Greek Islands (Full Episode) | Europe from Above | National Geographic

Key Concepts

Greek Islands, maritime culture, ancient history, Minoans, Ancient Greece, Western civilization, Greek Orthodox religion, volcanic islands, Cyclades, Santorini, caldera, whitewash, pumice, Dodecanese, Gyali, marble, Mykonos, Thasos, Ottoman Empire, Greek independence, Spetses, Armata, Bouboulina, Crete, Minoan civilization, traditional dance, mastic, Chios, Corfu, Venetian Republic, old fortress, Epiphany, Hydra.

Island Overview and Geography

Mainland Greece is surrounded by approximately 6,000 islands, categorized into groups: Ionian Islands (west), North Aegean Islands and Sporades (north), Cyclades and Saronic Islands (middle), Dodecanese (southeast), and Crete (south). The islands vary in landscape, from the lush greenery of Kefalonia to the arid volcanic terrain of Milos and Sifnos. Rhodes features a dry landscape with ancient ruins. The islands are renowned for their beaches and aquamarine waters, attracting millions of tourists.

Historical Significance

The Greek Islands have been pivotal in shaping Western civilization, from the Bronze Age Minoan kingdoms to the rise of Ancient Greece. Seafaring powers have competed for control, leaving a diverse cultural and architectural legacy. The islands share a common language and the Greek Orthodox religion.

Santorini: Architecture and Volcanic Activity

Santorini, part of the Cyclades, is known for its white houses and churches perched on a volcanic caldera. Over two million tourists visit annually. Volunteers maintain the whitewashed buildings, using a paint made from chalk or crushed limestone to reflect sunlight and keep interiors cool. The white skyline dates back to the 20th century when painting buildings with limestone was believed to disinfect against cholera. Santorini sits on the submerged caldera of an active volcano that last erupted in 1950. A major eruption 4,000 years ago created the fragmented rim seen today.

Quote: Chalaris Vaggelis: "I love this place very much because I was born here. I feel proud to be high above the caldera and it fills me with the power of the church."

Gyali: Pumice Mining

Gyali, in the Dodecanese, is covered in pumice, a white volcanic rock deposited by an eruption on neighboring Nisyros 200,000 years ago. Greece is a leading global exporter of pumice, used as an aggregate in lightweight concrete. 27 workers from Nisyros commute daily to the island. 6,000 tons of pumice are extracted daily using bulldozers and transported via a five-kilometer conveyor belt system to a processing plant. Extraction dates back 11,000 years when natives used volcanic glass for tools.

Quote: Antonis Kotsampasoglou: "I can still remember the first day I arrived here, at Gyali, and it was, uh, an amazing feeling. And it was, I believe, the closest thing I could ever have in stepping on a different planet."

Spetses: Armata Festival

Spetses celebrates the "Armata," a commemoration of a victorious sea battle against the Ottoman fleet 200 years ago. The harbor is cleared of yachts for a fireworks display. Pyrotechnician Pavlos Nanos, a descendant of Bouboulina (Greece's first female admiral), uses over 5,000 pyrotechnic articles in the show. The event recreates the burning of the Ottoman flagship. In September 1822, Greek ships set the Ottoman flagship on fire, inspiring the rest of Greece to rise up and declare independence seven years later.

Quote: Pavlos Nanos: "Being related to Bouboulina makes me feel proud. On the same time, being part of this glorious family comes with great responsibility."

Crete: Traditional Wedding

Crete, the largest Greek Island, hosts traditional weddings in villages like Avdou. A traditional Greek wedding includes traditional dancers led by choreographer and musician Thanasis Mavrokostas. Cretan dance is energetic, with swirling leaps and turns. The groom is paraded through the village streets with music to a 14th-century Byzantine church. The wedding includes a feast and dancing in the village square.

Quote: Thanasis Mavrokostas: "Cretan dance is very important for us here in Crete because it express our mind, our heart and our character."

Kalymnos: Rock Climbing

Kalymnos, in the Dodecanese, is a popular climbing destination. Aris Theodoropoulos, a climbing instructor, maintains climbing routes by replacing old bolts. The island has over 4,000 climbing routes. In the 1800s, Kalymnos was a sponge diving center, but a disease decimated the sponge population in the 1980s. The island then transitioned to rock climbing.

Quote: Aris Theodoropoulos: "Climbing is my passion. It's not just a sport that I do, but for me, it's my way of life."

Chios: Mastic Harvest

Chios, in the North Aegean Islands, is the only place in the world where mastic trees are grown commercially. Mastic farmer Michalis Lykourinas harvests the gum-like resin from the bark of the trees. Incisions are made in the trunk, and the resin forms "Tears of Chios." Mastic was used as chewing gum by the ancients and is now used in toothpaste and ice cream. The village of Mesta was fortified to protect mastic production from pirates.

Quote: Michalis Lykourinas: "I have been involved in mastic for the last 20 years. The work is all done by hand. We use a few tools but no large machines. None of the work can be done by machine."

Corfu: Old Fortress

Corfu's old fortress was established in the 6th century and rebuilt by the Venetian Republic to defend against the Ottoman Empire. Archaeologist Diamanto Rigakou maintains the fortress walls. The Venetians dug a moat to separate the promontory from the town, creating an artificial island. The sloping walls deflected cannon fire. The fortress repelled Ottoman sieges for three centuries.

Quote: Diamanto Rigakou: "When I see the old fortress from a distance, this magnificent rock that opens into the sea, I feel great awe and great love for it. The history of the last 12 centuries is concentrated here."

Hydra: Epiphany Celebration

Hydra celebrates the Epiphany in January. Katerina Maragkou participates in the celebrations. The day includes a procession from the Agios Nikolaos Cathedral to the wells of Kala Pigadia, where the priest blesses the water sources. Priests throw crosses into the winter waters, and divers race to retrieve them. The Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.

Quote: Katerina Maragkou Voulgaris: "Epiphany on Hydra is a very, very big emotional ceremony for us. We are gathering altogether, all the islands, in the port and, uh, we are so happy to see each other for this day."

Conclusion

The Greek Islands are defined by their maritime position, ancient history, and vibrant culture. The islands have adapted to challenging landscapes through unique farming practices and innovative engineering. The islands' identity is reinforced by a vibrant culture, shaping the islands we see today.