Evening star., 1923-05-14
ISLAND IMPORTANT
OCLASS|C GREEKS
Geographic Society Gives
History of Kastelorizo, Now
Least Known Spot.

"Kastelorizo. raided by Turks, who
were repelled by an Italian garrison
was a notable island among the clas-
sic Greeks" says a bulletin from the
headuuarters of the National Geo
graphic Society.
To-day the island is important only
as key to ItaIys sphere of influence
on the contiguous mainland or ASIA
Minor A region as conspicuous IN
Ionic times as England is in the mod-
ern world has become one of the least
known areas in the inhabited world
of 1928.
Lacks Even Name.
Two major peninsulas protrude
from the south coast of Asia Minor
into the Mediterranean. Tiny kastel-
orizo lies along the shore OF the
westernmost protuberance, when
iuts out between the Gulf of Makri
and the picturesque port OF Adalla
The shore line between these points
marks the coast of ancient LEcia'
the peninsula now has no distinctive
name.
1T taxes the Imagination to realize
the wealth, culture and great popuia-
tion of western Asia Minor in the
era of the seven wise men. through
the period of the kings of PerGamus'
down to the time of the roman oc-
oupation and that great letter writer,
st. Paul. ooo
"This region then had at least 23O
cities each city struck Off its own
coins and at least three claimed pre-.
eminence as the first city OF ASIA.
The Aegean was to 1onia what the
western Mediterranean was to Eu-
rope Of medieval times: and Greek.
colonists fringed the shores OF the
eastern Mediterranean. In nomencia-
1ure at least, KaSteloriZo gives a mint
pf classic times, for the atlas stlil
hesignates it as an Aegean island-the
pasternmost-and it has been gov
erned in modern times as an ADJUNCT
to Rhodes.
.'The setting. too. recalls that en-
vironment which gave the Greeks the
joy of living and youth of mind whIch
the world still envicS. Here says one
writer the sea is bluer than other
seas: the tints of the skies are Solter'
the violet and rose blend more mar
velously in the sunsets. the mountains
have a sensuous attraction ana the
sails OH the horizon allure.
Steamers Pass 1t BY.
"kastelorizo then WAS one facet of
the charm of the insular life of the
Mediterranean Now the steamers
that ply from Rhodes to Adalia pass
it by 1t has attained no distinction
since it acquired it's present name
from the red castle erected there 6y
the adventurous Juan de Heredla
when Edward III was on England 8
throne.
..From the steamer the island fiecks
the shore line, back of which rise the
snow-capped peaks of Lycia. the loot
hills of the Taurus noun ia ms.
zone discerns the site of Nanthus
n city of which Homer sang, which
gave up an obelisk to modern eX-
plorers not many years ago. Whlle
the rock-cut tombs of these shores
represent homes as they were fur-
nished while their dead were yet
living. 1t is from Il Lycian sarcopha-
gus that bas-reliefs were taken 10
the British museum which are con-
sidered some of the most exquisite
extant types of this style of decora-
ton.
Adalia Built I'm Cliffs.
"Adalia. which is the apple of the
, Italian eyes. as smyrna was OF tne
modern Greeks, is the most faSclnat-
, ing city on the coast. CliH-built, the
town is notable for many cascades OF
, SPARKLING water. though it seems like
stretching a point to call them cat
aracts.
sculpture are used to adorn walls.
doorways courtyardS and fountains.
The ancient wall is preserved almost
in it's entirety.
"Popularly. Adalia is best known
for it's dancing dervishes. For gen.
erations the Greeks here have lived
SO much to themselves that they re-
tain many ancient habits. This also
Is true of the jews. Bazaars and
mosques hold their early Turkish
character
streets are very narrow in places,
balconies of houses often project one
above the other SO far that two per-
sons can almost join hands across
the street from UPPER stories.
"Adalia has a fourishing silk in
dustry.. Cocoon sheds outside the
city limits are interesting because
the laborers represent so many ma
tionalities.