MUNICIPALITY of POLICHNITOS
Vasilika

The village was named Vasilika (Royal) either because in Byzantine times it hosted royal families or because there were royal properties in the area. In any case, it is historically proven that here lived, in exile, Irene the Athenian, Constantine VIIII- the Gladiator and others. Vasilika is known for its magnesite mines, which are abandoned nowadays, as well as Mount Pyrraion or Pityodes, as Theofrastos named it meaning its pine forest.

Relics of ancient and Byzantine settlements and temples have been pointed out in all the extent of the eastern coast of the gulf of Kalloni. It is believed by locals that the Apostle of All Nations (St. Paul) first arrived at the coastal area, today called St. Paul with the homonymous chapel, in order to preach the Word of God to the people of Lesvos. It is ascertained that this little chapel is the only church dedicated to St. Paul on the Island of Lesvos except for the one built in Polichnitos in the 1960’s.

ANCIENT PYRRA: According to ancient Greek mythology, Pyrra was one of the daughters of Makaras or Makaros, who was the son of Sun. He conquered Lesvos and named the city built on the eastern coast of “Pyrraios Euripus” gulf (gulf of Kalloni) after her. Pyrra, as it is said, sunk because of an earthquake during 231BC together with Agamid, a small nearby  town. Port constructions, traces of temples and others are still visible at the bottom of the sea, thus attracting archaeologists from all over the world.

According to Thoucidides, during the Peloponnesian war, when Paches- the Athenian- lay siege on Mitylene, the captain of the Spartan flea disembarked at Pyrra and this way managed to set foot on the city too. This is the reason why Paches, after persecuting the Spartans until the Isle of Naxos, returning to Mitylene suppressed the town of Pyrra. It is also referred that during the fourth year of the Peloponnesian war the people of Mitylene, amongst other cities (Antissa –Eressos) caught by surprise and conquered the town of Pyrra as well.

After Alexander the Great’s victorious battle at Granikos River, Dareus rendered Satrap of Asia Minor a resourceful and brave man, General Memnon. Memnon thought of transferring the war from Asia to Macedonia and the rest of Greece in order to bring Alexander in a difficult position. Because of this, using treachery, he conquered the cities of Lesvos -Pyrra being one of them- and then suppressed them. Fortunately, during the siege of Mitylene he died because of some illness and Igelogos one of Alexander’s officers liberated these cities.

Today in the surrounding area of ancient Pyrra called Achladeri, there are the former Agricultural School facilities, stables, houses and mansions, where people successfully cultivate and produce bioproducts, especially olives and olive oil.