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When did your love for her start? Istory?
Since I was a child. I remember my elders telling stories and I would sit attentively and listen to them, but also at school I was very good in History.
What fascinates you regarding writing local history?
The unknown. What is lost is forgotten. The joy every time I find something is like that of an archaeologist excavating and finding an ancient statue.
How did the idea of writing the book “Historical route of the castle of Roga and its area” start, Impression publications?
As I write in the book, my great-grandfather Papagiorgis Geitonas, my grandmother’s father, was a priest and often took my grandmother to liturgies. That’s how I heard from my grandmother and my father, as when I first heard my teacher, Giorgos Tsiatsos, in the castle talking regarding pirates, etc. All this was left to me. Growing up I wanted to learn more and more. Apart from the ancient Vouchetius for medieval history, we knew little and most of the stories came from Meletius the Geographer and by extension Aravantinos and Xenopoulos and later Professor Sotiriou. The first best study I read was that of Mrs. Efstratia Syngellou, but it stopped in the Middle Ages. But I was also interested in his further history and so I started the research. All these elements I thought at some point that they should be collected in a book.
What was the castle of Roga and where is it located?
The castle of the Rogos is in fact the ancient Vouchetio, which was deserted with the founding of Nikopolis, in the Middle Ages it was inhabited once more and lasted as a castle until the 16th century. This castle is located in the Municipal District of Nea Kerasounta of the Municipality of Ziros, regarding 18 km from Arta and regarding 30 km from Preveza. He controls the western part of the Artin plain and Lamari of Preveza.
What books helped you find evidence for your research?
I have 126 books in my bibliography, plus some archives, Greek and foreign, as well as some short stories with two basic medieval books, “The Chronicle of Tokkos” and “The Chronicle of Moreos”, Ottoman tax records of the 16th century, etc.
What was the development of the city where your study is mentioned?
The ancient Vouchetio was a colony of the Ileans during the 7th century, it endured as a city between the Cassopaians and Ambrakiots, but also the Molossians and the Athamanes in close proximity. At some point we will find it in the alliance of the Kassopeans, Apeirotans, etc., as the Roman conquest that the inhabitants will be forced to move to Nikopolis. In the Middle Ages, apparently Greek-speaking inhabitants from Italy will come here and establish the city of Roga or Astachora. The city will develop into a diocese of the Metropolis of Nafpaktos and later Arta. In the late Middle Ages it will be one of the most important castles of Arta and will withstand sieges. With the arrival of the Ottomans, the fortress of Roga and their area will be one of the five municipalities of Arta. Until the 17th century the city will be deserted and a new settlement will be born once more with refugees from Pulatzak and Kerasunda in 1924 named Nea Kerasunda and will join the Prefecture of Preveza.
Which peoples raided the castle of Roga and the wider area?
In time, beyond the Romans, as raiders we will find Heruls, Goths, Visigoths, Saracens, Bulgarians, Italians, Normans, Serbs, Albanians, Turks and of course pirates.
Today what remains of that glorious era?
A large part of the castle, its towers and a 15th century church are still preserved.
His new book, entitled “Historical route of the castle of Roga and its area”
“It looks like we’ve fallen into hibernation”
Although you live permanently in Munich, Germany, you read and write regarding Epirus. What motivates you to write?
Apart from the love for the place where I come from, the fact that not many have dealt with the areas where I do research, beyond a certain standard, also contributes, while many events have been forgotten or not dealt with, apart from a few. And this looks like we’ve fallen into hibernation. Like we sprung from somewhere. Man is not grass to come out of the earth. It has a story behind it. And that’s what I’m looking for in my country.
Free journey through History with a guide to the monuments
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