Lemnos or Limnos (Greek: Λήμνος) is the eighth largest Greek island in the northeastern Aegean. East of Lemnos is the coast of Asia Minor and the islands of Tenedos and Imbros, which had large Greek populations before the Asia Minor catastrophe. Under the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, the Greeks of Imbros and Tenedos were exempted from the Greek-Turkey population exchange, providing for extensive autonomy, a condition which has even today never been implemented on the part of Turkey (Turkiye). To the north can be seen the peninsula of Mount Athos from the capital Myrina or Castro as it was called in the past due to the castle that had been built on the headland above the port and fortified further during the Venetian occupation.
There are various interpretations of the origin of its name. One is that it comes from the verb ΄λείβώ (leivo), which means full of water. Besides the hot springs of Therma, there is a lot of underground water on the island. Another phrase is ‘λήιον πεδίον’ (leion pedion), meaning the very fertile plain, a phrase that reflects Lemnos, which was and still is the granary of the Aegean as it produces the fine yellow flour obtained from milling 100% first quality Greek durum wheat. The name is also said to be of Phoenician origin, which means ‘white’, because of the white outline of the island as it is approached from the sea due to low fertile plains surrounded by hills that are bare of greenery.
Over the centuries other names have been associated with Lemnos. Anemoessa or windy island is one of them. It refers to the strong winds that come from the north and the ‘meltemi’ (Greek: μελτέμι) that blows during the hot summer months, especially during the month of August. Another name is Amichthaloessa (foggy), probably because of the volcanic fumes from the extinct volcano. Also, Ampeloussa because of the vineyards and the well-known Muscat grape of Alexandria. However, the indigenous grape variety that extends back to Ancient Greece is the grape variety Limnio. It was described by Aristotle as a specialty of the island producing the famous red Lemnian wine. Both varieties are produced today.
Lemnos is also the island where Hephaestus, the god of fire, set up his workshop and taught the locals how to work the metal. The island was often referred to as Sintis, from the old inhabitants, who are said to have come from the East. They were cruel and inhospitable people, but they helped Hephaestus when his father, Zeus after a quarrel with Hera (Hephaestus’ mother), threw him onto the island from Mt Olympus, crippling him. In return, he taught them the art of metalwork, setting up his workshop on the Mosychios volcano of Lemnos. In honour of the metallurgical god, the ancient Greeks founded the city of Hepheastia in the bay of Pournias, on the northeastern side of the island. It dates from the late Bronze Age and seems to have been inhabited continuously until the Byzantine years. The other city was ancient Myrina on the west coast. This is why Lemnos was also called Dipolis (two cities).
It is also the island of Philoctetes, who was abandoned on Lemnos by his comrades on their way to Troy to bring back Helen, the beautiful wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta. She was kidnapped by Paris, thus leading to the Trojan War. Philoctetes was bitten by a snake and abandoned in a cave under the temple of the Kaberoi and with the use of Lemnian earth, a healing soil which exists in Mosychios, his wound was healed. The Kabeiroi were a mystery cult closely associated with that of Hephaestus and connected to the temple in Samothrace and the temple on the island of Imbros, forming an isosceles triangle, where the two sides are equal. This mystery cult was also connected with the Elefsinian rites.
At the western entrance the village of Varos, after about 2.5km there is a small plateau, enclosed by low hills. Most likely, the location is shared with the crater of an inactive volcano, Moschylos. The absolute absence of trees, leave the eyes of the wonderer to gaze unobstructed upon the Aegean Sea.
Besides the mythology and history both past and present, Lemnos is also known for its feta cheese (kalathaki Lemnos), wines, ouzo, flour, thyme honey, regano, spoon sweets, fave (split peas), salt from the local sal lake as well as ‘flomari’, a pasta that goes well with chicken and different types of meats and can also be used for a soup.
A visit to Lemnos will be unforgettable!
