Just below the castle (of Myrina) and across Mount
Athos is Romeikos Gialos. In this area in antiquity a cow image - made of
whitestone or bronze - was standing. Sophocles refers to this in the one and only
line saved from his tragedy "Limniades" "Athos overshadows the
backs of Lemnian cow". In fact it is said that on the 2nd of June Mount
Athos really does overshadow Romeikos Gialos.
Along the seaside appear the houses of Limnian aristocracy - neoclassical
- built during the second half of the 19th century. These residences belong to
the descendants of those Limnians who left the island, in order to save themselves
from the Turks just after Orlof left the island. During the last century they
developed their economic superiority from ships - about 300 sailing ships - and
enterprises they owned in Egypt.
They also owned the most fertile pieces of land on the island. These residences
are referred as "the result of Egyptian remittances and European eclecticism".
This text (extract) is cited June 2003 from the Lemnos
Provincial Government tourist pamphlet (1997).
Map & Distances
Longitude:
25o 03' 44.06" E
Latitude:
39o 52' 51.64" N
Hotels, local businesses, destinations & directions
