ERASMUS+CLICHE GREEK TRADITIONAL WOODEN SHIPBUILDING
1. GREEK WOODEN BOATS
the culture of Greek boat building
and the skilled Greek craftsmen
WEBPAGES: https://erasmuscliche.com
Wiki inventory: CLICHE http://cliche.pbworks.com/w/page/131752365/FrontPage
Blog: CLICHEmore https://culturalheritageurope.blogspot.com/
2.
3. THE CRAFT OF WOODEN SHIPBUILDING
Greece has serious reasons to be
proud of its seafaring heritage. Some of the oldest
shipwrecks in the world have been discovered
among its 3,000 islands, and there’s little doubt
that many of its native craft can trace their lineage back
to Homer’s time. ΞΥΛΟΝΑΥΠΗΓΙΚΗ
Wooden boats, an expression of an art from other
times, witness the human relationship with the sea,
recall the past and raise the nostalgia for another way
of life.
4. The craftsmen of wooden boats inherited their ancient art from Homeric Odysseus, the first recorded
woodcarver in the history of sailing. And some dignitaries have continued it to this day. It is an art that is being
lost, the pre-eminently supply source of the Aegean culture.
5. TYPES OF GREEK WOODEN BOATS
Kaiki
Varkalas
Trechantiri
Botis
Cherniki
Bogiantes
Perama
Karavoskaro
Liberty
Lantza
Takos
Kazaki
8. Trata
A narrow, fishing boat,
usually rowed but
sometimes with one or
two masts. The stem has
an unusual projection
forward, possibly used for
stepping on and off the
boat.
14. Sailing in a traditional Caique feels like being
placed inside a rare flower amidst the blue
waters of the Aegean Sea, the warmth of the
glistening sun’s rays playfully bouncing on the
sea’s surface and gracefully enhancing the
magical landscapes.
Caique
15. The Gatzaos were sailing merchant
cargo boats, often used in
communication between the Ionian
Islands and the opposite coast of
Epirus. This type is almost extinct
today.
A rare "Gatzaos". One of the last in
operation. It transports between
Kalamos and Mytika.
Ionian, N. Kalamos, August 2007
Gatzaos
16. The history of the Greek shipbuilding dates back to Homer's times. Traditional wooden
shipbuilding that is still practiced today has incorporated several of the Medieval techniques’
elements. The earliest written shipbuilding manuals, which originated in Venice and are dated to
the early 15th century, refer exclusively to Medieval shipbuilding (also known as skeleton first
construction).
Boatbuilding really took off in Greece after 1774, when an agreement with Russia allowed ships
from Greece, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire, to sail unimpeded in the Black Sea.
The country’s strategic position between east and west, and the ability of its watercraft to outrun
the British blockade of Napoleon’s empire, turned it into a major shipping power and by extension
a great shipbuilding force.
The main building centers at that time were the islands of Hydra, Spetses and Psara, which were
to play a central role in the war of independence that followed in 1821–30. Other important
shipping centers were Chios, Kasos, Messolonghi and Galaxidi.
After independence, a thriving boatbuilding center emerged in Syros island.
Ship building centers
17. Shipbuilding
What is carnagio or tarsanas?
The term "carnagio" has the same root as the term
"carena" (of Italian origin), ie the part of the ship
that is under water, the hull. There stick algae and
shells that need to be cleaned. They brought them
to the shallow waters of the shipbuilding zone,
tilted them to their side and ‘carenized' them.
So when we talk about 'carnagia' we mean the
places where traditional wooden boats are built
and repaired. Another term used for these sites is
"tarsanas" (from arsenale, a shipyard for
warships). So these two terms refer to "shipyards"
of the traditional type.
Shipyard in Syros island
https://youtu.be/V0wOm3WmhLk
18.
19. A man has been practicing the craft of
shipbuilding for over 60 years. When he
speaks about wooden boats, there is
sorrow in his eyes. After all, his son was
not keen on learning the techniques he
has honed for decades.
Lesvos island
21. Simi island
‘’My father bought land in 1942 and
opened a shipyard. He made botis,
yialadikes and achtarmades (sponge-
fishing), papadies, trehantiria.
Many Symians dived for sponges in Crete,
Cyprus, the Red Sea and Benghazi. They
left in May and returned in October’’.
‘’He had 15 helpers and craftsmen. In the
past, wood was cut by hand. We had
orders from Crete, Karpathos, Kastellorizo,
Rhodes, Kalymnos, Volos. In the early
1980's, we built ten or twelve boats a year.
At that time there was a subsidy of up to
60% for new fishing boats. There were no
roads and the people of Symi went
everywhere by boat - to Gialos, to
Panormitis ".
33. In recent years, various private and public bodies have been working to protect and promote the
shipbuilding cultural heritage in Greece.
In this context, exhibitions and competitions with traditional boats are organized, such as:
Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta
Cyclades Classic Yacht Race
Traditional Boat Show
Traditional Aegean wooden shipbuilding art
38. Hydra
island
Trehantiri
In 1821, Trehantiria were
used as post offices in the
Navy of the island. After 1900
they were used for sponge
fishing. They traveled to the
Mediterranean and the
Aegean, significantly
promoting trade and sponge
fishing. In the post-war years
they were used to transport
passengers. Today they are
mainly fishing boats.
43. TYPES OF GREEK WOODEN BOATS
Kaiki
Varkalas,
Trechantiri,
Botis,
Cherniki,
Bogiantes,
Perama,
Karavoskaro,
Liberty,
Takos,
Kazaki
Our tradition will be lost.
These hulls are our Nautical Art, they are our history, they are GREECE
44. Today, these vessels, evidence of the Greek naval tradition, are in danger of extinction.
Since 1991, when the European directive was implemented, about 10,000 traditional wooden boats
have been dismantled and it seems that in the next years there will be almost none left, to remind the
great Greek naval tradition. The traditional wooden boats will only exist as a memory, the last
carnagias/shipyards will be closed, our ports will be filled with imported plastic boats, our shipbuilding
art, with a history of 2,500 years, will disappear.
45. "On Monday, they will break the 'Glykeria', our 2001 trehantiri." Many
fishermen break down their boats to receive compensation from the EU as
part of its policy to reduce overfishing. In Harani, in the other carnagio of
Symi, "Glykeria" together with a liberty are waiting for their time to come.
With the breaking and granting of the permit, the owner of the fishing
boat receives 80,000 euros and buys a new plastic boat, so that he can go
to more distant places for fishing.
How to issue a new license is a question, as is why thousands of
irreplaceable traditional boats, unique examples of Greek woodworking
have been destroyed for so many years, while the state could make a
change in their characterization (eg "leisure") to be maintained.
Simi island
46. The future of the Greek traditional boats
Academic research has indicated that there is a significant daily loss of information about
traditional shipbuilding in Greece for over a century. The methods, materials and products
associated with this activity, are being forgotten or even destroyed due to non-renewal of the
professional occupation of designers - artisans, the incomplete recording of existing knowledge
and the simultaneous natural destruction of existing traditional vessels.
A study conducted by the Traditional Boat Association of Greece, recorded 14,500 wooden boats
sailing in Greece about 20 years ago out of which 12,500 have been destroyed following a law
imposed by the European Union in 1996 to prevent overfishing in the Mediterranean. More
specifically, the EU began to give incentives to reduce the fishing fleet in Europe and subsidize
the destruction of fishing vessels with large sums of money, which could otherwise be rescued
and used with some modifications for other purposes (pleasure boats, tourist boats).
47. If you take Greece apart, in the end you will be left with an olive tree, a vineyard, and a boat...
which means that with these items you can rebuild Greece...
Odysseas Elytis, Nobel Prize in Literature, 1979
