The Ypsipyli project
When Hypsipile (Υψιπύλη/Ypsipyli), the mythical Queen of Limnos, 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?” proposed a journey of knowledge around the island of Limnos, expected to bring to the fore the island’s contemporary identity, encompassing tangible and intangible heritage, the natural environment, as well as modern aspects of Limnian life and creativity.
The programme's activities were under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Lemnos, and approved by the Ministry of Education. All planning and content was validated by an interdisciplinary Board of Experts and the Department of Archaeology and Art History of the University of Athens.
10 schools and up to 850 direct and indirect beneficiaries and experts participated in the programme's basic cycle (2022-2024):
Chapter I, implemented in the school year 2021-22 as a pilot, focused on the two World Wars and other significant events of the 20th century. Through educational walks to related 20th century historical and architectural monuments in the capital, Myrina, and the island's largest village, Moudros, 30 students from 3 primary and secondary schools in Limnos had the opportunity to approach events and people that have shaped modern culture and everyday life on the island. The young participants were given the opportunity to express their experiences creatively through 4 painting and drawing workshops. The educational activities culminated in an open exhibition of student works, complemented by a youth agora and a theatre performance in May 2022.
Chapter II (2022-23) focused on the Byzantine and Ottoman periods and the basis of the visiting activities was the Castle of Myrina and related landmarks on the island. The dimension of the natural landscape was introduced along with local products and producers, indigenous seeds and traditional agricultural techniques. The students became familiar with the basics of photography, painting and ceramics in order to create alternative "narratives" of the Chapter's references and concepts. In April 2023, these works were presented in a group art exhibition open to the island's residents and visitors, where the results of Chapter II were presented by the project team and the schools.
Chapter III, implemented in the school year 2023-24, focused on Limnian prehistory and classical antiquity, literary works with a focus on Limnos, key concepts of cultural heritage and the Hellenic Directory of Intangible Heritage. Related historical sites and monuments were visited, while creative writing and podcasting were added to the storytelling tools utilised in this Chapter. In April 2024, an open celebration presented all the students' podcasting, writing, painting and gardening creations to locals and visitors.
The programme was initiated, designed and coordinated by NPO Places & Traces, based in Lemnos. Implementation was further supported by the Lyceum Club of Greek Women of Lemnos for Chapters I and II, while, for Chapter III, Places & Traces collaborated with the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos.
The project’s activities were co-financed by the German Federal Foreign Office through funds of the German-Greek Future Fund, the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the European Forum for Freedom in Education (EFFE) and the Municipality of Limnos.
Link: https://ypsipyliproject.gr/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YpsipyliProject
