The "Agogiatis" and his friend, a photo from Arta, Epirus

Photographer's Note

This is an "old" photo that I remembered when I created my "Old" Greeks theme. Photo taken at the beautiful village of Melissourgoi, high up in the mountainous region of Tzoumerka. The village is at the "end of the road". No way to go further.

Once upon a time, the villages of the mountain range of Tzoumerka were very wealthy. They sold their products all around the Balkan peninsula, the Ottoman Empire, the cities of the Black Sea, they even had comercial relationshis with many cities of the western Europe. They used to carry their products with caravans of horses and donkeys and if it was necessary they loaded them to ships which also belonged to them. That's why, although a mountainous region, you'll see there many churches of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of the mariners. The owners of the donkeys and horses, the carriers, were called "Kyratzis" (plural "Kyratzides") or "Agogiatis" (plural "Agogiates").

One of the last men doing that job is the gentleman on the left of the photo. When I asked his permision to take a photo of him, he smiled shylly and shouted a name. Then the gentleman on the right appeared. The chain of the ticker, the jerkin and the pipe, gave him a look of an "educated" person, like a teacher of the village, or something like that. So here they are posing proudly in front of their village.

If you want to read more about Melissourgoi village, here is the note of one of my old posts, Once every two weeks :

"Melissourgoi is a tradicional village located in a beautiful valley very high in the mountain range of Tzoumerka. What is strange about this village is that it is isolated, given that it belongs to the Prefecture of Arta, but the only way you can reach there is through the Prefecture of Ioannina. This had some almost "funny" consequences.Until some years ago during winter the road that goes to Melissourgoi often closed because of the heavy snowfall. The vehicles from Ioannina that were used to clean the roads, usually were stopping just outside Pramada, the last village of Ioannina Prefecture, and Melissourgoi remainded for several days snow-bound. Then the inhabitants of Melissourgoi (the village with the best quality water resources in whole Greece, as the specialists say) decided as "retaliation" not to let "their" water reach to Pramada. As a result the two villages were led into some kind of conflict and it took the interference of the special forces of the Police, for things to calm down. Thank god it all belongs to the past.

During the summer season the inhabitants of Melissourgoi reach up to around 800, but during winter only 28 people stay in the village. Their only contact with the "outside" world is a priest from another village that comes every second Sunday (that's where the title comes from). That's when the bell tolls."

bobocortis, jimkok77, dip, delic, syd1946, nikosrio, stelli, JCG, Truja, omixlistilimni, ChrisJ, molla, dareco, pboehringer, Wanda1, coco ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

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dim (3968) 2008-05-31 5:32 [Comment]

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bobocortis (16090) 2008-05-31 5:35

Hi Hercules.
A nice portrait of these two old men in their village and, around, in their environment.
I like the perspective and the snowy mountains.
Well done.
Best regards.
Bobo.

Leonidas2008 (0) 2008-05-31 6:05

Jeia sou Irakli mou!
Os sinithos teties fotografies den me enthousiazoune kai toso, giati oi "aploi" fotografoi den briskoune to tropo na aksiopiisoune tin stigmi. Esy omos kataferes na ksypnisis ton enthousiasmo mou kai na katso na tin parakoloutho akomi. Bravo file mou, poly kali douleia.
Xazobabas

Gerrit (59968) 2008-05-31 8:05

Hi Hercules,
great couple in a splendid situation. The donkey plays a fine part as well.
Regards, Gerrit

ioannis58 (94) 2008-05-31 9:23

Γεια σου,Ηρακλη
Ωραια βουκολικη στιγμη.
Παρα πολυ (καλες) οι εκφρασεις των προσωπων των δυο κυριων.
πολυ καλη και η σημειωση σου.
Ιωαννης

masquerade (0) 2008-05-31 10:05

Geia sou Hraklh!
Poly xarakthristikes fatses oi en logw kyrioulhdes!Evge gia thn anakalypsh that goes well with a good note as well.
Take care,m

nasokoun (0) 2008-05-31 10:34

ìðñÜâï óôá ìïíôÝëá
ìðñÜâï êáé óôïí öùôïãñÜöï
÷áéñåôþ
ÍÜóïò

jimkok77 (1008) 2008-05-31 10:54

Καλησπέρα Ηρακλή

Δεν είναι τρομερό ποσες φοβερές ΄΄μορφές΄΄ υπάρχουν στην Ελλάδα. Αυτά τα δύο παλικάρια είναι σαν να βγήκαν από βουβές κομικές ταινίες του 30'. Καταπληκτική φωτοραφία, σου γεμίζει την καρδιά ευχάριστα αισθήματα.
TFS.

Χαιρετώ

dip (23892) 2008-05-31 12:08

Geia sou Irakli,
klassikes fusiognomies tis omorfis Ellinikis eparxias,katapliktiki i stigmi pou sunelaves kai fusika poli kali i poiotita,
"o agogiatis kai o proestos" tha elega :-)
Xaireto,
Dimitris.

delic (6735) 2008-05-31 14:03

Posed maybe, but those faces are really something. So much to tell, I bet. Fine capture, Hercules. Could perhaps do something about the mule, maybe make its head more visible in the middle? Very nice. Regards,
Hakan

syd1946 (1167) 2008-05-31 14:22

Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Καταπληκτικες οι ποζες και οι εκφρασεις των περηφανων γηρατειων με τον γαιδαρακο να μη χανει ευκαιρια να παρει μερος στην καταγραφη της στιγμης.Μια ακομη εξαιρετικη δουλεια φιλε μου!

καλο Σαββατοβραδο!
Θωμάς

Graal (103040) 2008-06-01 0:05

Hi Hercules,
an interesting theme and serie. Fine informations in note. I like this portraits of two old mans. Good work.
Gr., Aleksander

nikosrio (1158) 2008-06-01 0:15

Γειά σου Ηρακλή,
Πολύ όμορφη εικόνα,ωραίο φώς,χρώμα και λεπτομέρεια.Η εκφραση των εικονιζομένων είναι εντυπωσιακή.
Χαιρετώ,
Νίκος.

stelli (3009) 2008-06-01 3:23

WOW! You really discovered amazing and very expressive faces in your series! The foreground and background details are excellent! Thank you for sharing! ΦΙΛΙΚΑ Στέλλα

wolf38 (30) 2008-06-01 3:53

Hello Herkules. I am pleased about this photo, since I was recent in Greece. The two men are impressing. There is typical originals of the country. You included the landscape and the village as background outstanding into the composition. Very beautifully and worth seeing. Best regards, Wolfgang.

sacavem (18620) 2008-06-01 5:00

Olá Hercules,

Taste very to see these photos that more show the peoples in the places far from each country.These figures are very likableness and had made pose for your machine.
Well done.
Best wishes,
Filipe

JCG (35153) 2008-06-01 5:10

Hi Hercules,

They are well sympathetic nerves these two accomplices, I like much their good-naturedness !!! A pretty portrait which uses a background of quality, well done Hercules, cheer and thank you for the note.

With all my friendships and good Sunday,

Jean-Charles

COSTANTINO (104245) 2008-06-01 6:16

omorfi paradosiaki foto file mou Hrakli,
me pola folklor stoixeia apo omorfa meri ths Ellados,pou mas metafereis me tis yperoxes foto sou,katapliktiki douleia omorfo kai to shmeiwma sou,
BUON WEEKEND
cOSTANTINO

Truja (4953) 2008-06-01 9:33

Hola campeón!

Las imagenes de tu serie "old greeks" tienen mucho encanto y un valor especial para TE ya que nos muestras no solo como es Grecia si no tambien sus gentes y sus tradiciones. creo que estás haciendo un excelente reportaje fotográfico merecedor de algo más que dos puntitos y una sonrisa verde.
¿no te parece que los rostros de estos dos hombres tienen cierto aire cómico?

Enhorabuena Hércules. Jordi

barrufeto_77 (28888) 2008-06-01 9:52

hola fiera.

Sencilla, pero bonita. Muy bonita. Las caras de los 2 señores son brutalmente bonitas!

Un saludo, Oscar

omixlistilimni (3299) 2008-06-01 16:09

Γεια σου Ηρακλή

Υπέροχη στιγμή!!! Πολύ όμορφα πρόσωπα αυθεντικά και πολύ συμπαθητικά!!

Μαρίνα

ChrisJ (160104) 2008-06-01 17:24

Hi Hercules

A superb daily life scene & dual portrait, with good sharpness, & a nice backdrop of snowcapped peaks. Excellent colour, & the donkey / mule adds to the charm. Tfs!

Vames (4356) 2008-06-02 6:11

γεια σου Ηρακλή,ωραία λήψη σε ένα όμορφο ορεινό χωριό!

dareco (17136) 2008-06-03 2:27

What interesting looking gentleman you had pose for you here. They both have brought a smile to my face! A very beautiful path that they stand on overlooking the town. Very nice detail on the rooftops and the mountains are very pretty. TFS

pboehringer (770) 2008-06-03 10:38

Hercules,
an 'old' and very good shot. I like the two old men and the donkey in the background, although I think that could have done a little step to the left to get more of the donkey. The facial expression of satisfaction and please in their faces is great and is very good add to your "Old Greek" collection.
Peter

Wanda1 (15142) 2008-06-15 7:50

Hi Hercules,
These two look like quite a pair of characters. Firtly I love their expressions, secondly I love the donkey peeping in between them and thirdly the scenery in the background is absolutely beautiful. Nice image!
Regards
Wanda

coco (30439) 2008-06-18 23:57

Kalimera Hercules.

Me he levantado que me duele todo (pero eso no motivo para escribir para la foto).
Tengo desde hace tiempo ésta y alguna otra foto abierta para escribir una crítica y creo que iré avanzando trabajo.

Primero de todo: había visto antes la foto y no hace falta que me preguntes donde.

Foto y nota son muy buenas y la verdad no sé cual sería mejor.

Un gran trabajo (¿poli omorfi?) y una foto excelente.

Ta leme, file mou.