Kythera Island: Difference between revisions
imported>Sadelyrate No edit summary |
imported>Sadelyrate No edit summary |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
According to the legends, Kythera was where the goddess [[Aphrodite]] first stepped on land, and the city of Kythera was the first to welcome her.<ref name="Shrine of Aphrodite">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Historical Locations#Kythera|Kythera: Shrine of Aphrodite]]</ref><ref name="Kytheran Banner" /> | ===Mythology=== | ||
According to the [[Greek mythology|legends]], Kythera was where the goddess [[Aphrodite]] first stepped on land, and the city of Kythera was the first to welcome her.<ref name="Shrine of Aphrodite">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Historical Locations#Kythera|Kythera: Shrine of Aphrodite]]</ref><ref name="Kytheran Banner">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece#Kythera|Kythera: "Kytheran Banner"]]</ref><ref name="Arid Islands: Kythera Island">[https://assassinscreed.ubisoft.com/game/en-us/odyssey/map/arid-islands ''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – Worlds: Arid Islands, Kythera Island]. Ubisoft. Accessed 18 June 2018.</ref> | |||
During the 5th century BCE, the island kingdom was renowned for two principal things: its [[Temple of Aphrodite, Kythera|temple]] dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, and the local trade of [[Tyrian purple]], a dye made from the {{Wiki|murex}} shellfish. The former attracted pilgrims from all across Greece while the latter was highly respected due to the immense labor required to produce it from the hundreds of thousands shellfish caught. Because of this, Tyrian purple was highly coveted and its export was enormously profitable for Kythera, which came to be known as the 'Home of the Tyrian Purple'.<ref name="Kythera Town">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Historical Locations#Kythera|Kythera: Kythera Town]]</ref><ref name="ACOd">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey''</ref> | ===5th century BCE=== | ||
During the 5th century BCE, the island kingdom was renowned for two principal things: its [[Temple of Aphrodite, Kythera|temple]] dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, and the local trade of [[Tyrian purple]], a dye made from the {{Wiki|murex}} shellfish. The former attracted pilgrims from all across Greece while the latter was highly respected due to the immense labor required to produce it from the hundreds of thousands shellfish caught. Because of this, Tyrian purple was highly coveted and its export was enormously profitable for Kythera, which came to be known as the 'Home of the Tyrian Purple'.<ref name="Kythera Town">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Historical Locations#Kythera|Kythera: "Kythera Town"]]</ref><ref name="ACOd">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey''</ref><ref name="Arid Islands: Kythera Island" /> | |||
During the [[Peloponnesian War]], Kythera was coveted by the [[Athens|Athenians]], and they occupied it for most of the conflict, taking advantage of its proximity to [[Lakonia]] to raid the Spartans' home.<ref name="Kytheran Banner" /> | |||
==Culture== | |||
Both the mythical as well as the commercial facts were abundantly clear on the emblem of the island during the [[Peloponnesian War]]: a stylized white {{Wiki|Columbidae|dove}}, the sacred bird of the goddess Aphrodite, standing on a field of Tyrian Purple.<ref name="ACOd">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey''</ref><ref name="Kytheran Banner" /> | |||
==People== | ==People== | ||
| Line 19: | Line 22: | ||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
Kythera Island was | Kythera Island had a dry climate, but still the island was littered with flowers, as they grew in abundance near water sources, and were spread all around in celebration of Aphrodite.<ref name="ACOd" /> | ||
Unified in its dedication of Aphrodite, Kythera Island was separated into three regions, with [[Aphrodite's Watch]] keeping an eye on the pass that separated the island from [[Peloponnese]], the [[Pilgrim Hill]] consisting of the [[Pilgrimage Site|site]] of the pilgrimage and the road that led up to the [[Temple of Aphrodite, Kythera|Temple of Aphrodite]], and the [[Skandeia Bay]] wherein laid [[Skandeia Harbor]] and the island's [[Skandeia Treasury|treasury]].<ref name="ACOd" /> | |||
In addition, the [[Chytra Atoll]] was also considered part of Kythera.<ref name="ACOd" /> | |||
==Behind the scenes== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
In both ''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' as well as [[Ubisoft]]'s own [https://assassinscreed.ubisoft.com/game/en-us/odyssey/ site], the island is given the epithet "Home of Tyrian Purple", referencing rare and thus expensive dye.<ref name="Arid Islands: Kythera Island" /> | |||
Historically Kythera's association with Aphrodite exists due to the transmission of the cult of Astarte that began on the island during the Early Archaic Age, when Kythera was originally colonized by the {{Wiki|Phoenicia}}ns. | Historically Kythera's association with Aphrodite exists due to the transmission of the cult of Astarte that began on the island during the Early Archaic Age, when Kythera was originally colonized by the {{Wiki|Phoenicia}}ns. | ||
| Line 43: | Line 49: | ||
[[Category:Regions of Greece]] | [[Category:Regions of Greece]] | ||
[[Category:Former kingdoms]] | [[Category:Former kingdoms]] | ||
[[Category:Arid Islands]] | |||
Revision as of 11:43, 19 August 2020
|
Ezio, my friend! How may I be of service? This article has a lot of room for expansion. Please improve it with additional information in accordance with the Manual of Style |
Kythera Island, or simply Kythera, is an arid Greek island located off the southernmost tip of Peloponnese. Its main settlement was the Kythera Town, located in the central region of the Pilgrim Hill.
History
Mythology
According to the legends, Kythera was where the goddess Aphrodite first stepped on land, and the city of Kythera was the first to welcome her.[1][2][3]
5th century BCE
During the 5th century BCE, the island kingdom was renowned for two principal things: its temple dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, and the local trade of Tyrian purple, a dye made from the murex shellfish. The former attracted pilgrims from all across Greece while the latter was highly respected due to the immense labor required to produce it from the hundreds of thousands shellfish caught. Because of this, Tyrian purple was highly coveted and its export was enormously profitable for Kythera, which came to be known as the 'Home of the Tyrian Purple'.[4][5][3]
During the Peloponnesian War, Kythera was coveted by the Athenians, and they occupied it for most of the conflict, taking advantage of its proximity to Lakonia to raid the Spartans' home.[2]
Culture
Both the mythical as well as the commercial facts were abundantly clear on the emblem of the island during the Peloponnesian War: a stylized white dove, the sacred bird of the goddess Aphrodite, standing on a field of Tyrian Purple.[5][2]
People
The people of the island, especially sailors and fishermen, were avid worshipers of Aphrodite and often prayed her to watch over them in the surrounding waters, known for being tricky to navigate.[6]
Geography
Kythera Island had a dry climate, but still the island was littered with flowers, as they grew in abundance near water sources, and were spread all around in celebration of Aphrodite.[5]
Unified in its dedication of Aphrodite, Kythera Island was separated into three regions, with Aphrodite's Watch keeping an eye on the pass that separated the island from Peloponnese, the Pilgrim Hill consisting of the site of the pilgrimage and the road that led up to the Temple of Aphrodite, and the Skandeia Bay wherein laid Skandeia Harbor and the island's treasury.[5]
In addition, the Chytra Atoll was also considered part of Kythera.[5]
Behind the scenes
In both Assassin's Creed: Odyssey as well as Ubisoft's own site, the island is given the epithet "Home of Tyrian Purple", referencing rare and thus expensive dye.[3]
Historically Kythera's association with Aphrodite exists due to the transmission of the cult of Astarte that began on the island during the Early Archaic Age, when Kythera was originally colonized by the Phoenicians.
Gallery
-
Kythera Island
Appearances
References
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Kythera: Shrine of Aphrodite
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece – Kythera: "Kytheran Banner"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Worlds: Arid Islands, Kythera Island. Ubisoft. Accessed 18 June 2018.
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Kythera: "Kythera Town"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Kythera: Altar of Aphrodite