Thrilled to be featured in the weekly magazine ‘K’ by the newspaper ‘Kathimerini.’ The article in the column known as ‘Radar’ covers our latest exhibition. Journalist, Pandelis Tsombanis visited the exhibition, and interviewed our archaeologist Effie Anagnopoulou about the Poul Rasmussen collection. #greece #archive #photography #history #monemvasia #peloponnese

Ioanna Maria Giakoumaki’s installation at our recent Poul Rasmussen exhibition was titled ‘Red Thread’ and looked to represent the idea expressed by Maria Augusta Von Trapp in her book ‘My Own Story’ written in 1972. Maria writes: ‘It will be very interesting to follow the pattern of our life as it is spread out like a beautiful tapestry… in looking back over the years we can discover a red thread goes through the pattern of our life.’ This quote was also selected for our new book ‘Monemvasia: Through the Lens of Poul Rasmussen.’ Ioanna wove a red thread through our recent exhibition, connecting photographs of people, places, particularly Monemvasia and Yefira, and the stories of those who have come before us.

We had a total of 3021 visitors through the doors during our two week Poul Rasmussen exhibition! Thank you so much to everyone who visited us, we loved seeing you in Monemvasia 🤍💙

One more day left of our exhibition! Be sure to get in today to visit us and see Poul Rasmussen’s very special collection in Monemvasia Emmanuelle Foundethakis 📸

Our exhibition is still on until this Sunday! Be sure to come and see us in Monemvasia while you can. We’ve had over 1834 people through the doors so far! Thank you to everyone for visiting 🤍💙

Την Κυριακή, 4 Αυγούστου γιορτάσαμε για το βιβλίο και την έκθεση μας στο προαύλιο του Αγίου Νικολάου, παρουσία της οικογένειας Rasmussen. Περισσότεροι από 100 φίλοι βρέθηκαν κοντά μας αυτή τη βραδιά. Μετά τις ομιλίες του Αλέξανδρου Καλλιγά και της προέδρου μας, Ann Eldridge, που ακολουθήθηκε από ένα ατμοσφαιρικό μουσικό κομμάτι, όλοι επισκέφθηκαν την έκθεση και μοιράστηκαν μαζί μας τις εντυπώσεις και τις αναμνήσεις τους. On Sunday, August 4, we celebrated our book and the exhibition in the courtyard of Aghios Nikolaos church, with the presence of the Rasmussen family. Over 100 people joined us this evening. After the speeches of Alexander Kalligas and our chairman, Ann Eldridge, followed by an atmospheric musical performance, everyone visited the exhibition and shared their impressions and memories with us. #monemvasia #greece #exhibition #archive #peloponese #photographs

Our Poul Rasmussen exhibition has officially opened this morning! With over 80 visitors arriving through the doors already. Some visitors were even surprised and delighted to recognise relatives and friends within the collection! We can’t wait to see you here at Aghios Nikolaos in Monemvasia #monemvasia #greece #exhibition #atchive #photographic

Σας προσκαλούμε από τις 28 Ιουλίου έως τις 11 Αυγούστου στον Άγιο Νικόλαο στο Κάστρο Μονεμβασίας για την φωτογραφική έκθεση του Poul Rasmussen. Η συλλογή του Poul καταγράφει μια εποχή μεγάλων αλλαγών για τη Μονεμβασιά μεταξύ 1966 και 1993, και είμαστε πολύ ενθουσιασμένοι, όχι μόνο γιατί είναι μέρος του αρχείου μας αλλά και επειδή μπορούμε να μοιραστούμε αυτές τις εκπληκτικές φωτογραφίες μαζί σας αυτό το καλοκαίρι. Η έκθεση περιλαμβάνει επίσης το βίντεο προφορικής ιστορίας “Ζώσα Ιστορία” της Δέσποινας Ευγενίδου και την εικαστική εγκατάσταση “Κόκκινη Κλωστή” της Ιωάννας-Μαρίας Γιακουμάκη. Την Κυριακή, 4 Αυγούστου, από τις 8 μ.μ. θα έχουμε τη χαρά, παρουσία της οικογένειας Rasmussen, να γιορτάσουμε για την έκθεση και το νέο μας βιβλίο ‘Monemvasia. Through the Lens of Poul Rasmussen’. Ανυπομονούμε να σας δούμε εκεί! Η Monemvasia Society είναι φορέας μη κερδοσκοπικού χαρακτήρα, που λειτουργεί βάσει δωρεών. Εκτιμούμε την υποστήριξή σας, στην προσπάθειά μας να διευρύνουμε το φωτογραφικό αρχείο μας, να πραγματοποιούμε νέες εκδόσεις και να διοργανώνουμε πολιτιστικές εκδηλώσεις. Join us from 28th July to 11 August at the Aghios Nikolaos Church in Castro of Monemvasia for the Poul Rasmussen exhibition. Poul’s collection documents a time of immense change in Monemvasia between 1966 and 1993, and we’re very excited to not only have his collection within our archive, but to also be able to share these stunning photographs with you this summer. Our oral history film, ‘Living History’, by Despoina Evgenidou and the art installation ‘Red Thread’ by Ioanna-Maria Giakoumaki will also be part of the exhibtion. On Sunday 4th of August from 8pm in the presence of the Rasmussen family we will celebrate the exhibition and our new book, ‘Monemvasia: Through the Lens of Poul Rasmussen. We look forward to seeing you there! The Monemvasia Society is a not-for-profit entity that operates based on donations. We appreciate your support as we attempt to grow the archive of photographs from Monemvasia, publish books and hold cultural events.

Το νέο μας βιβλίο ‘Μονεμβασιά. Μέσα από το φακό του Poul Rasmussen’ είναι διαθέσιμο στο βιβλιοπωλείο της Γέφυρας, ‘Μικροί Γαλαξίες’. Ο Κωνσταντίνος Καλύβας και η Χριστίνα Αγγελάκου έχουν σταθεί στο πλευρό μας κατά τα δύο τελευταία χρόνια μελέτης του αρχείου του Poul και προετοιμασίας του βιβλίου. Υποστηρίζουν με ενθουσιασμό την επερχόμενη έκθεση (28 Ιουλίου - 11 Αυγούστου) και τους ευχαριστούμε τόσο για την διάθεση του βιβλίου μας όσο και για την στήριξή τους. Our new book ‘Monemvasia Through the Lens of Poul Rasmussen is now available in the local bookshop of Yefira, ‘Mikroi Galaxies’. The new bookshop is run by Konstantinos Kalyvas and Christina Aggelakou, who have been enthusiastically at our side during the last two years of working on Poul’s archive and the book preparation. They are very enthusiastic supporters of our upcoming exhibition (28 July - 11 August) and we thank them for selling our two books and their support.

Monemvasia has been ruled and dominated by many different forces during its impressive history. In reality however, the domesticated cat appears to continue to be the true ruler of the Rock.

Anna and Iota Traiforos pointing to a photograph from 1982 of their father Yannis Traiforos, founder of the Byzantino Hotel in the Castro of Monemvasia! His portrait is featured in our new book as a part of Poul Rasmussen’s incredible collection of photographs. Thank you so much for purchasing our new book! #monemvasia #greece #peloponnese #archive #photographiccollection #history #society

There are only a few days to go before @unicornpubgroup publish Monemvasia: Through the Lens of Poul Rasmussen from the Monemvasia Society 📸 This important and evocative photodocumentary features recently uncovered images that capture the changing face of the mainland village as the Monemvasian Castro was increasingly abandoned. Rasmussen’s photographs show the institutions of community life, the church and national and local festivals, that were still taking place on the Rock, and remaining at the heart of the community. 📍 Click the link in our bio to pre-order your copy of Monemvasia today: https://www.unicornpublishing.org/page/detail/monemvasia/?k=9781916846173

The Monemvasia Society is excited to announce the publication of its second book entitled ‘Monemvasia: Through the Lens of Poul Ramussen.’ Poul Ramussen was a Danish photographer who captured a period of physical and social change between 1968 and 1992 in Monemvasia. Located on a rock in the Peloponnese and also known as the Castro, Monemvasia was in some ways abandoned, as the community began to move to the mainland in search of better work opportunities and a more modern way of life. The book records this period of change through Ramussen’s striking photographs. Pre-purchase the book by clicking the link in our bio.

Matoula’s restaurant entrance photographed by Hartmut Witte, circa 1980, MPS archive #monemvasia #greece #peloponnese #archive #history

Tune in on Saturday, May 11th, at 7 p.m. on Channel 4 and online. See Monemvasia as a part of the ‘Treasures of the World’ series. The Monemvasia Society is proud to have been able to help with the making of this episode. The film features photographs from the Monemvasia Society archive. #monemvasia #greece #archive #channel4

Hartmutt Witte photographs his window view, circa 1980’s, MPS Archive. #monemvasia #greece #peloponnese #archive

Leisurely strolls and time in the shade. Photographed by Harmut Witte, circa 1980, MPS archive. #archive #historic #monemvasia #peloponese #greece

Monemvasia, a view from the sea, Hartmut Witte, circa 1980, MPS archive Happy Earth Day to all! #monemvasia #greece #peloponnese #archive

View of The Rock, Poul Ramussen, circa 1979, Monemvasia Photographic Society Archive #monemvasia #peloponnese #greece #archive

Children playing, Yefyra, Poul Ramussen, circa 1980. MPS archive. #greece #peloponnese #archive #photography #history

Poul Ramussen, 1982, MPS archive

Outside Kafeneion, 1982, taken by Poul Ramussen. MPS archive.

A stormy day in Yefyra, circa 1980, Poul Ramussen. MPS Archive. #greece #archive

Poul Ramussen, 1979. Art exhibition in ‘Kamara’ art gallery. MPS Archive #greece #peloponese #monemvasia #archive

Something very special about this capture by Poul Ramussen. A celebration outside Kafeneion, MPS archive, circa 1979. #monemvasia #greece #peloponnese #archive #blackandwhite

View to the main street and Marianthi’s restaurant from inside Bobo’s taverna, Poul Ramussen, 1980. MPS archive. #greece #peloponnese #archive #monemvasia

Poul Ramussen, 1983, From Velies, the crossroad on the way to Monemvasia or Sparti. MPS Archive #greece #monemvasia #peloponnese #archive

A stormy view of the Rock, Poul Ramussen, MPS archive.

Κάτω Πόλη, Hartmut Witte, circa 1977. MPS archive #monemvasia #greece #peloponnese

θέα από παράθυρο, Monemvasia Castle, Hartmut Witte, circa 1976 #monemvasia #greece #archive #peloponese

Hartmut Witte’s collection of black and white photographs from his time in Monemvasia during 1977 and 1978, are an important part of the MPS archive with several of his images featuring in our previous publication - Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. #monemvasia #greece #peloponese #blackandwhite #photography

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Monemvasia Society! #yefira #greece #monemvasia #peloponnese

Γιώτα Χούτρη, εστιατόριο Κύπρος Photographer: Hartmut Witte, circa 1980s

πλατεία Ελκόμενου Χριστού, τζαμί Photographer: Hartmut Witte, circa 1980’s

Going through the Monemvasia Society Archive and there’s just too many beautiful photos to choose from to share with you..

Haris Kalligas 1941-2023. Haris and her husband, Alexander Kalligas, have lived in Monemvasia since 1967. Haris was the world authority on the Byzantine history and architecture of Monemvasia. The Kalligas were awarded the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Medal in 1980 for outstanding restoration work in the City. Their work enabled the Castro to be brought back to life as the thriving community it is today. She was a true custodian of the heritage of the Castro of Monemvasia. Our sincerest condolences to family and friends of Haris. MPS undated. 'Monemvasia. People. Place. Presence.’ 2019 p.134. #britishschoolofathens #gennadiuslibrary #ascsa

Monemvasia Summer Days series Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. p. 137 (above) Undated. MPS.

Monemvasia Summer Series. Cool drinks in the shade at the Byzantino Café Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence, p. 129 2016. Byzantino Café. © Monica Borner.

Monemvasia Summer Series Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. p. 93 (right) 1963. Priest arriving at Portello. © Martin Kueper 401.

Please do send us a photograph of you with your book! We are so proud that our book ‘Monemvasia. People. Place. Presence’ is still in demand. Recently captured - a proud owner who purchased the book from the Amnesty Bookshop in Kentish Town, London. Our first book has nearly sold out, so do get a copy if you have not got one already. Still available on Amazon and all good bookshops.

More summer swims in Monemvasia… From the book ‘Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence.’ p. 94 (above) Undated. MPS. p. 94 (below) c. 1980. Y. Ritsos at Portello. © Benaki Museum / Historical Archives.

Summer swim in Monemvasia, 1951 From the book ‘Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence’, p. 98. Demitrios Harrissiadis, 1951, 128–7. © Benaki Museum / Photographic Archives

Looking back at beautiful Summer Days on The Rock from Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence - p. 53 (above) c. 2016. Marianthi’s Taverna. © Image Broker / Alamy Stock. p. 53 (below) 2014. © Wayne Walton / Lonely Planet Images / Getty Images.

Photographer Poul Ramussen captures a view from the sea wall, c.1970

It’s the beginning of Malvasia Week! A time to celebrate in Monemvasia. Be sure to join the festivities Photo: Dancing in Bobo’s Tavern

Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. p. 23, c. 1950. Entrance to the Castro. MPS.

Κάτω Πόλη, θέα από Α προς Μυρτιδιώτισσα και Ελκόμενο Χριστό, Martin Kueper. MPS collection

Παναγία Χρυσαφίτισσα, circa 80’s, Hartmut Witte. MPS Collection

Monemvasia: People, Place, Presencw. p. 60, 1906. This shows the square before the building of the bell tower. ‘Entrance to citadel’ by A. J.B. Wace ca 1906 Byzantine Research Fund Archive 02. 01. 14. 120. © British School at Athens

Today the Castro is celebrating the Patronal festival for Panayia Chrysafitissa! The Castro is full of Bishops, priests, flags, flowers, candles, and music. Hope to see you there!

For our American followers during National Poetry Month in the USA, we share with you Yiannis Ritsos (1909-1990). One of Greece’s most famous modern poets who was born and is buried in Monemvasia. His house in the Castro will shortly become a Museum to his life and works. Yiannis Ritsos sits and smokes in Monemvasia, 1974. ‘Better this way. Always: better this way. Keep us from worse, Lord. Give me some breathing space between two coffees and three wars.’

One last Easter one… Rasmussen archive, 1985. Easter Sunday, Nomia. MPS Collection.

'Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Νέοι, γέροι, καὶ κόρες, ὅλοι, μικροί, μεγάλοι, ἑτοιμαστῆτε· μέσα στὲς ἐκκλησίες τὲς δαφνοφόρες μὲ τὸ φῶς τῆς χαρᾶς συμμαζωχτῆτε· ἀνοίξετε ἀγκαλιὲς εἰρηνοφόρες' Η ημέρα της Λαμπρής, Διονύσιος Σολωμός Christ is risen! Young, old, and daughters, all, young and old, get ready. In the churches of the churches of tears with the light of the dawn. open arms of peace. The day of Lambris, Dionysios Solomos Image 1: Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence, p.11, undated. MPS archive Image 2: Poul Ramussen, 1979, Easter at the Castle

The Rock, captured by photographer @vangelis_rassias_photography

‘With the shouting, the noise, the beautiful multicolored garments, we forgot ourselves completely.’ Yannis Ritsos. After the ceremony. Rasmussen archive, 1980s Με τις φωνές, το θόρυβο, τα ωραία, πολύχρωμα φορέματα, ξεχαστήκαμε ολότελα... Γιαννης Ρίτσος. Μετά την τελετή. Αρχείο Rasmussen, δεκαετία '80

Spinning - p 75, Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. Undated © MPS

Maria and Thanasis Kamarinos in Doukato, their shop with home-made traditional desserts in the main street of the Castro. They have now moved their business in the new town of Gefyra, but returning visitors of Monemvasia are still looking for Maria and her famous creations! MPS collection. The Monemvasia Society continues this important work of collecting photographs and stories of the people of Monemvasia and Gefira since late19th century.

Ο Γεώργιος Βουγιουρδης, γνωστός ως 'Μπόμπος' (1905-1990) έξω από το καφενείο του στο Κάστρο. Ο Μπόμπος ήταν ο μόνος στον οποίον επιτρεπόταν να έχει μαγαζί έξω από τον κεντρικό δρόμο, που είναι γνωστός ως 'Καλντερίμι'. Χωρίς χρονολογία. MPS Georgios Vougiordis ‘O Bobos’ (1905- 1990) outside his kafeneion in the Castro. ‘Bobos’ was the only person to be allowed a shop off the Main Street, known as the ‘Kalderimi’. Undated photograph. MPS.

One of the typical shops of Monemvasia. They are often located in a small ‘Camara’ or vault. Shops are not permitted anywhere else but in the main street of the Castro. MPS Collection.

Barber in Gefyra, Rasmussen archive, circa 1978-1980. MPS Collection ©

The butcher in Gefyra. Does anyone know any details about him or this photograph? Date unknown. MPS collection

Big thank you to @reformclub for playing a big role in the writing of our book, Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence!

Diving for the Greek Cross takes place every year around 7 January, Greek Orthodox Christmas. The priest throws a cross into the sea or a river and a group of young men dive in to retrieve it. Whoever retrieves the cross is believed to have good luck for the year and receives a special blessing at the church altar. This ritual commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River and is a long revered Greek tradition. It is also celebrated outside Greece wherever there is an established Greek community. P. Rasmussen c1980s Ⓒ Monemvasia Society.

We wish you all a Happy New Year. A peaceful view of the Lower Square. Castro, Monemvasia c1970. P. Rasmussen. copyright MPS.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from the Monemvasia Society! We hope your day has been filled with much love, laughter, good food and company 🎄🕯

The founding members of the Monemvasia Society meeting in 2005. We wish all our supporters a Happy Christmas and very best wishes for 2023!

Eleftheria Paraskeva and Dimitris Traiforos sit at Matoula's taverna. Mrs Paraskeva was the owner of the house which is now the Kanoni Restaurant. Me Traiforos was an important local builder in the Castro. c 1970. MPS Archive. #monemvasia #greece #archive

Bobo sits in front of his last Taverna, off the Main Street, circa late 1980’s, MPS archive. #monemvasia #greece #archive

Panos came to Monemvasia from Thessaloniki in the early 70's. One of the interviews from our oral history project, Panos speaks about what Monemvasia used to be like. His grandparents, Greeks from Pontos, are pictured behind him. #monemvasia #peopleofmonemvasia #history #archive #oralhistory #greece

Swimming pool. Poul Rasmussen, Circa 1970s. MPS Collection.

Thea Rasmussen at her loom c 1980. Poul Rasmussen, MPS Collection.

An introduction to the oral history interviews that the society has been conducting over the past year! Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us so far! We will continue our work gathering the oral history of the residents of Monemvasia, so that one day others can know what it was really like. #monemvasia #greece #archive #oralhistory

Thank you so much to everyone who attended the Monemvasia Society Oral History launch! We are so grateful for all of your support. Thanks to you we are able to continue to archive the oral and photographic history of Monemvasia! #monemvasia #greece #history #oralhistory #photographicarchives

The storm that cancelled the Celebration Launch of the Oral History Project! It will now be delayed until Monday 29 August in the Castro. Weather permitting! Don’t forget to visit our Go Fund Me page! Photograph S. Roberts 2022.

We do love some summer cinema! The Summer Garden Cinema ready for the showing of ‘Mamma Mia 2’. Photograph MPS . Foundethakis 2022.

On Thursday night, James Bond ‘Casino Royale’ was shown in our Garden Cinema in the Castro. A huge success. For over ten years we have held our popular Garden Cinema in August for our supporters. Thank you to all those who came along. Photo Credit MPS/ Foundethakis 2022.

The Monemvasia Society’s summer intern, Julia Grigoras, working hard to curate the new Poul Rasmussen Collection of photographic negatives. 🎞🙏🏼💛

Poul Rasmussen, photographer (1929 -1993) and his wife Thea, (1935 -2022) a weaver, moved from Denmark to Monemvasia in 1966. They were a strong part of the local community. Poul’s photographs are a unique record of the people and events of this time. The Monemvasia Society is honoured that the Rasmussen family have kindly donated Poul Rasmussen's catalogue of photographs from his time in Monemvasia to the Society. This will ensure preservation for future generations and public access. Our team is delighted to be cataloguing this large and important collection for our digital archive. We will hold an exhibition of his work in Summer 2023 in Monemvasia. Poul was a photographer of great recognition, and we’re excited to share some of his photos with you soon.

Congratulations to Ian Collins whose book ‘John Craxton : A Life of Gifts’ has won the Anglo-Hellenic League Runciman Award 2022 The Runciman Award is given by The Anglo-Hellenic League annually for the best book published for the first time in English in the previous year about Greece or on a Greek subject. #anglohellinicleague #runcimanaward #iancollins

Happy summer days are on their way! Photographer: Hartmut Witte, circa 1978. #monemvasiagreece #monemvasia #greece #archive #history #blackandwhitephoto #blackandwhite #hartmutwitte

View to the sea, Monemvasia. Photographer - Hartmut Witte,1978. #hartmutwitte #monemvasia

Easter 1936. Written on back ‘Principals at barbecue at Monemvasia 1936’, Charles Morgan Photographic Collection. © American School of Classical Studies, Athens. #americanschoolofathens

Happy Easter from the Monemvasia Society! Image 1: Preparing the Easter Lamb in the Castro. 1963, ©Martin Kueper / Monemvasia Society Archive. Image 2: The effigy of Judas filled with gunpowder and straw to be burned in the village square. Mitsos and an effigy of Judas Iscariot, Easter Sunday c 1970. p.77, Monemvasia: People Place, Presence.

Before the busy summer begins again, let's remember an earlier, quieter and forgotten time in Monemvasia on the main street. Monemvasia, 1960's. Please let us know if you recognise anyone in the photo. The archive is very interested in not only gathering photographs but also identifying residents from Monemvasia's history. Monemvasia Photographic Society Archive, Grigoraki, 1960's.

Woman in Kypros Taverna, photographed by Hartmut Witte, 1970s. Notice the photograph on the wall behind her, which is by the famous photographer Paul Ramussen. Ramussen lived with his wife Thea in Monemvasia for many years. #monemvasia #greece #history #archive #blackandwhitephotography

Monemvasia: My Favourite Place, Marina Klett, 50-70cm, 1997.

‘Better this way. Always: better this way. Keep us from worse, Lord. Give me some breathing space Between two coffees and three wars.’ Y. Ritsos, ‘Paper Poems 1’, 1970–74 Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. p. 197 28 April 1941. © World War II soldiers on the ship HMS Thurland Castle after the evacuation of Greece. New Zealand, Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch Ref: DA-07137-G.

Monemvasia, Thanasis Bakoyiorios, 2000, 35x50cm, Acrylic. Private collection. #monemvasia #greece #art

Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. p. 26 1978. © Hartmut Witte, 1978.

Monemvasia and the mainland. Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. p. 17 1688. Coronelli, Vincenzo. Repubblica di Venezia p. IV. Citta, Fortezze, ed altri Luoghi principali dell’ Albania, Epiro e Livadia, e particolarmente i posseduti da Veneti descritti e delineati dal p. Coronelli, Venice, 1688. © Laskaridis Foundation.

‘...in the old days, there were no ‘bains mixtes’ and the bathing compartments were made of boards in the sea, and all the men had to leave, and actually remove themselves completely before the women would come, mothers and aunts and grown-up cousins.’ Y. Ritsos, The Iconostasis of Anonymous Saints, Book One, 1983 Image: Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence, p. 95, 1965. Portello. Christos Tsousis Private Collection. MPS. #monemvasiagreece #history #archive #blackandwhite

Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. p. 126 c. 1971. Children dancing at Bobo’s taverna. © W. R. Elliot, 1971. #monemvasia #greece #archive #history #blackandwhitephotographs

Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. p. 25 c. 1960. 2E50. 025. © ELIA / MIET Photographic Archive. #monemvasia #greece #archive #history #blackandwhite

Pomegranate punica granatum is an ancient fruit, which has been the symbol of fertility, prosperity and regeneration for thousands of years in Greece and in Greek mythology. During Christmas time in Greece, you can see pomegranates everywhere as most Greek households hang this rich fruit above the main entrance door of their house- some people also get the fruit blessed at Church before doing so. Before midnight on New Years Eve, to symbolize the old year that has passed, all lights at the house are turned off. The family then gathers outside and when it is 12 midnight, someone throws a pomegranate on the doorstep. The more seeds there are on the floor means the luckier the family will be in the New Year. If someone is stained by the fruit’s juice, it means that he will be lucky. Smashing the fruit is done with the right hand to bring luck. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Monemvasia Society! Photograph: Aghios Stephanos. Monemvasia . Stephanie Roberts. 2021

Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. p. 37 June 1951. AH 128, Dimitrios Harissiadis, Monemvasia 1951. © Benaki Museum / Photographic Archives. #monemvasia #greece #archives #history #blackandwhitephotographs #benakimuseum

Church, mayor and community. © Martin Kueper 375. 1963. Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence, p. 108. #monemvasia #community #greece #history #archive #oldphotos #blackandwhite

Monemvasia: People, Place, Presence. p. 92 1958. Nikolaos Tombazis. Antonis Mastrogiannakis. Monemvasia, 1958, 8850. © Benaki Museum / Photographic Archives. #benakimuseum #monemvasia #greece #history #archive

Breakfast time in Monemvasia. #catsofgreece #monemvasia #greece

The Rock yesterday, shrouded in mist taken at midday 5 Nov 2021 by F . Grigoras. #monemvasia #greece

‘It was the difficult, honourable way they chose; ...they earned, if ever a people earned it, the right to be counted in the line of descent from the greatness of the ancient world. The bearing of these people in the unequal war with Germany and Italy was not due to a sudden and isolated burst of bravery; it was the result of something innate in them, it was a symbol of the essential continuity of Greek history.’ Dilys Powell (Remember Greece, 1941) Since the end of war, OHI Day (also spelled OXI day) is celebrated with student and military parades in Greece, Cyprus and by Greek communities abroad. ‘Victory Day’ is celebrated in many European countries to commemorate the unconditional surrender of the German powers that signified the end of Second World War. Greece is the only country that, instead of celebrating the end of war, commemorates the moment when the Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas responded with a simple ‘NO’ (ohi in Greek) to Benito Mussolini’s ultimatum on the 28th of October 1940, that demanded the Axis powers to be allowed into Greek soil and occupy strategic positions. The heroic ‘no’ signified the beginning of Greek resistance to the Axis, causing international sensation and admiration towards the Greek people. #greece #oxiday #history #archive