Karystos

Location and Description

Karystos is located on the southern tip of Evia[ref]Evia can also be spelled Euboea (ancient Greek), Euboia, Evvoia, and Evoia, but Evia seem to be the most often used spelling. The name Evia means “rich in cattle”[/ref], the second largest Greek island.

Karystos is situated on Karystos Bay, separated from the mainland by the Gulf Of Evia.
Karystos was named after legendary Karyston, son of Chiron.

It was a maritime commercial center, issuing coinage in 6th century BC.
Overlooking Karystos is Mt. Ochi.  The main peaks of Mount Ochi are Profitis Ilias (1,399m – 4590 ft ) and Giouda, (1,386m – 4547 ft), and a lesser peak, Boublia (1,227m – 4025 ft)
In Greek mythology it is the place where Zeus made love to Hera, therefore the name Ochi, which stems from the ancient Greek verb ohevo, to ride.  According to an ancient myth, Hera was raised by the nymph Macri in Evia. Zeus first saw her in the island’s highlands and set out to conquer her by taking the shape of a cuckoo, looking weak and trembling from the cold.  Hera took the bird to her breast to warm it at which time Zeus revealed himself and tried to take her, but she would only surrender if he proposed marriage. The dragon house or drakospitia at the top of Mt. Ochi is believed to be the place where he made love to her for the first time . A later legend describes an enormous dragon that lived on the peak and whose footprints can still be seen pressed into the rocks.

On the mountain’s lush northeastern slopes facing the Aegean sea, between the peaks of Giouda and Boublia , a deep ravine cuts the northern parts of Mount Ochi in two, forming the famous and beautiful Dimosaris Gorge.

The mountains in the Karystos contain a green veined marble, marmor Carystium, known as cipollino, it’s Italian name, from it resemblance to an onion. Cipollino is not known to occur in any area other than southern Euboea.[ref]Roman marble quarrying near Karystos Southern Euboea –  Jeanne & Anne Sutherland.[/ref]
There are many references to the quarrying of this marble between the second century BC and the fourth century AD.
There are Roman quarries located from Karystos to Styra to the North.  In Karystos there are the remains of five areas of Roman quarrying, in Styra, Animborio, Karatza, Marmari and Karystos.
In Styra, there are four groups of quarries; in Animborio three; in Karatza, the remnants of ancient quarries have been destroyed by the British excavations at the beginning of the 20th century and later by local exploitation; in Marmari, the quarries are scattered and often isolated except for one group covering a continuous area about 100 m long; in Karystos, there are three distinct quarries at the foot of mount Ochi.
One quarry is situated above Myli and known as Kylindri, one at Ano Aetos and one at Bourros. They all have unfinished columns laying about.

Asbestos was also discovered and utilized in Karystos, perhaps as early as the middle bronze age, for manufacture of cremation cloths, lamp wicks, hats, and shoes.
Strabo (64/63 BC – ca. 24 AD)  a Greek geographer, philosopher and historian writes:
(Book 10, 1): “at Carystus [Karystos] there is found in the earth a stone, which is combed like wool, and woven, so that napkins are made of this substance, which when soiled, are thrown into the fire and cleaned, as in the washing of linen.” 

 Ancient History

Evidence shows that the area has been inhabited since the Middle Bronze Age (2000 to 1550 BC).  Recent topographical research indicates that the earliest city, was situated just north of the Plakari Ridge at the NW edge of the bay.

During the Hellenistic (323 to 146 BC) and later periods the city of Karystos was located at modern Paliochora, 3 km N of the modern town. The exact date and reasons for the relocation of the ancient city from Plakari to Paliochora remains unknown.

The harbor of post-Archaic Karystos was probably located at the small bay of Geraistos, now known as Kastri, about 8 1/2 miles to the East of Paliochora.

Role in the Trojan War 1200 BC

Karystos was listed in the Homeric Catalog of Ships (850 BC) and the nearby Sanctuary of Poseidon at the harbor of Geraistos was recorded by Homer as the first safe stopping place for the ships returning from the Trojan War. Menelaous, Nestor, Diomedes and their men arrived at Geraistos at night and sacrificed many bulls as a thanks to Poseidon. Greaistos is also mentioned by other Greek writers because of it’s harbor which was the only safe one along the rocky eastern coast of Evia. During storms the channel between Andros and Evia was extremely dangerous for sailing ships.

The fierce Abantes held Euboea with its cities, Chalcis, Eretria, Histiaea rich in vines, Cerinthus upon the sea, and the rock- perched town of Dium; with them were also the men of Carystus [Karystos] and Styra; Elephenor of the race of Mars was in command of these; he was son of Chalcodon, and chief over all the Abantes. With him they came, fleet of foot and wearing their hair long behind, brave warriors, who would ever strive to tear open the corslets of their foes with their long ashen spears. Of these there came fifty ships… Homer – The Illiad – The catalog of ships

Post Trojan War

Around 400 to 300 BC Diocles of Karystos was one of the most important Greek physicians in antiquity, often known as “a younger Hippocrates.” He lived and worked in Athens and wrote the first systematic textbook on animal anatomy. According to a number of sources, he was the first to use the word “anatomy” to describe the study. He also invented a surgical instrument for the extraction of weapons or missiles such as barbed arrowheads that were embedded into the body, called Dioclean cyathiscus.

Other Invasions

Because of it’s strategic location at the South entrance to the Euripos Channel it was a major objective of the first Persian advance in 490 B.C.  It was the first city-state to stand up to the Persians but were easily defeated.  
In 480, when the Persians returned the second time and before the sea battle of Salamina, Karystos was captured by Xerxis without resistance.

After the defeat of the Persians on the mainland around 470 BC, Athens forced Karystos to join the Delian League, seized the Karystian port at Geraistos because it was an important stop on the grain route of their ships. They imposed an Athenian cleruchy on the territory.   A cleruchy was a special Greek colony where the settlers or cleruchs would retain their Athenian citizenship and the community remained a political dependency of Athens.  In 375 BC it was a major Athenian recruiting center.
With the exception of a short period of Spartan influence in Euboea at the end of the 5th century B.C., Karystos remained first subject to and then allied with Athens until Greece became a part of the Macedonian empire after 322 B.C.

The Romans invaded Evia in the 3rd and 2nd century B.C. and Karystos became a city -state in the sixth century B.C.
Under Roman Imperial rule there was extensive exploitation of the region’s quarries.
Cipollino was quarried in Karystos was one of the most popular veined marbles used in many Roman public and private buildings.
Karystian marble was also shipped to mainland Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Egypt and North Africa, Syria, Judaea, the region of modern Dalmatia, France, Britain and Spain.

During the Byzantine period, about 476 to 526 BC, many churches and monasteries were built on the island, and it kept its trading status, even though parts of the island was raided by pirates from time to time.

In 1157 all the coastal towns of Euboea were destroyed by the Sicilian’s and it came into prominence following the Fourth Crusade (1202-1204)

The Venetians came in the 13th century around 1390, and Evia became a battle ground between them and the Turks, because of its strategic position. In the partition of the Byzantine Empire by the crusaders, the island was occupied by a number of Lombard families, who divided it into three (later six) baronies, Karystos being one of the baronies.

In the partition of the Eastern Roman empire by the Latin’s, the island was divided into three fiefs which placed themselves under the protection of the Venetian Republic, the sovereign power.
On 12 July 1470, after a heated defense, the well-fortified city of Chalkis (Negroponte) was taken from Venice by Mehmed II, and the whole island fell into the hands of the Ottoman Turks

The war of Independence began in 1821, and the people of Evia fought against their oppressors. At the conclusion of the Greek War of Independence, in 1830, the island constituted a part of the newly-established Greek state.

Because of it’s strategic maritime location, and to some extent its natural resources, it remained prosperous throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Present Day

Karystos now has 5000 inhabitants and the municipality that comprises the districts of Aetos, Grambias, Kalyvia, Myloi and Platanistos has a population of 12,000 as of the 2011 census.
Karystos stone is still the major export but it also exports olive oil and olives, honey and bee products, cheese, fish, and some wine.

The modern city was designed and built near the site of the ancient city of Carystus by Bavarian architect Bierbach, who was commissioned by King Otho, after liberation from the Turks in 1833. King Otho renamed Karystos for himself during his reign, Othonoupolis, and planned to make it the capital of Greece. When he died, Karystos returned to its normal name.
It’s streets, unlike typical Greek villages and towns, are laid out in a grid.

Karystos is not as picturesque as some other Greek towns and it’s not particularly popular with foreign tourists, but it has it’s own particular charm with it’s public neoclassical buildings and manor houses.
It is popular with Greek vacationers and in the summer, especially in August, when the population almost doubles.
It has great beaches and crystal clear water.
There are a good selection of supermarkets, bakeries, sweet shops, pharmacies, one decent hospital, an open air cinema, night clubs,  and a variety of shops.
An abundance of nice restaurants featuring fresh fish, traditional Greek dishes, pizza’s, ouzeries and cafes can be found on the waterfront and in town.  
The italian influence lingers and you will find many Italian dishes on the menu’s including a local pasta,  kourkoubines, that is similar to gnocchi.
There is also a very nice travel agency in the center of town that can arrange side trips and tours.
It has a large main square and in the summer there are many scheduled festivities.
Karystos and the surrounding areas have beautiful beaches with crystal clear water that are great for snorkeling.
There is also a dive shop in town www.diveinevia.gr/indexenglish.html
Several nice hotels are located in the main town and you will find many guest cottages in the area.

It is easy to get to, being only an hour ferry ride across the Gulf of Evia, from Rafina on the mainland to Marmari, and another short 15 minute drive from Marmari to Karystos. There is also a bus that come down to Karystos via Chalkida and you can drive from the mainland via the bridge at Chalkida. The trip by car from Athens to Karystos is roughly 2 1/2 hours.
Another option is to take the ferry from Ag Marina to Nea Styra and drive from Nea Styra to Karystos.

What to see

▪ The reconstructed Venetian fortress of Bourtzi, built in the 13th century on the eastern beach of the town.

▪ The ruins of the Venetian castle named Castello Rosso built in 1030 and ancient marble quarries, both at the nearby hamlet of Myloi. Also remnants of a Roman aqueduct behind.

▪ The town hall, built at the end of the 19th century.

▪ A small museum hosted by the Yokaleion Cultural Centre, featuring collections of Hellenistic and Roman era sculptures and pottery. odysseus.culture.gr/h/1/eh151.jsp?obj_id=3374

▪ The Orthodox monasteries of Taxiarches, St. George and St. Mavra.

▪ The mountain area of Mt. Ochi including the famous Dimossari gorge and the Drakospita

▪ mountainsgreece.com/en/component/content/article/13-english-categories/mountains/29-mount-ochi

▪ In town there is an excavated Roman nobleman’s grave site.

▪ Cape Cavo-Doro.

▪ Montofoli Estates. A winery above Karystos built on an ancient Roman governer’s estate. www.montofoli.gr/en/?cat=6

Sources:

Tufts University –  http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/artifact?name=Karystos&object=Site.
Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karystos