Gytheion bewitching Photo

Photographer’s Note

Gytheio Greek: Γύθειο, The reputed founders of ancient Gythium also Gytheum were Heracles and Apollo, who frequently appear on its coins or in other legends Castor and Pollux: the former of these names may point to the influence of Phoenician traders from Tyre, who, we know, visited the Laconian shores at a very early period. It is thought that Gytheio may have been the center of their purple dye trade because the Laconian Gulf had a plentiful source of murex. In classical times it was a community of Perioeci, politically dependent on Sparta, though doubtless with a municipal life of its own.

In 455 BC, during the First Peloponnesian War, it was burned by the Athenian admiral Tolmides who besieged the city with 50 ships and 4,000 hoplites. It was rebuilt and was most probably, the building ground for the Spartan fleet in the Peloponnesian War. In 407 BC during the Peloponnesian War, Alcibiades landed there and saw the thirty triremes the Spartans were building there. In 370 BC, the Thebans under the command of Epaminondas besieged the city successfully for three days after ravaging Laconia. However it was recaptured by the Spartans three days later.
In 219 BC, Philip V of Macedon tried to capture the city but without success. Under Nabis, Gythium became a major naval arsenal and port. During the Roman-Spartan War, Gythium was captured after a lengthy siege. After the war finished, Gythium was made part of the Union of Free Laconians under Achean protection. Nabis recaptured Gythium three years and the Spartan fleet defeated the Achean fleet outside of Gythium. Gythium was liberated by a Roman fleet under the command of Atilius.

Subsequently Gythium formed the most important of the Union of Free Laconians, a group of twenty-four, later eighteen, communities leagued together to maintain their autonomy against Sparta and declared free by Caesar Augustus. The highest officer of the confederacy was the general, who was assisted by a treasurer (rauias), while the chief magistrates of the several communities bore the title of ephors.

In Roman times Gythium remained a major port and it prospered as a member of the Union.Roman Gythium As purple dye was popular in Rome, Gythium exported that as well as porphyry and rose antique marble. Some time in the 4th century AD, Gythium was destroyed. What happened to Gythium is not recorded but it is thought to have been either sacked by Alaric and Visigoths, pillaged by the Slavs or destroyed by the massive earthquake that struck the area in 375 AD.

After the earthquake Gythium was abandoned. It remained a small village throughout the Byzantine and Ottoman times. Its importance grew when Antonbey Grogorakis built his tower at Cranae and more people came and settled at Gytheio. But during the Greek War of Independence, refugees flooded into Mani and made Gytheio a major town....wikipedia..
* see my here WS another shot
** here MY THEMES Gytheion
*** here more INFO

syd1946, ChrisJ, danyy, macondo, vasilpro, carper, snunney, subhendu_bagchi, Budapestman, bobocortis, shevchenko, antua, AiresSantos, Emile, Didi, Kielia, pierrefonds has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

claudeD (11332) 2009-10-10 11:20

Hello Gergios,

very interesting shot with very good colors , excellent sharpness and great reflections in the water.Very well done.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

Jean-Claude

Silvio1953 (41803) 2009-10-10 11:48

Ciao Georgios, lovely view of beautiful harbour, fantastic reflections, splendid light and colors, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

PixelTerror (86138) 2009-10-10 12:56

Hi Georgios
A nice low light image with a good succession of elements, the metallic tones on the water are very nice
Have a nice day JY

syd1946 (17913) 2009-10-10 13:15

Γεια σου Γεώργιε,
Ομορφη φωτογραφια κατω απο ιδιαιτερες φωτιστικες συνθηκες που δραματοποιουν περισσοτερο το ολο σκηνικο!
πολλους χαιρετισμους,
Θωμάς

mesutilgim (36839) 2009-10-10 14:20

Hi dear Georgios,
Great scene,great capture ! Very nice compo with perfect light.
The lower part of the capture with different shades of blue and the reflections can be also a unique capture.
TFS and have a nice weekend
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

ChrisJ (70271) 2009-10-10 19:52

Hi Georgios

Wonderful reflections of the cloudy, blue grey sky, in the fg tranquil water, with excellent colour & sharpness. Good framing in this pleasant harbourside scene. Tfs!

danyy (68802) 2009-10-10 23:26

Bonjour Georgios,
des eaux très huileuses reflètent parfaitement les lumières mais moins les sujets car sa surface frétille. Une ambiance très calme empreinte de couleurs plus froides que chaudes et beaucoup de profondeur.
My best regards.
Daniel.

macondo (13117) 2009-10-10 23:49

Hello Georgios.
A very strong photo, with the boats placed in a dynamic position and a good diagonal sense of depth. I love the very moody sky over those distant mountains, and the reflection of the sky in the breeze-ruffled water. Also your panoramic crop is very effective. This photo really displays the town well, and your note provides the history. Well done.
Regards,
Andrew

vasilpro (8760) 2009-10-11 0:16

Καλημέρα Γεώργιε,
Όμορφη και γαλήνια η σκηνή από το πανέμορφο Γύθειο, μια όμορφη φωτογραφία από καλή γωνία λήψης, με πολύ καλούς χρωματισμούς και αντανακλάσεις.
Να περάσεις μια ευχάριστη Κυριακή, Βασίλης.

carper (64908) 2009-10-11 0:27

marvelous Georgios
a fine composition good using the boats for the perspective, fine balance a pleasure to look at have a good sunday.
regard jaap

snunney (34914) 2009-10-11 1:23

Hello Georgios,
A fine atmospheric composition of this port town. I like the point of view and the diagonal placement of the line of fishing boats, which matches that formed by the line of boats in the background. Very pleasing light and lovely soft colours. Excellent sharpness throughout. Great notes as well.

dta (5218) 2009-10-11 1:49

Hello Giorgio ,
A well composed picture , and a great atmosphere with this dark blue tonalities .
Regards

subhendu_bagchi (3113) 2009-10-11 2:02

Hi Georgios,
grea colourful ambiance here. You have captured it with nice light. The reflection of boats and the background hills are really great with soft light. Very well done.
Have a nice sunday.
Subhendu

bostankorkulugu (33598) 2009-10-11 3:28

a beautiful postcard from gytheion... loved the dim light and the mood... ta leme georgio...

npecanhuk (13963) 2009-10-11 3:37

Hello Georgios!
Very beautiful photograph!
Level of sharpness, exposure, dof and colors are all excellent, but the very well chosen pov and the truly effective and attractive composition are the real highlights in this fabulous picture!
I specially enjoyed the reflections (that boat in the right fg is quite special), the row of buildings by the sea, the top of the high mountains in the distance and the dark clouds in the sky!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

Cricri (43100) 2009-10-11 4:24

Hi Georgios
Bien cadrer et présenter, bel effet luissant de l'eau et les reflets sous une douce lumière, belle image
Good sunday
cricri

mauro61 (15594) 2009-10-11 4:25

hello Georgios,
beautiful rendered image detail from the blue tonality of the sea and from the light. Optimal the POv.
good Sunday
maurizio

Budapestman (41974) 2009-10-11 8:16

Hi Georgios,
beautiful blue impression with picturesque mood, the composition is very nice, I like the reflection and the POV, amazing view, indeed. Have a nice Sunday!
George

francio64 (11072) 2009-10-11 11:16

Ciao Georgios,
altra bella immagine della tua Grecia ben ricca nella composizione.
Il cielo molto nuvoloso ha dato una luce strana ma bella.
Una foto che mi piace contemplare, perchè amo vivere questi momenti!

TFS!
Have nice evening!

Francesco

bobocortis (14140) 2009-10-11 11:28

Hello Georgios.
Some excellent reflections.
The arrangement of elements in space is excellent. The light is very effective.
Best regards.
Bobo.

shevchenko (9922) 2009-10-11 20:06

Hi Georgios,
Impressive view while the environment is still dim and silent, nice reflection on the clean water surface, good frame to the beautiful old town in good perpsctive effect, full in peaceful feel, thanks for sharing.
Ally

delpeoples (6082) 2009-10-12 3:20

Geia sou Georgios, bewitching is the correct word here. The image is absolutely enchanting, with glass-like reflections and amazing depth of field. And as a student of ancient Greek history, your Note was interesting and highly informative. TFS, Lisa.

jemaflor (39385) 2009-10-12 12:12

Hi Georgios,
Perfect composition with this boat in the fg, nice blue atmosphere with also a great mirror for lovely reflections, well composed with the town in the bg.

antua (470) 2009-10-12 14:19

Καλησπέρα Γεώργιε,

πολύ όμορφη φωτογραφία με εξαιρετική οξύτητα, πολύ καλό φωτισμό και υπέροχες αντανακλάσεις στο νερό. Τα σύννεφα στον ουρανό δημιουργούν μια πολύ επιβλητική ατμόσφαιρα συνθέτοντας έτσι ένα πανέμορφο σκηνικό. Συγχαρητήρια!

Καλή εβδομάδα,
Αντώνης

AiresSantos (42156) 2009-10-13 23:21

Hi Georgios
Very nice picture with wonderful reflections. I like a lot this POV and how you framed it
Excellent sharpness and light management
Have a nice day
Aires

Emile (19995) 2009-10-14 20:08

Hola Georgios.
Great reflection on this beautiful harbor, very good light management on a cloudy day, Your WS photo is also a superb picture, both are great, hard to decide which is best.
Best regards.

coco (27864) 2009-10-17 11:09

Kalispera Georgios.

Good work with the composition and exposure and also this is a nice landscape plenty of reflections and nice views.

Regards.

Didi (36136) 2009-10-17 11:23

Yassou Giorgios
Nice picture with a grat deep foreground. Good quality frame on the harbour.
I suggest you a WS but it will be post sunday 18.
Best regards

[workshop] [compare]

Kielia (8505) 2009-10-17 11:38

Hi Georgios,
you are also bewitching me with this magical impression of a great historical place. First of all I enjoyed reading your interesting note and then I discovered all the fascinating details of this outstanding composition. Very beautiful colors and light and an excellent perspective. The reflections are also pleasant. Congratulation!
Warm regards
Harriet

stelli (2945) 2009-10-17 13:13

Absolutely beautiful view of a lovely port! Great shades of blue and grey and very good sharpness! Beautiful framing! Thank you for sharing! ΦΙΛΙΚΑ Στέλλα

pierrefonds (26309) 2009-10-24 5:31

Hi Georgios,

The reflections on the water are assets to the composition. The angle of view takes my eyes toward the mountains which is giving depth to the photo. It is also showwing the details and colors of the building which are located along the edge of the harbour. The late afternoon light is giving a good contrast to the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Juntas (3265) 2009-10-26 8:59

Hi Georgios. Very nice composition. The clouds look great in the sky and in the water. Very nice reflections and good colors. Very nice work. Best regards. Paulo