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3/27/07 Tuesday Naxos, Greece "This island possessed great sweetness and tranquility. Everywhere huge piles of melons, peaches and figs surrounded by a calm sea. I looked at the inhabitants. Their faces were kindly as if they had never been frightened by Turks and earthquakes and their eyes were not on fire. As I walked about Naxos security was the islands first gift that I became aware of..." (Report to El Greko, by Kazantzakis, translated by Peter Bien) Topography: The island is located in the center of the Cyclades and at 416 sq. kilometers it is the largest of the group. Naxos is located opposite the island of Paros, and is a short distance from the island of Mykonos. The landscape is rather mountainous, and if you are lucky enough to arrive on a clear day, the summit of Mt. Za can be seen. It is the tallest peak in the Cyclades at 1,004 meters, and is dedicated to Zeus. Small villages are located at the foothills and in the middle of the valleys, the most well know ones are Apeiranthos on the mountain Chalki in the center of the island, and Melanes, where the statue of Kouros was found. Naxos is rich in water, unlike many of the other Greek islands. Geologists think that the mainland of Greece was connected with Asia, with no Aegean sea in between. They have found ancient ruins in the ocean and under the current towns. Millions of years ago, volcanic action made the land sink and the Mediterranean sea moved in, leaving mountain peaks as islands. History: Naxos has been inhabited since the 4th c BC. The existence of several statuettes found in different sites of the island dating back to the Cycladic period are an indication of the long history of the island. The famous statues called Kouros were also found here and were made of Naxian marble. Emery stones can be found on Naxos, known locally as “smiridi” stone. They are used by marble carvers to smooth the surface of marble. The Myth: The God Dionysus was said to have been born on Naxos. The god Apollo was also worshipped here as the protector of flocks of sheep. The king of Athens, Theseus, on his mission to kill the Minotaur on the island of Crete, was assisted by Ariadne, who gave him the solution of how to find his way through the labyrinth of the palace of Knossos. On his way to the city he took Ariadne with him. On this journey they had several adventures and stopped in several places, and one was the island of Naxos. It was here Thesius left Ariadne, and the god Dionysus fell in love with her, married her, and made her a god, as he was immortal. The main products of Naxos are fruits, preserves, potatoes and dairy. Citron is very big on Naxos, and they make a famous citron liqueur. Canes are planted between the fields as wind breaks. There are about 33 white marble quarries on Naxos