Directory talk:Korcula History

Work Page

The link for Korcula History is here !

== Ancient Greek historians, Korcula and Nikola Ostojic

==

Question: Why would Ancient Greek historians write about a city on an island in the Adriatic? Furthermore why were they such powerful legends? There must be a story behind these legends. We have a confirmed colony on the island (Lumbarda Psephisma) and a mention of another colony, which has not been found yet.

Ancient Greek historians: Ditti, Compagoni, Darete and Phrygian below:

“

Writings of Ditti who was a contemporary from Cretan. When writing about the war of Troy, he noted that Antenore was the first to land on the island and build a city. Other followers of his position claim that they were not exiles of Ilius, but fugitives of Gnido. In turn the vernacularisation of Ditti (work of Cav) Compagnoni, stated that Antenore remained in Greece, but the said Aeneas, was the likely leader of the colony and founder of the City of Curzola. This theory was competing with the opinion of Darete, Phrygian and other contemporaries.

”

The Croatian identity called Naši - meaning: The Us people

• Below taken from Dalmatia and Montenegro: With a Journey to Mostar in Herzegovina by John Gardner Wilkinson. Published in 1848 (p33).

“

Naski (ours) or Illirskee is a Slavonic Dialect.

”

• Editors notes: Naski or in Croatian Naški. The š is pronounced sh.

This is a term (a pronoun) which is used to describe ones identity is quiet odd! There is archaeological evidence from 16 century where the Croatian identity was used. Stone writings in Zavalatica are dedicated to events from 889 AD. It describes a clash between the Slavic population and the Venetian army. Marinko Gjivoje wrote about the find in 1972. The stone writings uses: Hrvat Dalmatinac in its writings. Hrvat means Croatian in Slavic.

Blato

Interesting: Blato was called Blatta.

• In Romance Dalmatian bluta means wafer or host.
• In Croatian blato means mud.

Below taken from www.ikorculainfo.com-Blato:

“

The present appearance and bell tower beside it are from the 17th -18th centuries, the Baroque period. On the main altar is the painting All Saints by the Venetian artist Girolamo Da Santa Croce, from 1540. There is a large number of small churches and chapels in the city and the surroundings. The oldest is St. Cosmas and Damian (Sv. Kuzma I Damjan) from the 6th century (Early-Christian), followed by St. Mary in the. Field (Sv. Marija u polju), St. Martin and others. Blato has new houses but also many old ones with paved courtyards, trellis work and sheds. Here, too, there were summer houses of the Korcula nobility, outstanding among which is the Baroque castle Arneri in the town centre. It is to house the regional museum with archaeological, historical and ethnographic collections.

”

See also

• Korcula History-Historical Compendium of the Island of Korcula
• Korcula History 2
• Korcula Dialect

---

Penny cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge

(Volume 8-Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge Great Britain - 1837)

“

The majority of the inhabitants are descendants of the Sclavonian hordes, who invaded these parts in the seventh century and drove out the old inhabitants.The language of the country is the Herzogovine dialect of the Sclavonian, but Italian is the prevalent tongue among the well-educated classes, and is used in the public offices and courts. The remainder of the population is composed of Italins (about 40 000) who are spread throuhg the maritime towns and the sea coast

”

Canon Pietro Casola's Pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the Year 1494

• Below is Pietro Casola writing about Korčula (Curzola) in 1494:

“

On Friday, the 13th of June, we left the canal of Lesina after sunrise and made sail with a very slight wind ; but as the day advanced the wind improved and we came opposite the citadel of Curzola (Note 58), which is beautiful to look at from the outside. The captain did not wish to stop there for fear of losing the favourable wind, and thus we passed by, and could only admire the place from the outside; it ia said to be sixty miles from Lesina. The captain related that a few years ago King Ferdinand, the former King of Naples, sent his fleet there to pry and steal it from the Venetians, but he failed completely because the people of Curzola were valiant, and defended themselves from that attack without additional help from the Signoria of Venice, to whom they are subject.(p171)

”

“

Curzola: Reached Curzola, (1) a citadel in Dalmatia, and as bright and clean as a beautiful jewel. It has no drawbridges, but it has strong walls, and it will be stronger still when a wall is finished which has been begun towards the sea. At first sight the said citadel appears to be flat, but one perceives on entering it that all the streets ascend a little. The streets are narrow and dark, but they are paved with stones. The city is built on a rock. Many of the houses are built in the modern style and are handsome enough for a great city. They are built of white stone like marble and sculptured. It was a marvel to me to see so many beautiful houses in that place. The Cathedral Church, considering its importance and also that of the city, is beautiful. It is entirely built of beautiful squared stones. The choir is beautiful and the church is well served. The said citadel is full of people. The men dress in public like the Venetians, and almost all of them know the Italian tongue. When I asked the reason, was told it was because they often go to Venice. Their women cannot fear the cold. They go about with their chests and shoulders entirely uncovered from the breasts upwards,and they arrange so that their breasts hold up their clothes and prevent them from falling down on to their feet. The place seems to me poor in everything save wine, which is abundant and good. The island is not much cultivated because the greater part of the men are galeotti and continually at sea. Most of the pilgrims landed, thinking to find a good supper. But there is no fish to be had there, although he place is in the midst of the sea, no eggs, no cheese. There was hot bread, for, as soon as the people heard of the arrival of the galley, every man ran to make bread in order to earn a little money; it was good, and so was the wine. There were dried figs and also some raisins, but everything was dear. We stayed there until the following morning, every man being warned, however, that if he wanted to come further, he must sleep on board the galley. Certain Ragusans remained behind and some friars who wished to return to Ragusa, which we had passed by owing to the force of the wind. On Saturday, the 18th of October, which was the festival of Saint Luke the Evangelist, we left Curzola. Only one sail, the terzarola, was spread, because there was a very high though favourable wind — that is, the scirocco, and with the said sail alone we made, according to the estimate of the mariners, fifteen miles an hour. (1.) In 1494 the Venetian Count or Governor of Curzola was Ser Simon Capello, who remained there three years, until January, 1496. Segretario alle Voci, Reg. vi. p, 68. Archives of Venice. (p327,p328)

”

“

Note 58: Curzola. The battle referred to by Casola took place in August, 1483. During the war between Venice and Ferrara (1482 — 1484), King Ferdinand of Naples, in support of his son-in-law the Duke of Ferrara, sent a fleet against Curzola. It was defeated by the inhabitants under Giorgio Viario, the then Count or Governor. (p377)

”

Local folk song: Zbogom, Moja Bobovišća Vala

Zbogom, Moja Bobovišća vala

kad san kanta, sva is odavala

Druga mladost kad bude kantati

valo moja, nemoj odavati

Zbogom, moje sve od Blata divnje

s kojima san uźa pasat vrime

(traditional)

Translation:

Goodbye my Bobvisča bay

When I sang ...