukato Lighthouse.

The Cape is located at the southern tip of the island, and its extraordinarily dramatic topography — a sheared-off, towering white cliff off jutting into the turbulent sea — inspired many ancient myths.

According to ancient sources and long-told local myths, lovers and tragic figures throughout the ages have thrown themselves from the craggy heights into the depths of the sea because of unrequited love, rejection, — and even human sacrifice.

The death of Sappho

The most famous of these tragic tales refers to the ancient lyric poet Sappho, who is known for her beautiful poems about women’s lives and their loves, specifically with other women.

According to legend, Sappho died after throwing herself from the Cape, forlorn after a beautiful sea god named Phaon rejected her love.

For this reason, the Cape is known locally as “Sappho’s Leap.”

This tale, although persistent, is thought by many leading scholars to be inaccurate.

A restored fresco from Pompeii that many believe depicts Sappho. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Some consider the myth the product of ancient comic poets, mocking Sappho for both her often emotionally charged, tragic love poems, as well as her attraction to women, which is evident from her work. In fact, due to her work, the word “lesbian” comes from the poet’s native island of Lesvos.

Others view the legend as an attempt by later Christian scholars to hide the poet’s sexuality, something they considered shameful, effectively redeeming her by molding her into a heterosexual woman, and therefore considering her poems worthy of study.

Many have linked the tragic story to one of Sappho’s own poems which expounds on the beauty of the sea god, in which the narrator expresses their love for the man.

Scholars have proposed that a misreading of the narrator’s identity as Sappho herself, rather than considering it to be purely a literary device, brought the story about.

Even though the veracity of this particular tale is doubted, many other myths cementing the Cape’s connection to tragedy have cropped up throughout history.

The ancient history of Cape Lefkada

Remains of an ancient temple, thought to be dedicated to the god Apollo, have been found near the tip of Cape Lefkada.

Although scholars have not determined an accurate age for the temple, there is evidence that it served as an asylum, providing even criminals a safe place to stay.

Sources from antiquity also mention an ancient practice of human sacrifice at the site, possibly predating the temple itself, stating that humans — later replaced by animals — were thrown off the cape to appease the gods.

Aphrodite and Adonis featured on a vase in the Louvre. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Adding to the list of tragic associations with Cape Lefkada, some versions of the myth of Aphrodite and Adonis end with the goddess of love jumping off its heights after hearing of her lover’s death.

Owing to her status as a goddess, however, she did not die, and landed in the water unharmed.

The island’s name is of debated origin, as some argue that it is named after the mythical figure of Leukatas, who jumped off the island’s cliffs after being relentlessly pursued by Apollo, who had romantic intentions.

Others point to the island’s iconic white cliffs, however, arguing that the name Lefkada comes from the Greek work for white, lefkos. In Homer’s Odyssey, Lefkada is referred to as “Lefki Petri” which means “white rock,” lending credence to the theory.

Doukato Lighthouse

The Cape’s iconic lighthouse, which was built in 1890, is located very near the site of the ancient temple dedicated to Apollo.

Much like the god himself, the lighthouse served as a protector for seafarers, guiding them safely through the sea to shore.

Its location on the very southernmost tip of the island makes the lighthouse a popular tourist attraction. With its dramatic views of the sea from the tall cape, Doukato Lighthouse is a stunning spot to watch the sunset.

From its base, visitors can also see the nearby islands of Ithaki and Kefallonia.

Comments

Μπέος: «Εύστοχα χαρακτηρίστηκε φτύσιμο στα μούτρα των μελών της ΕΕΑ»

Καρφιά προς την Επιτροπή Επαγγελματικού Αθλητισμού έριξε με δήλωσή του στα social media ο Αχιλλέας Μπέος. Με αφορμή την απόφαση του CAS για την υπόθεση ΠΑΟΚ-Ξάνθης, ο δήμαρχος Βόλου θυμήθηκε τις ενέργειες της επιτροπής στην περίπτωση του Ολυμπιακού Βόλου το 2011 όταν εκείνος ήταν ο ισχυρός άνδρας της ομάδας. Επίσης εξέφρασε την απορία του για το ότι κανείς μέχρι σήμερα δεν έχει υποβάλλει την παραίτησή του. Αναλυτικά όσα έγραψε ο Αχιλλέας Μπέος: «Η απόφαση του Διεθνούς Αθλητικού Δικαστηρίου (CAS) για την υπόθεση των ΠΑΟΚ–Ξάνθης, αναμφίβολα είναι ένα ηχηρό χαστούκι γι αυτό που στην Ελλάδα ονομάζουμε Επιτροπή Επαγγελματικού Αθλητισμού, που υποτίθεται αξιολογεί, κρίνει και αποφασίζει αντικειμενικά και με βάση το ισχύον Δίκαιο και στην πραγματικότητα αποδεικνύεται ένα εργαλείο άσκησης μικροπολιτικής και ικανοποίησης αθέμιτων επιθυμιών και επιδ...

The Fascinating History of Thessaloniki’s Iconic White Tower

The White Tower. Credit: ΣΟΛΑΚΙΔΗΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΙΟΣ /Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 4.0 Residents of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, often use its White Tower as a point of reference when giving directions in the beautiful seaside city. That’s because the tower is by far Thessaloniki’s most iconic monument. The ancient city, located in northern Greece, has a rich history stretching from antiquity to the modern era, but is most noted for its importance during the Byzantine period. During that time, Thessaloniki was a competitor with the great city of Constantinople in terms of its wealth and influence. The White Tower was a witness to many of the city’s most important historical events, and its role in Thessaloniki changed as did the ownership of the city itself throughout the millennia. Studying the history of the White Tower means learning the history of Thessaloniki. The Tower’s strategic location along the Thermaic Gulf made it perfect for guarding the city from thre...

Ten Unforgettable Things to Do Around Syntagma Square in Athens

Syntagma Square, Athens. Credit: Public Domain Syntagma Square has literally been the very heart of Athens ever since the city became the capital of the modern Greek state. With the Greek Parliament building and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier looming over it, it is rich with history and is the place where most major events of the last two centuries have taken place. Its name in Greek means “Constitution Square,” a name granted by Greece’s first modern royal, King Otto, on September 3, 1843, after an uprising of the people. This was a smart political move, since the royal palace overlooked the square. In 1934, the royal palace was turned over to the Greek Parliament, and ever since that time, Syntagma Square has been the place where all public protests and demonstrations have taken place. Syntagma Square home to historic demonstrations and protests In December of 1944, just after the departure of the occupying Nazi troops, a people’s rally at the square was marred b...

Inside the Magnificent Minoan Palace of Knossos in Crete

The Minoan palace at Knossos. Credit: Gary Bembridge /Wikimedia Commons/ CC-BY-2.0 The Palace of Knossos, located about five kilometers (three miles) south of Heraklion on Kephala hill, was the largest of all the Minoan palaces in Crete. It was also at the core of the highly sophisticated civilization that flourished on the island over 3,500 years ago. The discovery of the Minoan Palace of Knossos The discovery and subsequent excavation of the palace dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Before then, Knossos had only served as a place mentioned in Greek mythology. The first modern scholar to take a serious interest in the area was the German Heinrich Schliemann, who in 1870 had excavated the site believed to be Troy. Schliemann was certain that a major Minoan palace lay hidden near Heraklion, but the Ottoman authorities who still ruled the island at the time denied any permission to dig there. Years afterward, the British archaeologist Arthur Evans, inspired b...

Άποψη ΚΥΡ

Άποψη Κ Μητρόπουλου

Άποψη

Θεσσαλονίκη: Εκατοντάδες μερίδες φαγητού σε αστέγους από τοπική επιχείρηση εστίασης

Στη Θεσσαλονίκη, μια επιχείρηση εστίασης αποδεικνύει εμπράκτως τι σημαίνει ευαισθησία και κοινωνική ευθύνη. Πρόκειται για το εστιατόριο του Στέφανου Σαράτση που έχει αρχίσει αυτή την προσπάθεια τους τελευταίους δύσκολους μήνες. Συμπαραστάτες του γνωστοί και άγνωστοι πολίτες που βοηθούν όσο μπορούν.

Άποψη

The World’s Oldest Living Olive Tree is on Crete

The most ancient olive tree in the world, in Crete. Credit: Dimitra Damian/Greek Reporter The oldest olive tree in the world is located in the village of Ano Vouves of Kissamos in Chania, Crete. The ancient tree is 3000 years old, as determined by the international scientific community. The ancient olive tree in Vouves has a trunk with a circumference of 12.5 meters (41 feet), and a diameter of 4.6 meters (15 feet). It belongs to the local tree variety of tsounati, and was grafted at a height of 3 meters onto a wild olive tree. Because of the grafting, its trunk has been so beautifully shaped by nature that it resembles a sculpture. In 1990, after a unanimous decision in the prefecture of Chania, the Vouves Olive Tree was declared a Natural Monument of great importance due to its status as the world’s oldest tree of its kind. The oldest olive tree still produces high-quality olives The fruits of the ancient olive tree make the best olive oil in the world, making the area...

Qoutes

Search This Blog