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Velvendo is a small town in Western Greek Macedonia, has a population of four thousand people, was built on the foot of the Mount Pieria, and from its outskirts begins the man-made lake of Polyfyto. The history of Velvendo begins many centuries ago. The archeological searches in the areas of Vasilara’s Rake, Gratsane, Paleocastro, and Bravas lead us to believe that the entire area had been inhabited since prehistoric times and from time to time showed important growth. The
significant Byzantine, post-Byzantine, and contemporary monuments show the important growth of the area during more recent times. |
There are many reasons for someone to visit Velvendo. In addition to the interesting monuments, there is the green landscape that revitalizes you, the cultural activities especially during the summer, and the warm hospitality of the local people. A visitor can go on short excursions in and around town to see the many beautiful landscapes every season of the year and to get to know the hospitable local residents.
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In the beginning these divine creatures
were nymphs of the mountains and the water. The
author Hisiodus
in his book Theogony
writes, “Mnemosene slept on the mountains of
Pieria with the son of Cronus and gave birth to
these virgins who make us forget our worries and
lessen our pain. For nine nights in a row Zeus
would climb on his holy bed and sleep with
Mnemosene away from all the eternal Gods. A year
later, when the months and seasons had completed
their cycle and when many days had passed,
Mnemosene gave birth to nine daughters…who were
enchanted with music...” Their names were Cleo,
Efterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsehore, Herato,
Polymnea, Urania, and Kalleope.
Cleo
was the muse of history. Her symbols were the
bugle, the clepsydro (hourglass), and especially a
hand-written scroll unfolding.
Efterpe
first belonged to the escorting group of Dionysus.
Her symbol was a double flute and she would
oversee the playing of this instrument.
Thalia
was the muse of bucolic poetry and comedy. Her
main symbols were the mask that she held in her
left hand and a cane on the right, while on her
head she wore a crown of ivy or young vine leaves.
Melpomene
was the muse of tragedy. Her main symbols were the
tragic mask and the Herculian club. Sometimes she
is pictured with a lion’s skin and very often
she wears a crown of young wine leaves like
Dionysus.
Terpsehore
was the muse of lyrical poetry and her symbol was
the lyre.
Herato
was the muse of wedding songs and love poetry and
her symbol was the lyre.
Polymnea
first was the muse that inspired the hymns and
songs devoted to the Gods and the Heroes.
Plutarhos wrote that she was the Goddess of
letters and memory. She didn’t have a special
symbol, however she is usually pictured with a
skeptic face and her finger on her lips.
Urania
was the muse of Astronomy. Her symbol was the
universe and a passer-by or a cane with which she
showed the position of the stars in the universe.
Kalleope was the first of all muses, the most respected guardian of epic poetry, and the muse of eloquence. Her symbols were the pen and the slate.
