Β47 - Hunting

The social surplus of Mani has always been limited. The struggles for survival of numerous people in the rugged and barren land of Mani (mainly in the areas of Mesa and Kato Prosiliaki Mani) succeeded in bearing fruit, but without guaranteeing opportunities for trading activities. Nevertheless, the region of South Laconian Mani has a huge natural advantage: it is a station in the migratory journey of flocks of quail to the hot African countries. Hunting quail offered locals not only a source of nutritional wealth, but also a product strong for export to buyers in the domestic and international markets, already from the 16th century: in the archives of “Laconia” Newspaper articles can be found that document the export of quail. Locals used to hunt quail either individually (with a net or a rifle) or in groups (trapela).

Picture: Courtesy of Yiannis Vourlitis, “Image Bible of Mani”, Adouloti Mani Publications