MEMORIES MADE OF STONE

Β3 - Memories made of stone

d1axir1si — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 05:28:39 +0000

Β3 - Memories made of stone d1axir1si Thu, 03/16/2023 - 07:28

A craft tied to the traditions and special character of the land of Mani: memories and impressions of its traditions are carved by the tools of stone craftsmen, known as “petrofaoi”, whose contribution to the War of Independence was particularly important. They participated, along with craftsmen from Lagadi, in the building of towers at points of strategic importance and that is why their names and the names of their families are still recalled.

The tools for their craft, also known as “heirotechna”, were improvised and simple: wedges, crowbars, claw chisels, points, brick hods and trowels. The fathers inherited their experience and their tools to their sons, in
order to accompany them in their daily struggle with the stone. Simple buildings and towers are samples of their craft, as well as the elaborate reliefs and depictions that are carved on stone at the lintels of churches
and the bastions of war towers.

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

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Β63 - Coarsely crystaline white marble

d1axir1si — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 03:18:47 +0000

Β63 - Coarsely crystaline white marble d1axir1si Thu, 03/16/2023 - 05:18

This marble can be found in the west part of the Tenaron peninsula. It’s relatively easy to process and therefore it was used for making stone reliefs which adorned houses, churches and other buildings

MEMORIES MADE OF STONE

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Β64 - Crimson marble

d1axir1si — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 03:16:36 +0000

Β64 - Crimson marble d1axir1si Thu, 03/16/2023 - 05:16

The Romans would call this marble “rosso antico”. Today, it can be found in the southeast side of the Tenaron peninsula and in the village of Profitis Ilias one can see ancient quarries.

MEMORIES MADE OF STONE

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085 - Wedge

d1axir1si — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 07:46:09 +0000

085 - Wedge d1axir1si Mon, 03/13/2023 - 09:46

TOOL USED FOR processing stone: its end that touched on the stones was wide, while the other was narrow. The craftsman struck the upper part of the wedge with a hammer, thereby giving to the stone the desired shape. Apart from processing stone, wedges were used for cutting wood as well, by applying them to the appropriate slot and facilitating the cutting of timber. Like other tools of stone carvers, wedges were mostly improvised or crafted in small local workshops, passing from father to son like the rest of the “heirotechna”. This wedge belonged to the grandfather of the family and was in use until the beginning of the 20th century.

Donor: Takis Maniatakos

MEMORIES MADE OF STONE

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084 - Wedge

d1axir1si — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 07:44:22 +0000

084 - Wedge d1axir1si Mon, 03/13/2023 - 09:44

MEMORIES MADE OF STONE

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083 - Chisel

d1axir1si — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 07:42:20 +0000

083 - Chisel d1axir1si Mon, 03/13/2023 - 09:42

THE ROUGH AND INSUBORDINATE stone of Mani required detailed and painstaking work to take the desired shape. Petrofaoi used smaller tools too, which allowed them to express all their passion for their craft and carve detailed forms and symbols on the stone. Such tools were: chisels and “dysilidiko” little claw chisels, which helped in smoothing the stone, “louchloudiko” little lettering chisels and “louchloudiko” little claw chisels, which were used in carving “louchloudies”, meaning concave surfaces, as well as points, which were cylindrical metal tools used to create details in the hollows of the stone.

Donor: Takis Maniatakos

MEMORIES MADE OF STONE

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082 - Little Chisel

d1axir1si — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 07:40:10 +0000

082 - Little Chisel d1axir1si Mon, 03/13/2023 - 09:40

MEMORIES MADE OF STONE

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081 - Wedge

d1axir1si — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 07:37:54 +0000

081 - Wedge d1axir1si Mon, 03/13/2023 - 09:37

TOOL USED FOR processing stone: its end that touched on the stones was wide, while the other was narrow. The craftsman struck the upper part of the wedge with a hammer, thereby giving to the stone the desired shape. Apart from processing stone, wedges were used for cutting wood as well, by applying them to the appropriate slot and facilitating the cutting of timber. Like other tools of stone carvers, wedges were mostly improvised or crafted in small local workshops, passing from father to son like the rest of the “heirotechna”. Thiaxs wedge belonged to the grandfather of the family and was in use until the beginning of the 20th century.

Donor: Takis Maniatakos

MEMORIES MADE OF STONE

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075 - Post maul

d1axir1si — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 07:21:56 +0000

075 - Post maul d1axir1si Mon, 03/13/2023 - 09:21

METAL PART of a stone-processing tool. The wooden pole that was used as its handle was fitted through a hole in the center. Post mauls were used for breaking rocks.

Donor: Takis Maniatakos

MEMORIES MADE OF STONE

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065 - Claw chisel

d1axir1si — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 07:08:57 +0000

065 - Claw chisel d1axir1si Mon, 03/13/2023 - 09:08

AFTER THE STONES WERE CARVED, they were decorated with various symbolic forms by using various tools, such as the claw chisel, an iron tool with a serrated edge on one side, fixed onto a wooden handle. The small points on one side of the claw chisel helped craftsmen to carve even the smallest details.

Donor: Petros Georgariou

MEMORIES MADE OF STONE

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