[MR] BBC: Hidden Houses of Ikaria

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today BBC Travel is offering an interesting story on the hidden rock houses
of Ikaria.

These structures were a defence against pirate raids during the middle ages
and even up into the 19th century on the Mediterranean island (now in
Greece). Under constant threat of attacks by ruthless pirates, the
islanders withdrew from the shore into stone houses built between and under
huge boulders in the upland center of their island. The natural camouflage
gave them maximum protection from raiders. The rock houses were similar,
and served much the same purpose, as cliff dwellings built by some Native
American tribes in the Southwest.

The story is at
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20221110-the-greek-island-homes-hidden-from-pirates
.

More about this fascinating island is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icaria .

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆