Zakynthos,[a] also known asZante,[b] is aGreek island in theIonian Sea. It is the third largest of theIonian Islands, with an area of 405.55 km2 (156.6 sq mi),[5] and a coastline 123 km (76 mi) in length. The name, like all similar names ending in-nthos, is pre-Mycenaean orPelasgian in origin. InGreek mythology, the island was said to be named afterZacynthus, the son of the legendaryArcadian chiefDardanus.
Zakynthos is a tourist destination, especially amongst British tourists,[6] with aninternational airport served by charter flights from northern Europe. The island's nickname is "the Flower of the Levant", bestowed upon it by theVenetians, who ruled Zakynthos from 1484 to 1797.[citation needed]
The ancient Greek poetHomer mentioned Zakynthos in theIliad and theOdyssey, stating that its first inhabitants were the son of King Dardanos of Arcadia, called Zakynthos, and his men.[citation needed] Before being renamed Zakynthos, the island was said to have been called Hyrie. Zakynthos was then conquered by KingArkesios ofKefalonia, and then byOdysseus fromIthaca. Zakynthos participated in the Trojan War and is listed in the HomericCatalogue of Ships, which, if accurate, describes the geopolitical situation in early Greece at some time between theLate Bronze Age and the eighth century BC. In theOdyssey, Homer mentions 20 nobles from Zakynthos among a total of 108 of Penelope's suitors.[7]
TheAthenian military commanderTolmides concluded an alliance with Zakynthos during theFirst Peloponnesian War, some time between 459 and 446 BC. In 430 BC, the Lacedaemonians led a force of about 1,000 heavy infantry, led by the Spartan admiralCnemus, in an attack upon Zakynthos. Although the attackers managed to burn much of the surrounding countryside, the city itself refused to surrender, and the attack ultimately failed.[8] The Zakynthians are then enumerated among the autonomous allies of Athens in the disastrousSicilian expedition. After thePeloponnesian War, Zakynthos seems to have passed under the supremacy of Sparta because in 374 BC, Timotheus, an Athenian commander, on his return from Kerkyra, landed some Zakynthian exiles on the island and assisted them in establishing a fortified post. These exiles must have belonged to the anti-Spartan party, as the Zakynthian rulers applied for help to the Spartans, who sent a fleet of 25 to the island.[7][9][10]
The importance of this alliance for Athens was that it provided them with a source oftar. Tar is a more effective protector of ship planking thanpitch (which is made frompine trees). The Atheniantrireme fleet needed protection from rot, decay, and theteredo, so this new source of tar was valuable to them. The tar was dredged up from the bottom of a lake (now known asLake Keri) using leafymyrtle branches tied to the ends of poles. It was then collected in pots and could be carried to the beach and swabbed directly ontoship hulls.[11] Alternatively, the tar could be shipped to the Athenian naval yard atPiraeus for storage.[12]In addition to tar and miltos, the Athenians sourced timber for shipbuilding from various regions, as Greece's limited forest resources necessitated the import of quality wood. This practice ensured a steady supply of essential materials for constructing and maintaining their naval fleet.[13]
Philip V of Macedon seized Zakynthos in the early 3rd century BC, when it was a member of the Aetolian League. In 211 BC, the Roman praetorMarcus Valerius Laevinus took the city of Zakynthos except for the citadel. It was afterwards restored to Philip V of Macedon. The Roman generalMarcus Fulvius Nobilior finally conquered Zakynthos in 191 BC for Rome. In theMithridatic War, it was attacked by Archelaus, the general of Mithridates, but he was repulsed.[7]
In 459, the island was plundered by theVandals underGeiseric, who carried off 500 local aristocrats.[14] Zakynthos appears to have been spared from theSlavic invasions of the 6th–7th centuries, as no Slavic names are attested on the island.[14]
During theAxis occupation of Greece, MayorLoukas Karrer and BishopChrysostomos Dimitriou refused German orders to turn in a list of the members of the town's Jewish community for deportation to the death camps. Instead, they hid all (or most) of the town's Jewish people in rural villages. According to some sources, all 275 Jews of Zakynthos survived the war.[16][17] Both were later recognized asRighteous among the Nations byYad Vashem. In contrast, over 80% of Greek Jews were deported todeath camps and murdered inthe Holocaust.[18]
Zakynthos was hit by a 7.3-magnitudeearthquake on 12 August 1953, destroying most of the buildings on the island. Subsequently, all buildings have been strengthened to protect against further tremors. On 26 October 2018, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake south of the island caused no injuries, but damaged the local pier and a 13th-century monastery.[19]
Zakynthos lies in the eastern part of the Ionian Sea, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) west of the Greek (Peloponnese) mainland. The island ofKefalonia lies 15 kilometres (9 miles) to the north. It is the southernmost of the main group of the Ionian islands (not counting distantKythira). Zakynthos is about 40 kilometres (25 miles) long and 20 kilometres (12 miles) wide, and covers an area of 405.55 km2 (156.58 sq mi).[5] Its coastline is approximately 123 km (76 mi) long. According to the 2011 census, the island has a population of 40,759.[20] The highest point isVrachionas, at 758 metres (2,487 feet).
Zakynthos has the shape of anarrowhead, with the "tip" (Cape Skinari) pointing northwest. The western half of the island is a mountainous plateau, and the southwest coast consists mostly of steep cliffs. The eastern half is a densely populated, fertile plain with long sandy beaches, interrupted by several isolated hills, notablyBochali, which overlooks the city and the peninsula ofVasilikos in the northeast. The peninsulas of Vassilikos to the north and Marathia to the south enclose the wide and shallow bay ofLaganas on the southeast part of the island.
The capital, which has the same name as the prefecture, is the town ofZakynthos. It lies on the eastern part of the northern coast. Apart from the official name, it is also calledChora (i.e., the Town, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town). The port of Zakynthos has a ferry connecting to the port ofKyllini on the mainland. Another ferry connects the village of Agios Nikolaos toArgostoli on Kefalonia. Minor uninhabited islands around Zakynthos included in the municipality and regional unit are: Marathonisi, Pelouzo, Agios Sostis in the Laganas bay,Agios Nikolaos near the eponymous harbor on the northern tip, and Agios Ioannis near Porto Vromi on the western coast.
The mildMediterranean climate and plentiful winter rainfall endow the island with dense vegetation. The principal agricultural products areolive oil,currants, grapes andcitrus fruit. The Zante currant is a small, sweet, seedless grape that is native to the island.
The Bay of Laganas is the site of the first NationalMarine Park and the prime nesting area forloggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean.[21]
Zakynthos has a hot-summerMediterranean climate (Csa) with hot, dry summers and mild to cool, rainy winters. Like most of theIonian Islands, it receives sizeable amounts of precipitation during the winter, while the summers are mostly hot and sunny. The average annual temperature stands at around 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) while humidity is fairly high throughout the year, even during the summer months.
Climate data for Zakynthos 1961–1990 (extremes 1961–present)
Famous landmarks include theNavagio beach, a cove on the northwest shore isolated by high cliffs and accessible only by boat. Numerous natural "blue caves" are carved into the cliffs around Cape Skinari; they are accessible only by small boats, which are popular among tourists.[24]Keri, on the south of the island, is a mountain village with a lighthouse. The whole western shore from Keri to Skinari containsrock formations including arches.[25]
Cliffs and stone arches at Cape Marathia
The northern and eastern shores feature numerous wide sandy beaches, some of which attract tourists in the summer months. The largest resort isLaganas. Marathonissi islet (also known as "Turtle Island") near Limni Keriou has tropical vegetation, turquoise waters, beaches, and sea caves.Bochali hill above Zakynthos town contains a small Venetian castle.
As a part of the 2011Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Zakynthos was created out of the formerprefecture Zakynthos (Greek:Νομός Ζακύνθου). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. In the same reform, the current municipality Zakynthos was created out of the six former municipalities:[26]
Church and monastery ruins of Panagía Skopiótissa on Mount Skopós
1889: 44,070 (island), 18,906 (city)
1896: 45,032 (island), 17,478 (city)
1900: 42,000
1907: 42,502
1920: 37.482
1940: 42,148
1981: 30,011
1991: 32,556 (island), 13,000 (city)
2001: 38,596
2011: 40,759
2021: 40,508
In 2006, there were 507 births and 407 deaths.[citation needed] Zakynthos is one of the regions with the highest population growth in Greece. It is also one of the only three prefectures (out of 54) in which the rural population has a positive growth rate. In fact, the rural population's growth rate is higher than that of the urban population in Zakynthos. Out of the 507 births, 141 were in urban areas and 366 were in rural areas. Out of the 407 deaths, 124 were in urban areas and 283 were in rural areas.[citation needed]
Since Zakynthos was under the rule of the Venetian Republic, it had closer contact with Western literary trends than other areas inhabited by Greek people.
An early literary work from the island is theRimada, a 16th-century romance in verse aboutAlexander the Great.[27] Notable early writers include Tzanes Koroneos, author ofAndragathemata of Bouas, a work of historical fiction;[28][29]Nikolaos Loukanis, a 16th-century Renaissance humanist;[30] Markos Defaranas (1503–1575), possibly the author of theRimada;[31] Pachomios Roussanos (1508–1553), a scholar and theologian;[32][full citation needed] and Antonio Catiforo (1685–1763), a grammarian and satirist.[33][34][35]
Towards the end of the 18th century, the so-calledHeptanese School of Literature developed, consisting mainly of lyrical and satirical poetry in the vein of Romanticism prevalent throughout Europe at the time. It also contributed to the development of modern Greek theatre. An important poet of this school was ZakynthianDionysios Solomos; another wasNikolaos Koutouzis, who also figures prominently in the Heptanese School of Painting. Others includeGeorgios Tertsetis (1800–1873), a politician, poet, and historian.
The 1998 novel 'Fugitive Pieces' by Canadian author Anne Michaels includes a section set on Zakynthos during the Nazi occupation. The young Jewish narrator, Jakob Beer, is hidden in a rural home. He notes that while he enjoyed the luxury of a room, 'thousands were stuffed into baking stoves, sewers, garbage bins. In the crawlspaces of double ceilings, in stables, pigsties, chicken coops'. The narrative refers to Mayor Karrer and Archbishop Chrysostomos's refusal to collaborate with the Germans.[36]
The island is covered by a network of roads, particularly the flat eastern part, with main routes linking the capital withVolimes in the north, Keri in the south, and the Vassiliki peninsula in the west. The road between Volimes andLithakia connects the western half of the island.
The island has one airport,Zakynthos International Airport, on the former GR-35, offering connecting flights with other Greek and foreign airports. Opened in 1972, it is located 4.3 km (2.7 mi) fromZakynthos.
Zakynthos also features two ports, the main port located in the capital, and another in the village ofAgios Nikolaos. From the main port, there is a connection to theport of Kyllini, which is the usual place of arrival on the island by sea from the mainland. From the port of Agios Nikolaos, there is a connection to the island ofKefalonia.
Ionian University's Department of Environment has been located on Zakynthos since 2003. It has developed laboratory and field station infrastructures in Zakynthos and theStrofades islets.[37]
Freshwater resources on Zakynthos are limited, and as a result, a Greek-Norwegian educational collaboration is being established on the island.Science Park Zakynthos is a collaboration between the Technological Educational Institute of the Ionian Islands (TEI), theNorwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), and theTherianos Villas and Therianos Family Farm on Zakynthos.[citation needed]
Among the most famous Zakynthians is the 19th-century poetDionysios Solomos, whose statue adorns the main town square. The Italian poetUgo Foscolo was born in Zakynthos: he wrote thesonnet "A Zacinto" dedicated to the island.[38]Antonios Komoutos, the second head of state "Prince" of theSeptinsular Republic, originated from Zakynthos. Early 19th-century poet and playwrightElizabeth Moutzan-Martinegou, the first prominentmodern Greek female writer, was born on the island.Andreas Vesalius, famous Renaissance surgeon and anatomist, died on Zakynthos after being shipwrecked while making a pilgrimage to theHoly Land. His body is thought to have been buried on the island, but the site has been lost.
TheMuseum of Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians, located on St Mark's plaza, includes local art from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as sculptures, musical instruments contemporary to the eminent Zakynthians, and ceramics. In particular, it features Dionysios Solomos andAndreas Kalvos.[39]
Since the mid-1980s, Zakynthos has become a hub for 18-to-30-year-old tourists, leading particularly toLaganas (formerly a quiet village) becoming a hotbed of clubbing, nightclubs, bars, and restaurants.[40][41]
^Κολυβά, Μ. (1989).Η Ζάκυνθος μεταξύ του α' και του γ' βενετο-τουρκικού πολέμου. Συμβολή στην πολιτική ιστορία και στην ιστορία των θεσμώ. Greece: Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών-Φιλοσοφική Σχολή-Τμ. Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας.
^"Zakynthos". United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Retrieved1 August 2017.
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