| The area of
Meteora was originally settled by monks
who lived in caves within the rocks during the 11th Century. But as the
times became more unsure during an age of Turkish occupation, brigandry
and lawlessness, they climbed higher and higher up the rock face until
they were living on the inaccessable peaks where they were able to
build
by bringing material and people up with ladders and baskets and build
the
first monasteries. This was also how the monasteries were reached until
the nineteen twenties and now there are roads, pathways and steps to
the
top. There are still examples of these baskets which are used for
bringing
up provisions. Back in the days when these baskets were the only way to
get to the monasteries a nervous pilgrim asked his monk host if they
ever
replace the rope. "Of course we do" he replied."Whenever it breaks",
which
I am sure put the guy at ease. But now you don't have to worry about
ropes
breaking since the monasteries are all connected by a series of
pathworks
that if you begin early enough you can see them all in one day. They
are
also connected by roads so if you are coming by car and don't have all
day to wander around you can also get close enough and then continue on
foot.
During
the Turkish occupation it was the
monasteries which kept alive the Hellenic culture and traditions and
were
not only relgious centers but academic and artistic as well. It is
believed
that were it not for the monasteries, Hellenic culture would have
disappeared
and modern Greece would be a reflection of the Ottoman empire with
little
knowledge of its roots and history. The monasteries attracted not only
the deeply religious, but the philosophers, poets, painters and the
deep
thinkers of Greece. Today only six of the monasteries are active.
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