Australian director Paul Cox (1940–2016), originally from the Netherlands, had chosen Astypalea as the ideal location for his new film, which would carry the fitting title “Island.” More than anything, he wanted to shoot every scene in an authentic island setting, completely natural and far removed from everything he had typically portrayed in his previous productions. Astypalea truly served as the perfect backdrop for a film whose central messages aimed to highlight the value of human relationships, the need for personal escapes, and above all, the incomparable strength of women in the face of every kind of adversity.

Sunset behind the mountains of Astypalaia – A “frame” from the film’s opening scene.

In the film’s script that made the island famous 33 years ago, the leading roles were played by three women—an Australian (Eva Sitta), one from Sri Lanka (Anoja Weerasinghe), and of course, the Greek actress Irene Papas. Each of them, in her own way, finds herself “exiled” to this place, trying to escape her personal “tragedies.”Their lives become deeply interconnected through their shared desires and a mutual fear of the outside world. As one scene follows the next, it becomes clear that the island itself, with the warmth and generosity of its inhabitants, is what leads all three women to revelations about themselves and their place in the world.

For those who watched the film when it was available at the old video rental stores, the delicate balance between passion and fear, loneliness and inevitable attraction, stands out as a defining element of the director’s intent.

As Paul Cox himself commented: “Although set in the ancient world of a small island somewhere between Greece and Turkey, Island deals with contemporary issues. The destruction of individuality in Western society, for instance, or the confusion, madness, and brutality of the political situation in Sri Lanka. The island is about arrival and departure, home and nostalgia, sunrise and sunset, and of course, love.”

In the video below, you can watch a characteristic excerpt from the film, with scenes from inside the Castle of Chora and a traditional house in the settlement, where a local family shares their moving story with the actress.

The truth is that although the film began with the most optimistic intentions from all involved for a major production, it ultimately did not achieve the commercial success that the renowned director had hoped for. It received several awards from critics for its artistic quality, but as far as the general public was concerned, it did not receive the attention it may have deserved. In any case, the film presented Astypalaia to the world, the locals had the chance to meet up close one of the greatest actresses Greece has ever produced, and the movie is now remembered as a “classic” among the films shot on the Greek islands in past decades.

The three leading actresses of the film – Eva Sitta, Anoja, and the world-renowned Greek actress Irene Papas.

The most important awards won by the film “Island” at international film festivals.

In the video below, you can see scenes from the film where the legendary Nireas approaches the old port of the island at Pera Gialos:

The people of Astypalaia, in a scene from the film, bid farewell to the legendary ship Nireas from the old port.

Text – Edited by: Antonis Nikolakis 

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Yet, there were travelers who had “discovered” it long before tourism blossomed. Adventurers from various European countries, who—in a time very different from what younger generations know today—arrived at the Old Port of Astypalea, where every moment spent on the island became a vivid experience they would remember for years to come.

Among the hundreds of explorers who roamed the Dodecanese with a passion for traditional imagery during the second half of the last century, only a few recorded their journeys with the cameras of their time. The limited archival footage that exists of daily life in those decades is incredibly valuable and evokes strong emotions.

In the summer of 1986, British amateur filmmaker Andrew Graham Bonar was one such traveler. As he first laid eyes on the Castle of Astypalea from the deck of the ship “Nireus”, he was struck by its beauty. During his brief stay on the island, he experienced the warm island hospitality of the locals and, with his camera always in hand, captured rare footage from various parts of the traditional settlement.

As with most tourists even today, the first destination of the British traveler—after resting for a few hours—was the imposing Venetian Castle of Chora, which towers above the dozens of whitewashed houses with their characteristic architecture. Starting from the windmills next to the island’s main square, and following an interesting walk through the picturesque cobbled alleys of the settlement, he passed through the famous gate of the Castle of the Querini family and learned about the significant history of Astypalaia through the ages.

The following day, with the same eagerness to explore and connect with the local Astypalians of all ages, he walked through Pera Gialos. There, he toured the island’s primary school, which was full of life, with dozens of students playing in the schoolyard just as they do today. He also took the opportunity to chat with fishermen at the small harbor, learning about their daily island life. 

The journey to Astypalaia in 1986 came to an end for the Briton at the old port of Pera Gialos, where he enjoyed for one last time a panoramic view of the most beautiful Chora in the Aegean, just before continuing on to neighboring Amorgos. The brief footage he captured from the stern of the ship managed to “transport” many others to their own romantic moments of departure — moments filled with emotion and anticipation until they could return once more to Astypalaia… 

Text: Antonis Nikolakakis 

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Photo: Ephorate of Antiquities of the Dodecanese. 

The number of infants found buried in the children’s cemetery of Astypalaia is indeed astonishing. More than 3,000 infants were discovered buried using the method of enchytrismós—a practice in which the deceased were placed inside ceramic vessels that were then buried either in roughly built enclosures or shallow pits carved into the natural rock.

The reason behind this unusually large number remains unknown to this day. However, there are several possible explanations, which we will explore below:

1. Place of Worship – The Goddess Eileithyia

A daughter of Zeus and Hera, Eileithyia was believed to be the protector of women during childbirth, as indicated by inscriptions found in the vicinity of the cemetery. For this reason, the mass burial site is thought to have functioned as an act of devotion to the goddess, in hopes that future children might survive. Furthermore, inscriptions reveal that multiple female deities were venerated in the Castle area of Astypalaia—goddesses such as Demeter, Persephone, Aphrodite, Hera, and even the Syrian goddess Atargatis.

Photo: Ephorate of Antiquities of the Dodecanese. 

2. The Devaluation of Infants
It is well known that in the past, infants and newborns had lower survival rates than they do today—especially in ancient times. As a result, a societal mindset developed in which these tiny beings were not considered full members of the community until they reached a certain age. Thus, their burial was not given much importance, nor were they honored with offerings or rituals as older members of society were, since the law actually prohibited it.

3. Medical Center
Inscriptions discovered near the cemetery mention the name of Idriarhos, a physician from Rhodes. This detail may suggest the possible existence of a specialized medical center near the island of Hippocrates. It is speculated that women may have come here to give birth or even to terminate pregnancies. Moreover, inscriptions referring to Asclepius, the god of medicine, have also been found.

4. Unwanted Infants
Finally, there is speculation that this area may have served as a place for abandoning unwanted babies.

Read more here 

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