The Mystery of the Klepsydra: The bicentennial celebrations of Greece in 2021

During the Greek War of Independence, which started in 1821, the citadel of the Acropolis was one if the strongest fortresses in Attica. The north, east and south sides are so steep, they could not be assaulted. It was only the west side which was vulnerable, therefore making it necessary to build a series of walls and ramparts, especially to protect one of the most important sources of water on the west side, the Klepsydra spring.

It was not until 1822 that the Klepsydra spring was “rediscovered” by the Greeks. It had been forgotten and covered over by landslides and rockfalls. The Acropolis was under siege twice during the War. When the Turks had control of the Acropolis from 1821 to 1822, they failed to retain their control over it due to a lack water. So desperate was their need for water that it was said they would climb on the roofs of the houses[1] and the ancient ruins using sponges and cloths to collect any drops of water. They were forced to surrender June 10, 1822.

Athens was temporarily liberated from the Turks and the Greeks understood that if they wanted to keep hold of the Acropolis, they would need to have a constant supply of water. One of the revolutionary fighters (who was also one of the first Greek archaeologists) Kyriakos Pittakis, having studied ancient texts and references of the Acropolis, knew of the existence of the Klepsydra spring[2]. Odysseas Androutsos then had a great marble wall built around the spring to protect it in case of a siege[3]. The Greeks were ready in 1826 when the Turks tried to retake the Acropolis. The siege would last from August 1826 to May 1827. The Klepsydra spring proved to be reliable, giving them the water they needed. However, the Greeks surrendered, not for lack of water but because they ran out of food and medical supplies. The Greek forces had failed to give them the necessary support.

The background for the children’s novel The Mystery of the Klepsydra centers around the Klepsydra spring and the Greek War of Independence. The mystery is based on a true event, a discovery that had been recorded by Karpos Papadopoulos (a merchant and writer who participated in the Greek War of Independence fighting alongside Odysseas Androutsos).

The characters of the first novel The Dog and Pan’s Cave continue their adventures and introduce their young readers to the Greek War of Independence and the secret of the Klepsydra spring. Participate in this important Greek bicentennial by reading the novel The Mystery of the Klepsydra together with your children or grandchildren. You too, will find it an enjoyable, informative, and an easy read. In addition, the two children’s novels are written in both Greek and English (dual language/bilingual books) for those who wish to learn or improve their Greek.

footnotes

[1] During the Turkish occupation of Greece, it is estimated that there may have been up to two hundred dwellings on the Acropolis used to house the guards of the citadel and their families. Inside the Parthenon the Turks had built a small mosque, replacing a much larger mosque destroyed when Venetian Francesco Morosini shelled the Acropolis in 1687, severely damaging the Parthenon.

[2] Details of the discovery are mentioned in The Mystery of the Klepsydra, pages 120-125 “A Post Script and a Short History of the Klepsydra Spring”.

[3] Unfortunately, this wall was torn down in 1888.

Article by Joanna Karachristos.