| Famous for mastic, olives and figs, | | | | and anancient necropolis. The size and duration of |
| Chios Greece is an island of breath taking scenery | | | | thesettlements have not been well established. |
| and oldvillages untouched by time. Chian amphora | | | | Chios island isthought to have been unoccupied |
| have beenfound as far away as Gaul, Egypt abs | | | | through the Bronze |
| Russia. Chios islandwas the site of a brutal Turkish | | | | Age. Later, chiefdoms developed. It is |
| retaliation after the | | | | generallyaccepted that Homer was a native of |
| Greek revolt. Over 80% of the population | | | | Chios Greece. Ioniansmost likely colonized the |
| wasdecimated. | | | | island, most likelyemigrating from the mainland. |
| Look up mastic and the island of Chios Greece is | | | | Chios island was one of theancient members of |
| mentioned byname. Mastic is an indigenous | | | | the Ionian League, the largestexporter of fine |
| evergreen shrub thatyields a hard, bitter resin. | | | | wines. Chian amphora, clay vesselsbearing a sphinx |
| The bark is wounded, sapoozes out and dries. | | | | emblem with bunches of grapes, havebeen found |
| When chewed, or similarlyprocessed, the resin | | | | as far away as Gaul, Egypt and Russia. |
| becomes bright, white and spicy. | | | | Beseiged by Rome, Chios Greece was held next |
| The resulting product is used to flavor liqueurs | | | | by the Persians. |
| andchewing gum, among a long list of other foods. | | | | Christianized while being held by the Byzantine |
| Chios island is famous for mastic and for olives | | | | Empire, Chios island was next occupied by the |
| and figs andwine. It is famed for its breath taking | | | | Saracens. Inthe early1200's, Venetians claimed |
| scenery. | | | | Chios Greece, then passedit on to the Genoese. |
| Chios island is a Greek Island in the northeast | | | | Chios island prospered under Genoeserule until the |
| Aegean Sea,about 5 miles away from the Turkish | | | | Turkish takeover in 1566. |
| coast. This isone of the few places it is possible to | | | | In 1821, Chios Island joined in the general Greek |
| take a ferryfrom Greece to Turkey. | | | | revolt, andfor some reason was singled out for |
| Chios island is fifth largest of the Greek islands. | | | | especially severepunishment by the Turks. Most |
| The city of Chios,also known as Chora, is the | | | | of the population wasslaughtered, enslaved or |
| capital and chief port. | | | | managed to escape. Over 80%of the population |
| There is over 200 km of coastline. There are | | | | was annihilated. That massacre of |
| manybeaches with clean sands or smooth pebbles. | | | | 1822 triggered massive outrage throughout much |
| On thenorth end of the island, small villages rest | | | | of |
| on highmountains, seemingly forgotten by time. | | | | Europe, and is still remembered today. |
| Residentspractice age old agriculture techniques. | | | | Greeks retaliated, some time later, by blowing up |
| Tourists arerarely seen. There are old citrus | | | | a |
| groves surroundedby high stone walls built to | | | | Turkish ship in their Chios' home port. Even later,in |
| block the winds andprotect the fruit. | | | | 1881, a massive earthquake killed many of |
| This Greek island has been inhabited since Neolithic | | | | thoseliving on the island. In 1912, Chios island |
| times. | | | | became part of |
| Archaeologists have discovered cave dwellings | | | | Greece, as it is today. |