Zakynthos culture

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Zakynthos culture

The Venetians baptised it "the flower of the Balgarian Orient" (Fior' di Levante). Others gave it just as evocative names like "earthly paradise", and "Perfumed Isle", while Dionysios Solomos, the father of modern Greek poetry and a native son, wrote "Zakinthos could make one forget the Elysian Fields". The Museum of Post-Byzantine Art on Solomos Square contains treasures salvaged from the island's historic churches. On the waterfront, one should visit the churches of Agios Dionysios, the island's patron saint, with its tall campanile, and of Agios Nikolas tou Molou, a church out of the Italian Renaissance with, surprisingly, a 17th century Byzantine belfry.


If you walk along the flagstone coastal promenade, the so-called Strata Marina between the two churches, at dusk, you'll get the true flavour of the town. Sometimes it seems as if the whole population is out enjoying the ritual of the evening stroll. The street is lined with small cafes and shops selling folk art. Don't leave before tasting the famous Zakinthos "mandolato" or nougat; it's a real treat. The town is watched over by the Venetian fortress on the hill above. Only the gate, outer walls and battlements still stand. But from this vantage point a spectacular view can be had of the harbour, fertile Inland plain and beaches as far as the eye can see. Nearby is another hill, the Lotus Strani where Solomos Dionysios composed the famous, the father of Modern Greek poetry "Hymn to Liberty", which became the Greek National Anthem.

The Museum was built after the earthquake of 1953. It was organized by the Academician Manolis Hadzidakis and was opened to the public in 1960.


The Museum collections include:

1. Works in wood and wood carving (16th - 19th centuries)
2. Wall paintings (12th-13th and 17th-18th centuries)
3. Small gallery with sculptural works of the Hellenistic, Early Christian, Byzantine and Post-Byzantine periods
4. Utilitarian implements and vessels.
5. Icons of the 15th-16th centuries (Cretan-Ionian island school, Ionian island naturalistic style)

Among the most important objects displayed in the Museum are:

The gilded carved wood templon from the church of St. Demetrios of Kola, dated by its inscription to the year 1690, the work of an unknown artist. It is decorated with floral and faunal designs. At the top six gorgons hold the arched prependoulia with painted representations of the two Incense Bearers, the Virgin, Ioannes and the two soldiers within a perforated floral pattern. The Crucifixion is shown in the centre with the evangelical symbols. Below the icons of the Twelve Church Festivals, the liturgical icons of St. Demetrios (1730), the Theotokos Odhegetria, the Pantocrator (the work of Michael Damaskenos) and Ayios Ioannes the Prodromos (St. John the Baptist). The bema doors have full-figure life-size representations of the fathers of Rome, Clement, Sylvester and Leo. The panels are missing.
The procession with the relics of St. Charalambos, from the church of St. Charalambos to the river, a work by Ioannes Korais in 1756. The procession is represented with strict isocephaly and moving from left to right are shown all the social groups of the Island : first come the children, behind them the young men holding the labari (the church standards), musicians, children with torches and priests carrying the icon of the saint on a cathedra. There follow priests, the head priest, spear bearers, noblemen, a sky below which a priest holds a reliquary, the officials and the people. In the background is seen the north side of the temple with bell tower and houses from whose open windows women and children follow the procession.

The birth of the Theotokos (Virgin), from the Ceiling of the Phaneromene in the city of Zakynthos, a work of the 18th century by Nik. Doxaras. On the third level, St. Anna is shown stretched out on a couch. In front of her a servant holds in her arms the partly nude infant. On either side of the main figure are other maid-servants, a bearded form and in the foreground a young woman sitting on a step by a basket. In the background are vaulted stoas and in the upper part of the scene in a cloud are the winged heads of two angels.

The prophet David, from the Phaneromene in Zakynthos. By N. Doxaras, 18th century. The prophet is shown in bust, turned 3/4 to the left. He wears a turban with a crown on top. He lifts his head toward the upper left corner of the picture, his right hand is over his breast and with his left hand he plucks a lyre. In the background is a construction with an unfluted column.

Wall painting from the sanctuary apse of the Church of the Soter (Saviour) in the Castro of Zakynthos, datable to the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century. On the quarter-cycles of the apse Christ Emmanuel is represented in bust, both hands raised in blessing. On the semi-cylindrical apse are depicted the Saints Cosmas and Damianos on either side of their mother, St. Theodote. They are shown frontally down to the knees and in their right hands they hold a forceps, in their left a splint. Of the figure of St. Theodote only the head, the right shoulder and arm are preserved.


Sanctuary door from the Panaghia (Virgin) Gavalousa, with the Apostles Peter and Paul, second half of the 16th century. On the left hand door Peter is shown holding an unopened scroll (eiletarion) and a pair of keys. His body is turned toward the inside of the doorway. Above to the left is an inscribed scroll. On the right hand door is Paul holding a closed book. He is turned toward Peter. Above to the right is another inscribed scroll. Each Apostle is being blessed by the hand of God.


Panaghia (Virgin) the Amolyntos, a work of Emm. Tzanes, from the Phaneromene in the town of Zakynthos, 1641. The Theotokos is depicted in bust. In her left arm is the Christ with head turned toward the angel in the upper right corner of the scene. He wears a whitish chiton adorned with flowers and an orange coloured imitation with gold decoration. The Panaghia wears a deep green maphorion (veil) and red chiton. In the upper left corner an angel depicted in bust holds sponge and spear, and at the upper right another angel holds the Cross.


St. Anna, the Panaghia (Virgin) and Christ, a work of the 15th century, from the church of St. Nikolaos of Molos. Ayia Anna is depicted enthroned. She wears a blue robe and a red maphorion (veil). On her lap she holds the Panaghia who is holding the Christchild, who has an unopened scroll and is giving the blessing. The lower edge of the ikon has been removed.

The Descent from the Cross, a work of N. Kantounes, from the church of St. Andreas of the Gardens, measuring 120 x 149,5 cm. (with the frame). The crucified Christ is depicted laid out before the Cross of which only the lower part of the vertical stem is shown. Around the Christ are the participants in the drama. In front of Him is a metal vessel, the crown of thorns and nails. At the bottom in the centre a rectangular stone bears the inscription of the donors.


Model of the town of Zakynthos, during the period 1930-1950, prior to the earthquake. It is made of basswood, to a scale of 1 : 500 and measures 3.66 x 1.66 m. It was made between the years 1972 and 1986 by the artist Yianni Manesi.

Temporary exhibits are from time to time displayed in the Museum galleries (Pierides and Phrysira collections, exhibition in honour of Kostas Barba). In addition experimental educational programmes have been offered - guided tours for the handicapped, as part of the Horizon programme.

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