The dot on the map

A line begins with a dot - so does the drawing of a circle

(Photo by British Library on Unsplash)

In the south of Greece, between Crete and Karpathos, lies the small island of Kasos. On a map of Europe Kasos is the size of a full stop; here’s the centre of my world circle, its periphery stretching west and east.

Can you see Kasos on this map? It’s the dot to the east of Crete (marked ‘Candia’ between 20 and 30 degrees longitude). On a world map Kasos is not there at all, as if devoured by the sea, its friend and enemy, bringer and taker-away.

Hidden behind some olive trees shaven sideways by the fury of the wind, the Ellinokamara cave looks out to the sea. The entry is built up with huge pieces of masonry leaving only a small aperture.

Who carved out these pieces of masonry?

How where they transported and arranged so neatly?

What purpose did they serve?

What did the cave hide in its depths?

(Photos by Athena Mogadam)

Locals say that here was the home of the Cyclop Polyphemus, the betrayed lover, whom Odysseus - Nobody - and his comrades blinded and then escaped from, hanging under the bellies of his sheep. (I need to return to this story later.)

(Image credit here)

Eye witnesses say that when the Ottoman soldiers set foot on Kasos in June 1824, and set fire to the island, the persecuted Kasiot women taking refuge in this cave were forced to strangle their newborns so as not to be betrayed by their cries.

(Photo by Athena Mogadam)

Others say that a spider wove its web across the cave entry. Seeing this, the Ottoman soldiers that walked outside the cave did not bother to look inside; thus some Kasiots were saved.

Many more stories are told about the Ellinokamara. But they all agree that one day someone came face to face with a stone casket bearing this inscription:

If you open me, you will regret it;

If you do not open me, you will regret it too.

***

For years the first admonition won.

But time is ebbing away, the Sirens are calling, and stories must out. All they need is a companion on the journey. Will you come aboard and sail off with me?