Amidst an atmosphere of archaeological reverence and cultural mystique, the curtain rose on August 25th, 2025, Monday evening for the 4th Chios Festival, organized by the Region of the North Aegean at the uniquely beautiful archaeological site of Emporios.
The public flocked with enthusiasm to attend a high-level evening, coordinated by journalist Giannis Tzoumas.
Official Greetings and Vision
In his opening address, the Regional Governor, Konstantinos Moutzouris, expressed his admiration for the archaeological site chosen to launch this year’s festivities. He spoke of the Regional Authority’s “extroverted” strategy, which aims to establish Chios as an international cultural hub. He noted that this is not merely about hosting events on the island, but about creating events inspired by Chios itself. (Video)
Insights into Antiquity
The Ephor of Antiquities of Chios, Despina Tsardaka, captivated the audience by recounting the “tales” of antiquity. She shared the myth of Chios’s first settler, Oinopion—son of Dionysus and Ariadne—who taught the Chians the art of viticulture. She also detailed: Minoan-era archaeological finds at Emporios.
The story of the last king of Chios, Hypoklos, who was assassinated by aristocratic circles. (Video)
Following her, Vassilis Lamprinoudakis, Professor Emeritus of Classical Archaeology at the University of Athens (and an alumnus of the Chios Boys’ Gymnasium), presented a unique “lesson” on Chian civilization. Using historical data, images, and maps, he guided the audience through a lecture titled: “History and Culture of Chios from Prehistoric Times to the End of Antiquity.”. (Video)
International Collaboration
The academic portion of the evening concluded with a speech by Rebecca Sweetman, Professor of Ancient History and Archaeology at the University of St Andrews. Her presentation, titled “The British School at Athens on Chios: 120 years of archaeological research,” utilized rich photographic material to highlight the extensive archaeological work conducted by the British School on the island over the last century. (Video)
A Musical Finale
This significant evening concluded perfectly with a performance by the Chios Lyrica choir, conducted by Angela Tsimpirlou, with music professor Michalis Pilavas on the piano. The audience was treated to a unique musical experience, featuring songs primarily by Manos Hatzidakis and Mikis Theodorakis. In the atmospheric setting where past, present, and future harmoniously coexisted, the performance offered the enthralled crowd a sense of “spiritual elevation and catharsis.”.
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