Destruction of Psara

The destruction of Psara was the Turkish annihilation of every civilian on the Greek island of Psara during the Greek Revolution.

On May 17, 1824, one of the worst atrocities, which is today etched in the Greek national psyche, was committed by Turkish, Egyptian and Muslim Albanian forces — the destruction of Psara. The entire male civilian population over the age of eight in Psara was wiped out, and the women and small children were sold into slavery. Every building was razed to the ground. From the 20000 Greeks of Psara, 17000 were massacred and only 3000 managed to flee[1]. According to Greek tradition, there was a French observer with the Ottoman fleet who asked the Turkish commander if he would find and spare a Greek friend of his. The Turkish commander responded by bringing the Frenchman the decapitated head of the Greek. In the castle of this city, 150 Greeks, seeing the tortures that their compatriots faced when captured by the Turks, set alight their powder stores, killing themselves along with many Turks.[2] The epigram by Dionysios Solomos commemorates this brave act of defiance:

Στων Ψαρών την ολόμαυρη ράχη,
Περπατώντας η δόξα μονάχη,
Μελετά τα λαμπρά παλλικάρια,
Και στην κόμη στεφάνι φορεί,
Γινωμένο απο λίγα χορτάρια,
Που είχαν μείνει στην έρημη γη.

Οn the all- black Psaran ridge
Glory, walking alone,
Contemplates the splendid brave lads,
And on her hair she wears a crown
Made of the few remaining green shoots,
That remained on the deserted earth.



References

  1. ^ Statistics of Wars, Oppressions and Atrocities of the Nineteenth Century.
  2. ^ Paparigopoulos Constantine History of the Hellenic Nation.

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