Overview

Monemvasia is a unique Byzantine city located on a rock in the southern Peloponnese; the central fortified area is known as the Castro. Poul Rasmussen, a Danish photographer, captured a period of physical and social change between 1968-1992. The local families were deserting the old buildings of the Castro, and moving to the mainland for work and for a more modern way of life. Throughout this period, the Castro maintained the role as the heart of the community. Poul Rasmussen (1929 – 1993) was a world famous Danish photographer. He became a permanent resident in the area in 1966. As a renowned international photographer, he photographed Monemvasia’s community life during a period of significant change. His portraits are a remarkable record. He captured the changing face of the mainland village as the Castro was increasingly abandoned. Importantly, he shows the institutions of community life, the church and national and local festivals, were still taking place on the Rock, remaining the heart of this community. Collectively, the images display the last years of migration from the Castro, before the impact of tourism.

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9781916846173

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'The Monemvasia Photographic Society has excelled itself with this moving and evocative sequel to Monemvasia – People. Place. Presence. The award-winning Danish photographer Poul Rasmussen first discovered Monemvasia in 1966 and later made his home nearby. During almost three decades he kept a photographic record of the life of this remote corner of Greece. Monemvasia – Through the Lens of Poul Rasmussen makes available for the first time a rich sampling of this unique archive. The album is fittingly dedicated to the memory of Haris Kalligas, historian and enthusiast who together with her husband Alexander did so much to restore Monemvasia to its former Byzantine glory.' Professor Roderick Beaton, Emeritus Koraes Professor of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature, Commander of the Order of Honour of the Hellenic Republic, Chair of the British School at Athens 'This is a place where history breathes, where the mosaic of lives and loves is captured by a sublime act of ‘writing in light’ – read this to feel Greek sun on your skin and wonder.' Bettany Hughes FSA FHA OBE, Author and Historian

The Monemvasia Photographic Society has excelled itself with this moving and evocative sequel to Monemvasia – People. Place. Presence. The award-winning Danish photographer Poul Rasmussen first discovered Monemvasia in 1966 and later made his home nearby. During almost three decades he kept a photographic record of the life of this remote corner of Greece. Monemvasia – Through the Lens of Poul Rasmussen makes available for the first time a rich sampling of this unique archive. The album is fittingly dedicated to the memory of Haris Kalligas, historian and enthusiast who together with her husband Alexander did so much to restore Monemvasia to its former Byzantine glory. Professor Roderick Beaton, Emeritus Koraes Professor of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature, Commander of the Order of Honour of the Hellenic Republic, Chair of the British School at Athens This is a place where history breathes, where the mosaic of lives and loves is captured by a sublime act of ‘writing in light’ – read this to feel Greek sun on your skin and wonder. Bettany Hughes FSA FHA OBE, Author and Historian

Author Information

Ann Eldridge lives in Monemvasia, a Byzantine city and archaeological site in southern Greece. The location and history is renowned and well-recorded. However, the social history of this unique community in such a wonderful setting is as important as it has been ignored. When founding the Monemvasia Society in 2005, Ann’s aim was to establish a photographic archive of the lives of its residents, past and present. The collection now has over 20,000 images dating from 1881 to the present day. This book is the proof of her determination to recognise the role the community plays during periods of relocation and social change.

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