Where is Ypsipyli hiding?

According to legend, when Ypsipyli, Queen of Lemnos, was found to have helped her father, King Thoas, escape from the slaughter of the island’s male inhabitants by their enraged spouses, she was forced to abandon both her throne and the island. According to legend she succeeded in escaping and led an adventurous life far away.
But what if she had returned? Where would Ypsipyli be hiding while struggling her way back home through eventful times in history and wicked enemies Departing from local legends, the programme “Where is Ypsipyli hiding?” proposes a journey of knowledge around the island of Lemnos that will help bring to the fore the island’s contemporary identity, encompassing tangible and intangible heritage, the natural environment, as well as modern aspects of Lemnian life and creativity.

Concept and Planning: Places & Traces
Local coordinator: The Lyceum Club of Greek Women in Lemnos

Structure & objectives

The programme will develop over three “chapters”, connected to respective key-landmarks of the island. With a focus on youth and intergenerational dialogue, the programme will adopt an interdisciplinary approach in order to encourage participants:

  • discover the island’s hidden stories
  • share them with locals and visitors
  • familiarise with diverse creative tools
  • acquire valuable transversal skills
  • become active and informed citizens
  • familiarise with the concept of place identity and develop a stronger sense of belonging
  • connect at local, national and international level.

Target groups

  • Children and teenagers (8-18 year-olds)
  • Permanent and temporary residents of all ages
  • Visitors
  • Local authorities and entrepreneurs
  • Edu-cultural stakeholders beyond Lemnos Island

Implemented in the 2021-22 school year as a pilot implementation of the programme, Chapter I focused on the two World Wars and the events that marked the 20th century. On the occasion of educational walks to historical and architectural landmarks of the capital Myrina and the largest village of the island, Moudros, the children had the opportunity to approach some of the axes that shaped the modern cultural identity of the island. Later, young students were given the opportunity to creatively express their experience through four painting and drawing workshops. The educational activities culminated with an event consisting of a students art exhibition open to the public, consultation and performance in May 2022. A total of 30 children and 6 teachers from two high schools and one primary school, residents and visitors of the island participated in the Chapter I activities.

Chapter II was implemented in the 2022-23 school year. It focused on the Byzantine/post-Byzantine and Ottoman periods, and the base of the activities was the Castle of Myrina. In this Chapter, the dimension of the natural environment, acquaintance with local products and producers, and contact with initiatives aimed at their promotion were introduced. In addition, children familiarised with the basics of artistic photography and digital processing, painting and ceramics in order to create alternative “narratives” of their experience in the programme. In April 2023, their works were presented in a group art exhibition, open to residents and visitors of the island, which included a presentation of the results of Chapter II by the contributors and the schools. A total of 8 primary and secondary education schools, 25 teachers and approx. 100 students aged 8-18 participated in the activities of Chapter II.

Chapter III is scheduled for the 2023-24 school year. It will focus on antiquity and prehistoric times, and the creative tools introduced to young participants will further include creative writing and podcasting.

… To be continued, please stay tuned!