A little bit about Kefalonia

There is much written about Kefalonia both in book/guide format and web based.  The following therefore provides a little bit of information as an overview of the island generally.

Kefalonia is the largest of the seven Ionian islands and is situated off the west coast of Greece between Lefkada to the north, Zakinthos to the south and Ithaka to the east.

According to Greek Mythology, Kefalonia was named after King Kefalos, son of Hermes and Herse.  He was married to Procris, a daughter of Erechtheus.  However she had a rival called Eos who kidnapped Kephalos whilst hunting.  Eos was unable to diminish his love for Procris.   Procris, out of jealousy, spied on her husband while he was hunting and he accidentally killed her thinking she was an animal; for this he was banished.  However he later helped Amphitryon in a war and for his assistance was awarded the island of Kefalonia.  There are many myths about Kefalos’s adventurous and romantic lifestyle; however, some believe these myths were invented for political reasons by Athenians in around the 5^th Century.

Kefalonia has been inhabited since the 10th century BC, and by the 5th century BC Kefalonia was divided into four distinct and autonomous states that comprised the “Kefalonian Tetrapolis” – Krani, Palli, Sami and Pronni.

Kefalonia participated in the Trojan War as part of Odysseus’s kingdom and Kefalonian forces also participated in the Persian Wars and eventually joined the Athenian Confederacy.

Archaeological excavations prove that Kefalonia was highly developed during the Mycenaean Era.   Roman rule of the island came about 50 BC.

Widespread raiding and plundering by pirates took place during the Byzantine Era.   During the 11th and 12th centuries the island was destructively raided by the Normans who followed by Crusaders of the first Crusade. The Turks conquered Kefalonia – along with the other Ionian Islands – after the end of the first Turko-Russian War (1463-1479)

In 1357, the King of Naples awarded Leonardo Tocco the island as a reward for his services and the Tocco family’s possession of the island marked the beginning of Venetian rule which was briefly interrupted in 1484 by the Turks once again.  The Venetians regained possession of the island in 1500, a domination that lasted until 1797.

Kefalonia fell into the hands of the French in 1806. The British followed the French, occupying the island from 1809 to 1864. On May 21st 1864 Kefalonia, along with the other Ionian Islands, was reunited with Greece.

Kefalonia therefore has rich cultural legacies influenced by the Romans, French, Venetians and British. The French were concerned with the improvement of intellectual life and founded schools, colleges and libraries.  The Venetians brought fashion, art, laws and health systems, as well as architecture and the tomato.  The Venetians were also responsible for planting many of the olive groves which can be seen today.  The British helped to protect trade and enabled Kefalonia to prosper once again.  They also created the island’s road network and first public buildings.

In the 20th century, the destiny of Kefalonia pretty much followed that of the Greek nation in general, with alternating periods of turmoil and prosperity.  The German occupation of Kefalonia started on 24 September 1943 and many Kefalonians participated in the resistance movement against the occupation but suffered severe reprisals with mass executions and massacres.  Liberation from the Nazis came in 1945.

More recently, in 1953, a massive earthquake hit Kefalonia and the surrounding islands, spreading destruction and havoc everywhere. The majority of the island’s towns were destroyed by the earthquake as were the monuments, bell towers, traditional homes and town mansions that were the island’s trademark. However, northern Kefalonia, due to its rocky terrain, was unaffected and as a result retains the feel of what the entire island was like before the earthquake. Prior to the 1953 earthquake Kefalonia had about 365 towns and villages, now there are around 200.

The island has suffered from many earthquakes over the years, none however caused as much death or destruction as the 1953 earthquake.

In the aftermath of this earthquake many Kefalonians were forced to leave the island as it was no longer able to provide the means for livelihood. In the decades that followed, reconstruction and economic development managed to restore the island to a normal pace. Gradually, many Kefalonians have returned to their homeland investing in its development – with a special emphasis in the tourism industry.

Today Kefalonia faces the future with a flourishing tourism services industry, an ever improving infrastructure and an increasing population. Besides the expatriate Kefalonians returning to the island, Kefalonia has become a favourite relocation destination amongst Europeans.

Acknowledgements:

Municipality of Pylaros

Kagia B., 2003, Kefalonia & Ithaki, 8th Edition, Athens, Grecocard Publications

Wilkopedia

Popularity: 1% [?]