Mountain Pelion through the ages

Mythology

Pelion is refered in the greek mythology by the pass of Gods and heroes. It was hymned by the ancient Greeks for the thick vegetation and its mystic beauty. Homer mentions it for the storms, Isiodos for its woods and Evrypides for the rough sea.

The most famous pilioritic legend is the one of centaurs. According to it the centaurs were a tribe of creatures with a man's head, arms and upper body on a horses body and legs. Centaur Chiron was the wisest, the strongest, the teacher. His students were Achilles and Jason. They say that Jason cut wood of beech from Pelion in order to construct "Argo" the ship of Argonautic expendition. Chiron's cave used to be near Pliasidi. 

Ancient Times

The findings of ancient times are few. About ten small towns were built on Pelion's slopes. Ruins of low importance are scattered all over the mountain. Columns of an unknown temple and geometric graves were found in Theotokou; ruins of walls in Baou, Lehonia and Keramidi. 

Middle Ages

After twelvth century in Eastern and Western Pelion there were some villages and at the same time it was full of monks, who established on the slopes small monasteries. On thirteenth century the monkish life was flourishing in Pelion and big monasteries were built in Makrinitsa, on Episkopi's hill. Today, almost nothing has been saved. Only some architectural parts there are now in afterbyzantine temples, such as "Panagias" in Makrinitsa, "Agios Nikolaos" in Portaria and "Episkopis" in Ano Volos. 

Turkish Occupation Period

In the beginning of fifteenth century the whole region of Thessaly was occupied by the Turks. Then a lot of Greeks from Thessaly moved to Mount Pelion for security. Villages were being developed around the monasteries. The development of the pilioritic villages was result of the priviliges that the Turks had conceded to them. The region of Pelion was self-administrated and belonged to Valide-Hanum, Sultan's mother. Sultan Mahmut visited Pelion for hunting (on a visit of his in Larissa) and was so surprised by its beauty that he gave it to his mother as a present.

The taxes that the villages of Pelion had to pay to the Turks were much lower compared to other parts of Greece. Consequent of such situation was the economic development. Their products of handicraft were silk, olives and figs. Later they were producing shoes and other kinds of clothing. So, the commerce was organised through agencies in Constantinopole, Smyrne, Moldavia. The products were being exported by ships, constructed in Mitzela and Trikeri, or on horses till Vienna and Budapest.

The inhabitants of Pelion became leaders of the economic revival of occupied Greece. They were becoming rich not only economically but spiritually, as well, as they came in touch with progressive Europeans. So, an important school and a rich library were established in Zagora. Rigas Fereos, the most important representative of greek renaissance, studied there. Milies, also, had an innovative school equiped by organs of physics and chemistry and a famous library, that still exists. Daniel Filippides and Anthimos Gazis, representatives of greek literature at that period, were coming from Milies. Gregorios Constadas, Kallinikos III (Patriarch of Constantinopole), and Filippos Ioannou played an important role in the economical, political and spiritual activity of Pelion during the period of the Turkish occupation. 

Architecture - Arts

The pilioritic villages are in such absolute harmony with the landscape, that look like grown out of  the ground.

Speechless witnesses of Pelion's history are the famous mansions, which can be found in every village. Stonebuilt, huge, with roofs made of pilioritic stone, they used to be the houses of the richest and the most important members of Pelion's society. Gazing at them you still feel the glory of the past.

The beautiful architecture of Pelion is completed by the various old churches, hidden in the villages and on the mountain. In most of them you find really old, wooden temples and screens of unique beauty, handmade by unknown talented artists.

In Anakasia, at Yiannis Kontos' house and in Alli Meria, at Veletzas' there are paintings of the famous greek painter Theofilos (1873 - 1934). The wallpaintings and the frescoes that decorate the interior of the pilioritic mansions are inspired by the nature and the local way of life. In the churches apart from religious icons, we see frescoes with different themes and samples of sculpture on wood or stone.

Pelion can be considered as a museum of greek art and architecture. 

*Main source has been Costas Liapis' book "Ores tou Piliou" ("Times of Pelion").