|
THE FIRST BRIEFING ON THE second KYRENIA ANCIENT SHIP REPLICA "KERYNIA - LIBERTY" AND HER FUTURE PLANS. |
|
of "KERYNIA-LIBERTY" |
«KERYNIA – LIBERTY»: The replica
of the Hellenic ancient merchant ship of the Achaean town of KYRENIA
( keel blessing ceremony.
Saturday 27th April.2002 16:00, L/sol)
In November 1965 the Kyrenian prominent sea figure and pioneer s.c.u.b.a diver Andreas Cariolou discovered on the sea bed, 40 metres below the surface , approximately a nautical mile out of the harbour entrance of our beloved hometown Kyrenia a wreck of what proved to be a Hellenic Merchantman of the age of the Alexander the Great.
From 1967 to 1973
a Marine Archaeological team under the leadership of Professor
Michael Katzev
(University of Pennsylvania USA) with the contribution of
Professor Richard Steffy (University of Texas. USA) and more than 20 prominent
scientists and 60 divers, excavated, studied ,brought to the surface and re-assembled the ship
and her great cargo in the castle of Kyrenia. The finding was unique, as it is
the oldest hull ever discovered with just over 70% of her hull well preserved.
Since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and the illegal, attack of the
Turkish army against the citizens of Kyrenia which resulted to their uprooting,
the ship remains imprisoned in the castle of Kyrenian far away from her legal
owners, the Kyrenians.
In 1986-86
the Hellenic Institute for the preservation of Nautical Tradition (HIPNT)
conceived and materialised a unique in depth and authenticity experiment of
Marine Archaeology by constructing an exact replica of the Kyrenia ancient ship.
The replica named after the Achaean town of Kyrenia, Cyprus, and build and
inhabited by kings Praxandros and Kyfeas (founders of the town of Kyrenia,
Lapithos and Karavas after the Troian war apprx. 1400 BC) was registered at Piraeus as «KYRENIA
2». «KYRENIA 2» took part in sailing events in Europe and Japan with a
captain and crew from Kyrenia and has become the symbol of unity and peace for
all Kyrenians leading to our return to our homeland Kyrenia.
It is from
1997 that a team of dedicated Kyrenians, members of the KYRENIA NAUTICAL CLUB,
through their vision and strong will to continue the trip of the “KYRENIA2”
to her safe berthing in Kyrenia, commenced thinking and programming the
construction of a new replica. This time aiming on sailing performance and not
on naval architectural hull construction. A ship on exactly the same lines-plan
as the Ancient ship of Kyrenia but capable of easily being repaired and
maintained and above all capable of revealing to us how did the ancient mariners
performed their sailing achievements around the world. In the year 2002 this
team has received a tremendous encouragement and practical assistance from
Kyrenians and friends of Kyrenia living in the United States and other countries
so these additional financial
resources gave the spark for the commencement of the ship’s construction at
Avgoustis Boatyard in Limassol Cyprus.
The legal
and formal owner of the “KERYNIA-LIBERTY” is the newly formed “THE
KYRENIA-CHRYSOCAVA CULTURAL
FOUNDATION ” .
|
The First Activities |
The
Initial programmed
activities and some of the objectives of
«KERYNIA-LIBERTY»:
(1)
The active participation to any project or activity which aims to the
unity of all Kyrenians and all Cypriots towards a common goal, the return to our
homeland Kyrenia with all our human rights without any exception, highly
respected, secured and well established as full members of the European Union.
(2)
The launching of “KERYNIA-LIBERTY”
before the 1ST of February 2003.
(3)
The commencement of practical training trips of the crews from Feb.2003
to Jan.2004.
(4)
The programming, scheduling and materialisation of scientific
measurements and calculations during and through the course of a trip of over
600 N.M. without outside support from Cyprus to Greece. During this trip we
shall carry exact replicas of ancient talents of copper to be PRESENTED AS A
GIFT of the towns of Cyprus, to the Municipality of Athens which is
hosting the 2004 Olympiad.
(5)
The co-operation with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, the relevant
Ministries of the Republic of Cyprus and the European Union Directorate for
cultural issues, towards the participation of the ship to cultural, historical
and scientific events, exhibitions and similar activities either in Cyprus or
abroad.
(6)
The berthing and general presence of the vessel as a part of the ancient
life in the ancient harbour of Amathus. The vessel will be berthing on a
carefully designed wooden jetty which is to be constructed by the Government,
exactly over the underwater ruins of the ancient breakwater of the ancient town
of Amathus, Limassol. This will be a departure point for trips specially
designed for external and internal tourism.
(7)
The ship will be used for
the traditional celebrations of the Kyrenians for the «KATAKLYSMOS» (Deluge)
and for any activity carried out by any Kyrenian Organisation.
(8)
The co-operation with the
Ministry of Education and Culture and related authorities of the European Union
for the organisation of visits and short educational trips to nursery and
elementary school children and similar micro societies of children and youth, in
order to assist towards the successful construction of a strong maritime culture,
maritime athleticism and an interest towards maritime sciences from a very early
age.
(9)
The co-operation and lending of the ship to the University of Cyprus,
Department of Archaeology and History as well as to other Universities which are
co-operating with our University in an effort to improve and strengthen the
capabilities and research facilities of Nautical and Marine Archaeology through
experimental studies on the sailing performance on ancient routes and
meteorology on ancient navigation methods and other related scientific issues.
(10)
The ship will be considerably used for trips and ancient sailing training
by organised teams of children and youth from Kyrenian parents living in the
United States, in Europe in Australia and other countries abroad, in an effort
to reunite Kyrenians. Selected Kyrenian families in Cyprus will offer Land
accommodation.
(11)
The ship will be offered to Companies or other Organisations for their
own use, for filming, advertising and other approved activities for a fee.
(12)
The ship is programmed to be used for the symbolic transportation of
young and beautiful Europe, daughter of Aginor and Tilefasis, by the «KYRENIA-LIBERTY»,
from a suitable place on the coast of Tyre or the coastline of Phoenicia (Syria,
Lebanon) passing from Cyprus, stopping on the island of Crete to give a chance
to pregnant Europe to give birth to Mino, Radamanthis and Sarpidon and then pass
from tevmissos near Thiva Greece mainland continue her trip by sail or under tow
through Vosporous dropping anchor on the European side of Turkey and freeing
beautiful Europe, thus establishing the Union of Cyprus with the European Union
and marking the strong will of the peoples of the countries visited, for friendship co-operation
and peaceful co-existence.
(13)
The general use of the ship
for any approved activity for the production of all the necessary funds in order
to self support, the vessel’s care, maintenance, equipment and paraphernalia
as well as providing the proper training for her crew and allow in general for
her safe, continuous, flourishing and innovative performance.
(14) MOST IMPORTANTLY ! :
THE SHIP´S MOST IMPORTANT ROLE WILL BE TO SAIL TO HER PERMANENT DESTINATION WHICH IS THE PORT OF A FREE KYRENIA. A FREE KYRENIA FOR ALL KYRENIANS .
|
First Committee Members |
The
Initial members of the board of Kyrenia-Chrysokava
Cultural Foundation were in alphabetic order: Cariolou Glafkos, Georgiadou Lia, Matheou George, Michaelides Nikos,
Neofytou Takis, Orologas Konstantinos, Serghiou Agis, Serghiou Michael, Vrachas
Petros, a representative of the Municipality of Kyrenia, a representative
of the Kyrenia Nautical Club.
MATERIAL
DONNATIONS UNTIL TODAY (25/4/2002):
1st Donor:
Cyprus Forest Industries: (The wood for the ship).
NEMITSAS CO.LTD. (The bolts of the vessel.)
Hellenic Mining Company: (The copper talents for Olympics)
ÊÅÏ Co.LTD: (The Ships Keel blessing ceremony)
FINANCIAL
DONATIONS UNTIL TODAY (25/4/2002):
1st Donor:
NAUTICOS Co.Inc. (USA) through J.Blair and M.Serghiou: 6.000 USD. (Starting
Amount)
Agios
Tychonas Local Authority (Ancient Amathus): £5.000
Central Union of Local Authorities Greece: 58.500 EURO.
Ministry of Interior, Kyrenia Municipality, Kyrenia Distr.Com. £10.000
Ministry of Education and Culture: £5.000.
The Hellenic Bank: £5.000 (starting amount).
The FEDERAL BANK OF THE MIDDLE EAST : £7.000 (Initial amount to reach -£19.000)
[TOP]
SCIENTIFIC Friends and Contributors:
We
feel immensly grateful to Susan Womer Katzev most kind wife of our
dearest late Professor Michael
Lazare Katzev,
Professor Richard Steffy of the Maritime Archaeology department of Texas
University in the USA (AINA) , Mrs Laina Swiny Architect and Archaeologist, For their continuous support NOT only now with our
present effort but since the discovery of the ancient ship of Kyrenia and their
work in Kyrenia from 1967 until 1973.
WE MOST SINCERELY EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST
GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO ALL DONNORS.
Many
other Organisations, Universities and single people expressed their strong wish
to financial contribute to this effort. We thank all and we shall soon be
announcing the official bank account numbers for any donations from any part of
the world.
The feasibility study estimated value of
the ship’s construction to launching was estimated in 1999 to approximately
£100.000 Cyprus Pounds.
For further info. Please
Contact the Captain of the Ship: Glafkos Cariolou at:
g.kariolou@cytanet.com.cy
INVITATIONS
