2015-06-22
【Aiden in English】
When something turns old, it is usually taken as a bad sign. But sometimes, being old and crippled can mean a resurrection, a boast of good revival. The medieval village of Pyrgi was set up as the best example. It was built in its present form of heavy gates and narrow but winding streets in the 13th century. As the oldest village in Khios, the aromatic lentisk trees flourish on Khios and produce the “tears of Khios.” The local people have controlled the trade in mastic gum since Roman times. Mastic gum is the best in the world. Nowadays, Pyrgi still bears its history on its walls; for example, houses covered with sgraffito or xysta feature geometric designs in black and white plaster. The techniques apply to an unfired ceramic body with two successive layers of contrasting slip, followed by scratches to create an outline drawing. Look up and see ceramic buildings with wall décor reflecting centuries-old tradition. Look up even higher, and you’ll see a mosque showing the taint of Christianity in this place. The surrounding walls looked stout and were constructed to protect the mastic inventory and the wealth it produced from pirates. It is essential that the village of Pyrgi was exempted from the frightful 1822 massacres. The ceramics on the road came from local kilns. One thing I learned about on this trip is that beautiful ceramics, tempting olives, and stupid politicians are three subjects that Greece has too much of. The tiles on the buildings were made centuries ago, and the locals used to carve on black sandstone. This was all built off even older structures. What I see as remarkable about this village is how it can stay in a state where modern and medieval cultures can coexist peacefully and not have one side overpower the other. History can be seen in the village of Pyrgi, while the contemporary takes center stage for its solo. I love that the new lives in the old, saving money and space. It’s like recycling. The old village is falling out of use. Add some things and fix them by reusing outdated stuff, an alternate type of recycling. If the human race worked like that every day, maybe we wouldn’t be facing the problem of landfills. I’m going to use a phrase said in the movie “Kingsman: The Secret Service.” Something goes like this. “If the world were a person and humanity were a virus, there would only be two results. But ultimately, it will be the end of both. The host kills the virus, or the virus kills the host”. If we recycle more and do not kill so many trees, we will probably be able to solve many problems. Our ancestors of us may seem clueless about the capacity of our brains. However, they could have some more sense than us, recycling a village like Pyrgi. I hope this “sense” can be passed on in genes. Or else, well, the earth would be sucked dry on resources, and THE END! 【紅霞譯】
一般來說，東西變舊不是什麼好兆頭，但老的不去新的不來，有時新陳代謝並非壞事。中世紀古鎮畫村皮爾吉“塔”堪稱典範，其現存又大又重的城門建於13世紀，狹窄蜿蜒的街區也是七百年前遺留的產物，這個所謂希俄斯島歷史最悠久的古鎮黃連木芬芳遍野，盛產“希俄斯島之淚”──乳香樹脂，早在羅馬時代，希俄斯島人就已開始掌控乳香貿易，其質量被視為世界第一。
皮爾吉歷史源淵流長，文物古蹟屢見不鮮，建築彩繪即為最佳佐證，其繪製方式是，先在未經燒陶的瓷具上繪製出兩個不同層次的幾何圖案，然後通過打磨來突出線條輪廓。你若抬頭看去，不難發現房舍牆壁上貼滿具有幾百年傳統特色的裝飾性瓷磚；再往高處遠望，一座清真寺不太諧調地從基督教區突兀而起。皮爾吉的城牆嵩厚敦實，當年被用來保護村鎮乳香產業抵禦海盜侵襲，正因為乳香影響深遠，皮爾吉才免遭1822年滅頂之災。
皮爾吉陶瓷燒烤全部沿襲當地傳統工藝，此行出遊讓我印象最深的離不開三個方面：漂亮的彩繪、饞人的橄欖和可笑的政客，希臘狂攬一切。這裡瓷磚生產史可以追溯回數百年前，當地人擅長黑砂岩雕刻藝術，並廣泛用於房舍裝飾。親眼目睹畫村建築彩繪之後，我深切感嘆古今文化渾然一體，兩者相得益彰，從而共同提升了時代魅力；現代的東西如果凌駕於歷史底蘊之上，即使再時髦也顯得非常單調。就節省財富和保護環境而言，我贊成古為今用，正如回收一樣，既然老城破爛不堪，倒不如巧用新東西去改良舊事物，讓舊貌換新顏。倘若人類終日堅持回收理念，也許能夠避免陷入垃圾成災的困境。這裡借用好萊塢電影《王牌特工：特工學院》裡一段對話，“假設世界由人類主導而人類又是病毒的話，眼前將出現兩種結果，要麼宿主幹掉病毒，要麼病毒吞噬宿主，但弄不好會兩敗俱傷”。我們只有廢物利用，不再濫伐森林，才有可能解決其它更多問題。 我們的祖先或許無法預估時代變革，然而從皮爾吉這樣珍惜現有財富這方面來看，古人做事確實比後代明智。我希望大家能夠發揚先輩的光榮傳統，否則地球資源遲早要被消耗殆盡。
Today in History(歷史上的今天):
2015: New Monastery of Khios, Greece(希臘希俄斯島·新修道院) 2015: Homer's Stone on Khios, Greece(希臘希俄斯島·荷馬岩) 2015: Medieval Fortified Village, Khios(希臘希俄斯島·中世紀土圍子) 2014: California Pizza Kitchen(火爐皮薩餅屋)
2011: 二年級夏令營(2nd Grade Summer Camp)  Façade of Theotokos Church @ Pyrgi
(皮爾吉村·聖像教堂正面觀) 
Clock Tower of Theotokos Church @ Pyrgi (皮爾吉村·聖像教堂鐘樓) 
The Nave of Theotokos Church @ Pyrgi (皮爾吉村·聖像教堂中殿 06-22-2015) 
Carving @ Pyrgi (皮爾吉村·石刻)  15th-Century Church of the Holy Apostles @ Pyrgi
(皮爾吉村·十六世紀聖使徒教堂) 
Pyrgi Tradition (皮爾吉村傳統)  Village Central @ Pyrgi (皮爾吉村·村中心)
Arches or Vaults-Covered Medieval Narrow Alley @ Pyrgi (皮爾吉村·拱門或拱頂覆蓋的中世紀狹窄胡同)
Painted Village @ Pyrgi (皮爾吉·彩繪村莊 06-22-2015)  House Covered w/ Sgraffito or Xysta @ Pyrgi
(皮爾吉村·五彩拉毛粉飾建築) 
Gift Shop @ Pyrgi (皮爾吉村·禮品店)  Demo of Sgraffito @ Pyrgi
（皮爾吉村·講解五彩拉毛粉飾 06-22-2015) 
Mastic Gum Trees (乳香樹 06-22-2015)  Mastic Gum or God's Tears (乳香樹脂·上帝的眼淚)
Crosslinks(相關博文): Greece(出遊希臘)
Europe(歐洲掠影) 6th Grade(初中一年級)
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