From the existing numerous
ruins in Chalki it can be concluded that in ancient times the population
was considerable.
Until the Second World War the population, all together, was 2000, whereas
today there are three hundred residents.
If on judges by the farmland,
which is surrounded by field stone, one can conclude that a large
percentage of the land was cultivated in the past times as well as present
times.
According to Theophrasto Chalki has more plough able land than other rocky
islands.
The land, which is fertile, lends itself principally to winter farming. In
old times the farm products were: cereals, beans, grapes, wine, oil,
olives and vegetables. There was abundant livestock.
Today one calculates there are
six thousand goats.
Likewise honey and wax are produced.
The characteristic dwellings of the shepherds are well known "Kifes".
They are elliptical in layout, are built of field stones and the shepherds
use them the houses in summer as well as places to produce cheese and
other dairy products.
The principal occupation,
however, of the Chalkians has always been fishing and sponge diving, that
is, work connected with the sea.
It is certain that the income from agriculture would not be sufficient
without the products of the fishing industry.
Chalki developed a rich folk
culture. Notable are the costumes, weaning, embroidery, and handwork such
as carving from wood, folk music and dancing, as well as poetry, that is,
the expression of folk culture.
The Chalkians are progressive,
industrious, and remarkable in their undertaking where ever they are,
whatever they are. Chalkians are close knit, devoted to their island, and
share a common love for Saint John of Prodromou, which they celebrate with
a large feast on the Twenty-ninth of August.
Tourism has developed in the
last years since Chalki was proclaimed an island of international peace
and friendship. New housing, supported by the government, as well as
private initiative has made Chalki popular with tourist who admires and
enjoys its unusual natural beauty.
In the early Christian era
(fourth to sixth century after Christ) large settlements flourished in
Chalki, proven by the existence of at least four early Christian
Basilicas:
Chalki is mountainous and is
made up of smaller and larger ones, of which the most important are:
Prophitis Ilias (518 meters), Kapouli (512 M), Kapnikaris (500M), Saint
John (451M), Amali (452M), Saint John (409M).
|
1) |
Emporio,
a basilica with mosaic floors |
|
2) |
Viglimia,
a three aisled basilica |
|
3) |
Limenaria,
a three aisled basilica with dependencies and elaborate marble
architectural decoration. |
|
4) |
Koka, a
three aisled basilica with dependencies from different periods |
Likewise in
Alimnia the existence of two early Christian basilicas has been verified:
|
1) |
Emporio,
a three aisled basilica near the sea |
|
2) |
Saint
George, a basilica on the ruins of which the church of Saint George was
built. |
In the Byzantine era life existed, as appears in the presence of the ruins
from medieval colonies and smaller layers, some of which are not decorated
with icons.
The following churches have conserved murals:
|
A) |
The area
of Saint John on the mountain: |
|
B) |
The area
of Antramassou: Ayios Andreas |
|
C) |
Area of
Finiki: Ayios Zacharias |
|
D) |
Area of
Chorio: |
Churches without murals are
the following:
|
1) |
Vouno -
Saint John which has a nearby monastery |
|
2) |
Antramassos
- Ayios Nektarios (a double apse) |
|
3) |
Chorio-
with an anonymous church next to Panayia Porteni |
|
4) |
Emporios
- Saint Nicholas. |
In the
middle ages there appeared settlements in the following places:
|
1) |
Vouno,
Saint John |
|
2) |
Antranassos |
|
3) |
Chorio |
|
4) |
Phoniki. |
The settlements in Emporio flourished in Hellenistic times and in the
early Christian period, however it appears that in the seventh century AD
because of the invasion of pirates they were abandoned. The site was only rebuilt at the end of the nineteenth century, the result
of which was a large change of population from Chorio to Emporio.
