Welcome to Iràklion, Crete, Greece
Iràklion, also know as Heraklio and Heraklion, is the major city and capital of the island of Crete. It is also the capital of the prefecture of the same name. It has an international airport named after the writer Nikos Kazantzakis. Iràklion is close to the ruins of the palace of Knossos, which in Minoan times was the biggest center of population on Crete. It is, therefore, very likely that there was a port here as long ago as 2000 BC. There is however no archaeological evidence for such a port. Other very important Minoan era ruins are found in or around Archanes village (a few miles after Knossos), in Anemospilia, Fourni and Vathipetro. The Saracens (an Arabic Muslim people) founded the present city of Iràklion in 824 AD. They built a giant ditch around the city for protection. They named the city Khandak, meaning moat, after the ditch. The Saracens allowed the port to be used as a safe haven for pirates, much to the annoyance of the nearby Byzantine Empire. In 961, the Byzantines attacked and defeated the city, slaughtered all the Saracens, looted the city and burned it to the ground. They remained in control of the rebuilt Khandak for the next 243 years. In 1204, the city was bought by the Venetians as part of a complicated political deal, which involved among other things, the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade restoring the deposed Byzantine emperor Isaac II Angelus to his throne. The Venetians improved on the ditch by building enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a giant wall, in places up to 132 feet (40 meters) thick, with 7 bastions, and a fortress in the harbor. The name Khandak became Candia in Italian. The city retained the name of Candia for centuries, and the whole island of Crete was often called Candia as a result. After the Venetians came the Turks of the Ottoman Empire. They besieged the city for 22 years in a bloody war in which 30,000 Cretans and 120,000 Turks died. The Venetians eventually handed it over in 1669. The city was renamed during the Turkish occupation to Megalo Kastro (big castle). During their occupation, the harbor silted up, so they moved most of their business to Hania in the west of the island. The city only became truly Greek with the withdrawal of the Turks in 1898. At this stage, the Greeks decided to rename the city to something Greek, so they chose the name Iràklion, meaning City of Heracles (Hercules), after the port of Heracleum which had existed somewhere in the locality in Roman times.
Say it in Greek
Greek is thought of by many as the oldest European language, dating back over 4000 of oral traditions, 3000 for written.
Hello Yasas
Goodbye Andio
Yes Ne
No Ohi
Please Parakalo
Thank you Efharisto
Sorry/Excuse me Sighnomi
My name is… Me lene…
Do you speak English? Milate anglika?
I don’t understand Dhen katalaveno
How much does it cost? Poso kani?
Where is the bathroom? Pou ine tobanio?
Customs in Greece
• Although punctuality is not often practiced it is necessary and appreciated.
• Be patient when negotiating.
• Refusing seconds of thirds at meals can be considered an insult.
• Greetings can take many forms, even at the first meeting, such as shaking hands, embracing or a friendly kiss on the cheek.
posted by Hills @ 7:06 AM
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