Oral History / Hora

"History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity."
Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC), Pro Publio Sestio

There are many categories in this section - they are now visible in the navigation on the left. By choosing any one of them you can view the entries, and by clicking on the add to... links at the top right of each category page, you can easily submit your own entry.

Please note! There are dozens of historic and fascinating photographs to be found in the Kythera Cultural Archive section of this site.

History > Oral History

submitted by Spyro Calocerinos on 16.03.2005

Anjolos Petroheilos. The Prankster in Hora

Anjolos-as he was known- was a barber in Hora and his son Nikos- my late brother in law-who was also a barber, together built in the early 50s the first supermarket in Kythera, known as Athinaiki Agora. The vatiety of goods sold was enormous.Shoes,exclusive material for suits, hats, cheese sold bulk,sardines sold bulk, herrings,clothes pegs.The lot. But in the corner,there were two barber's chairs,one for Anjolos(his real name was Evangelos) and one for Nikos.
Anjolos ...

History > Oral History

submitted by Spyro Calocerinos on 20.03.2005

The Ingenious cigarette lighter

In the morning of September 4th 1944, the Germans left "Kapsali" Kythera.

For some days before their departure, the Greek Liberation Front were firing at them with very little ammunition, from Kastro and Agios Giannis.

Some Kytherians had invented an ingenious system of creating cigarette lighters out of empty bullet shells.
My late brother-in-law, Nikos Petroheilos, was making these cigarette lighters and was selling them in his shop.
Seeing that the Germans ...

History > Oral History

submitted by Spyro Calocerinos on 04.03.2005

I REMEMBER

I remember when Mussolini demanded from the Greek Government to allow free passage to his troops through Greece and received the unexpected answer "OXI" NO!! which is still celebrated on the 28th of October

I remember, the pride of the Greeks when the Italians were defeated in Northern Greece and Albania.

I remember,the promises made to Greece by our Friendly and strong nations,for being brave to fight on their side and the world said ...

History > Oral History

submitted by Spyro Calocerinos on 23.10.2004

Viron Dapontes and the handgrenade

Viron, was well known in Hora for his many fearless acts and this is one of them, but it turned out to be very costly.

On the night of the 31st of August 1944, the Germans set fire to their ammunition on their Headquarters of Trahilas (near Kapsali) and the explosions and display of "fireworks", was by far the best we had seen. Obviously, the Germans didn't want their ammunition in the hands of their enemy. They went to Kapsali and left Kythera on the 4th of September.

Some ...

History > Oral History

submitted by Spyro Calocerinos on 18.01.2011

The street sign on the way to Hora's Kastro

Some time after the Germans left Kythera, (to be exact on the 27th of January 1945) a British cargo ship loaded with rice,wheat and flour,anchored in Kapsali.The ship was under the supervision of a British battle ship,whose Captain was Captain Frederick Rand.He was the first official appointed by the liberated Greek Government as a caretaker,to oversee the peaceful existence of all political parties in Kythera.

At this point,I must explain that there were a number of political conflicts ...