The Family History Forgot.
History is often taught as a struggle between heroes and villains. The problem is that real history is rarely that simple and very few people are prepared to explore the complexity of history.
In Crete, the Venetians generally enjoy a rather romantic reputation. Their elegant buildings still dominate old towns like Rethymno, their fortresses and palaces are shown in millions of photographs and are highlighted in tourist brochures. Their period of rule is often associated
How the Hoopoe and Others Came into Being.
Pandion, 5th king of Athens and grandson of the divine blacksmith Hephaestus knew he was in trouble. The Barbarian army of Labdacus, King of Thebes stood outside the gates of the city and was getting ready for an all-out assault on Athens because of their dispute over the borders.
Although he knew that his army was well able for the Thebans, he also knew that there would be a lot of bloodshed, and that
Architecture of Anxiety: Koules and the Limits of Empire in Crete
The structures known in Crete as “Koules” are among the most distinctive yet often misunderstood elements of the island’s historical landscape. Scattered across plains, hills, and coastal zones, these small fortifications form a network that speaks to centuries of insecurity, foreign rule, and local resistance. Though the word “Koules” is commonly used today to describe them, their history spans different periods, builders, and purposes, and their meaning evolved alongside Crete’s turbulent past. The term “Koules”
The Byzantine Sanctuary; A Story Written in Stone and Paint.
Most people step into a church and see the sanctuary as a piece of architecture: a curved end wall, an altar, some paintings, a screen. Very few ever ask why it is shaped the way it is, why those particular images are there, or why the space feels so different from the rest of the building. Yet nothing in a Byzantine sanctuary is accidental. Every line, surface, and figure belongs to a long story about
Nasturtium: the Peppery Little Healer
Nasturtium, known botanically as Tropaeolum majus, is rarely mentioned in any of the herbal books commonly available. Even the Godmother of modern herbalism, Mrs. M. Grieves makes no mention of it in her now classic work “A Modern Herbal”.
It shares its common name with another plant many people know as watercress, or Nasturtium officinale. Although the two belong to completely different plant families and look nothing alike, early herbalists grouped them under the
From Plague to Promise, the Story of Prasses
Once, long before the villages we know today, the high hill known as Kastri bore a settlement perched precariously against the sky. Its stones gleamed in the sun, arranged not with the precision of palaces, but with the care of people who built for shelter and survival, for their lives were not governed by kings or courts, but by the whims of fate and the shifting tides of the world around them. This was a
When Tears Became Flowers: The Story of Nasturtium
In the early days, when the gods still walked among orchards and springs, there lived a young healer named Ianthe. She wandered from village to village carrying nothing but a clay jar of rainwater and a satchel of simple herbs. Though she had no divine lineage, people spoke of her as if she were one of Apollo’s own attendants, for wherever she passed, fevers eased and restless hearts grew calm. Ianthe asked for nothing in
When Andalusī Pirates Ruled the Aegean: The Rise and Fall of the Emirate of Crete
The history of the Emirate of Crete is one of the most fascinating chapters in the medieval Mediterranean. It is a story of exile, migration, maritime daring, imperial determination and the encounter between two worlds: the Muslim societies that expanded across the western and central Mediterranean, and the Byzantine Empire striving to preserve its dominion over the Aegean. Crete, known in Arabic sources as Iqrīṭish, became the unlikely focal point of this encounter during the
How Spiders Came into Being; an Ancient Myth Retold
Many, many moons ago, long before time was invented, there lived a man named Idmon of Colophon. He was a humble shepherd who walked the land of Lykia (Λυκία) and was known for his ability to dye wool in a beautiful, deep purple colour.
Idmon had a son and a daughter, both of whom walked the land with him and became masters in their own right in dying and processing wool. Closter, his son,
The Story of Sin: Sin, Community and Social Order
Beneath the gilded halos and serene saints of Cretan frescoes lies a darker story — one of fear, obedience, and control. Byzantine churches across the island are filled with vivid scenes of sin and punishment: writhing bodies, demons with gaping jaws, and souls weighed in divine scales. These were not merely paintings for prayer, but lessons in power — reminders that salvation was conditional, and that the Church’s eye never looked away.
The Magical Crete Magicians
I arrived in Crete many years ago, for a 2-week holiday. It turned out to be the longest two weeks of my life.
The magic of Crete caught me immediately in its spell, and I just decided to stay. Because I speak 4 languages fluently and can get by in a few more, I didn’t have too many problems finding a job in the tourism sector. During this time I realised that there was a lot wrong with the tourism industry, but didn’t really think about it too much, I was too busy working.
When Covid 19 turned the whole world on its head, my job was seriously affected by this. This gave me the chance to really look at my misgivings about the industry, and the time to develop my own ideas about what tourism is and how it should be approached.
This is when the idea of Magical Crete started taking shape…
Photo by cottonbro studio
I met this crazy Irish guy on one of the rather boring trips on the ferry to Gramvousa and Balos when I was working as a tour guide.
When I finally got used to his accent and understood what he was actually saying, things got a lot easier and we got on very well.
The man’s knowledge is just incredible, and what was even more incredible was that he was willing to share it with me.
When I understood what he was thinking about and wanted to do, I knew this was something I wouldn’t mind getting involved with.
And then, he asked if I would be interested in developing his ideas and being part of Magical Crete…
During our time developing our ideas Enda got a little too enthusiastic now and again and did some damage to himself, sometimes quite serious damage.
While trying to stop him from doing further damage and making him see the sense in caution and care, he gave me the status of his “Guardian Angel” …
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