Hikesia: From Exile to Asylum

13 & 14 September • Ideon Cave, Anogeia

The suppliant and the ritual of Hikesia—known in English as supplication, the sacred plea for protection—were considered unwritten laws of divine origin in ancient Greek tradition. Their protector was Zeus, the king of the gods, himself symbolically linked to refuge, as the divine infant who was saved after his mother Rhea sought sanctuary in the most sacred of the Cretan caves, the Ideon Cave.

In this emblematic place, at the heart of Mount Psiloritis, an artistic and scientific collaboration approaches the timeless concept of Hikesia as both exile and the search for asylum, marking the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe.

At an altitude of 1,550 meters, a symbolic thematic journey will unfold—from the waterfront of Smyrna to the foothills of Zeus Xenios (Zeus, protector of strangers). The program includes two thematic lectures, a theatrical excerpt from Aeschylus’ tragedy The Suppliants, and the musical–theatrical improvisation Prosfigaia (part of the augmented-reality artistic project Metartum). The event concludes with a musical performance by the ensemble of the Cretan artist Vasilis Skoulas.

 
 Contributors
Part A – Thematic Lectures

“The First Years of the Refugees of the Asia Minor Catastrophe in Crete: The Conditions that Shaped a New Everyday Life in a New Homeland”
Dr. of Social Anthropology, University of Crete — Eleni Psaradaki (13/9)

“Suppliants of Asylum – The Cultural Continuity of Exile from the Waterfront of Smyrna to the Foothills of Zeus Xenios”
PhD Candidate in Cultural Planning and Policies of Cultural Democracy — Giorgis A. Kalomoiris (14/9)

 
 Part B – Theatre, Musical and Performative Improvisation

Prosfigaia Project
Maria Athitaki — Actress, Performer
Vasilis Dramoundanis — Musician, Mandolin (13/9)

“The Speech of King Pelasgus from Aeschylus’ Tragedy The Suppliants”
 Markos Gettos — Actor

 
Part C – Musical Performance

Music performance with Vasilis Skoulas and his ensemble

Mandolin, vocals: Vasilis Dramoundanis
Laouto: Spyros Skouradakis
Guitar, violin: Eleni Tornesaki

Coordination – Presentation: Maria Dakanali
Production & Organization Curator: Giorgis Kalomoiris
Production Manager: Antonis Ntagiantas
Communication Manager: Marina Geronti
Visual Design: Ioannis Oikonomakis

Production Execution: Androidus Project Tank (AMKE)