Christophorus Columbus - was he Greek? 1 May 2003 When you enter some Greek ship-owners office, you will notice a model of the Caravel Santa Maria, which was the flagship of the renowned Christophorus Columbus. Asking why to have this ship in the office - you will probably get the answer: “Do you not know Columbus was a Greek from Chios?” (the Greek Island of Xios). At first I took this alike a Greek Mythos - but still wondering over this and have been searching over the years and have come to the following conclusion: Columbus was not born in Genoa but was a Byzantine nobleman, Disypatos Paleologos. Paleologos (Columbus) was born in Constantinople in 1439 and not, as the Genoese claim, in their city in 1446, 1447, 1449 or 1451 or 1452. Just before the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Columbus left with his uncle Admiral Disypatos George Paleologos. He was then 14 years old and became a privateer in his uncle’s ship. It was then the time that the French needed good seamen and his uncle eventually became an Admiral in the French navy, which he joined under the name Colon Le Jeune. Colon was a common name then, as it meant “Captain”. The name and that Columbus’ uncle was a privateer, is written in the biography by his son Ferdinand who writes that “He learned seamanship from the famous privateer Admiral Colon who had the same name and was his kinsman”. Official French documents are in existence today which states that Colon Le Jeune was the Greek Admiral George Disypatos Paleologos. But though he did not speak Italian or Genoese, he knew another language with different characters. Peter Martyr writes that “The Admiral sent letters to his brother Bartholomew written in a different alphabet”. Naturally he would be writing to his brother in their mother language and not in Latin. But naturally one should ask why Columbus never mentioned that he was Greek. There is a reason for this. As a Greek he was Orthodox and at that time he could be considered by the fanatics of the Inquisition as a heretic, and most probably instead of discovering in the new World, he could be burned as a heretic. But regardless of the above arguments, if at a later date he stated that he was a Greek Orthodox, they would never give him the title of the Viceroy of the Indies, neither Admiral of the Oceans. A heretic could not have all these honors for life. He could not be Great Admiral of Castile and Duke of Veragua. But there is another fact to consider. Columbus never wrote in Italian or Genoese, even to the Pope, but in Spanish. He also wrote in Spanish to the Genoese Banker, Antonio Kallo. And any serious researcher must ask and answer this question: “How can a Genoese write to another Genoese in a language other than their own?” Columbus paid for the purchase of his three masted flagship “Santa Maria” of 223 tons, 500,000 Maravedies. While the king of Spain paid another 1,000,000 Maravedies. How could he, only a short time before a mere wool-worker, be able to raise this very large sum of money? Could it be that Columbus was indeed a privateer, a Greek from Constantinople who started his naval career as a privateer? When he was imprisoned in America and was sent in chains to Spain by Bobadella, Columbus wrote to the King, that “up to 1500 he was more or less continuously at Sea for 40 years”. If we consider that in another document he states that he went to sea at the age of 14 years old and that he spent 7 years in Spain in his effort to secure the ships for the expedition, we come to the conclusion, that Columbus, in 1500 must have been at least 61 years old (14+40+7=61) and that he must have been born in 1439 and not as the Genoese want to prove that, their Columbus, the ex wool-worker was born in 1446, 1447, 1449, 1451 or 1452. Thus we have another possible argument to make us believe that Columbus could have been born in 1439 in Constantinople and left it just before its fall. Columbus had stated that he was Genoese, but Chios, to which he often referred with admiration, Chios was Genoese ruled at the time. It may be concluded that he was a Greek, not only from research in Greece, but also for the following reasons: 1. The signature of Columbus is Grecolatin, XroFERENS, 2. Columbus used to write Chios the Greek was, XIOS, 3. He named Cape Maus with the Greek words Alfa and Omega, 4. He did not ask the Genoese for ships or supplies, 5. He never referred to his family in Genoa, 6. He never wrote nor has anyone written that he spoke Italian, 7. Some of the notes in his books were also in Greek, 8. They called him the Genoese because he was dressed in the Genoese fashion which the Chios people had made their own. 9. He signed his name prior to becoming an Admiral of the Ocean, Columbus de Terra Rubra (red earth) which is an area in the south of Chios. The final conclusion is that the origin of Columbus the ex weaver of Genoa is an incorrect statement, “the invention of the glory seeking Italian patriots of Genoa”, and does not correspond to known facts - as already discussed and to Columbus’ own statements as reported in his letters an as stated by his son Ferdinand. It is not possible that he was born between 1446 and 1452; Columbus’ statements as reported by his son make it more probably that he was born in or around 1439. But history is not a myth or a novel where we can produce our heroes or our characters the way we want them or as our personal whims or interests will have them. However, looking at the sources of history for Columbus’ origin, we must accept what Borromai states in his letter of 1494, that Columbus should not be confused with another Christopher Columbo born in Genoa, who was a wool worker. The assumption that he was a Byzantine corresponds with his own statements and those of his son Ferdinand when they both state that he was a kinsman of Colon the Younger whose true name was George Disypatos Paleologos.S. L. Author : Seapal

Orchids of Chios, Inouses and Psara 10 Jan 2012 The original book was published partly to raise awareness concerning unanswered questions raised, regarding the true taxonomic status of many Chios orchids, during the Second European Congress on Hardy Orchids held in Chios in 2005. Subsequent visits to Chios by eminent orchid specialists resolved many of these issues. Whilst much progress has been made, some differences of opinion still remain concerning a few taxa, of which details are given. Nevertheless it was considered that sufficient stability had been achieved in Chios orchid taxonomy for the publication of a revised edition to be appropriate. The new checklist reflects considerable changes since the original publication in 2005. A total of 21 taxa having been deleted from the list and 17 new ones added, including 8 newly described taxa. All 72 taxa on the checklist are figured in dedicated plates, each with four high quality photographs, generally including whole plants, flower heads and close up views of individual flowers. The plate text also summarises information on size, season, range, biotype and Chios locations. New plates now include all valid recently described taxa including, Ophrys fusca ssp. sancti-isidorii, Ophrys pelinaea, Ophrys apollonae, Ophrys tenthredinifera ssp. sanctae-marcellae, Ophrys saliarisii, Ophrys orphanidea, Ophrys masticorum and Ophrys chiosica. This new book will enable orchid enthusiasts who have already visited Chios in recent years to identify those undetermined orchids currently pigeon holed in their photographic archives. It will enable orchid enthusiasts, yet to visit Chios, to visit the island confident that they should be able to identify any orchids which they find. The book also contains a map showing Chios orchid site locations. Additionally orchid enthusiasts planning to visit adjacent islands including Lesvos, Samos and Ikaria, and the region of Turkey to the west of Izmir will also find this book an essential reference to help them in orchid identification in these areas as well. The Revised Illustrated Checklist, Orchids of Chios, Inouses and Psara, brings up to date the original book published in 2005. The main text in this new book is now published in three additional languages, French, Dutch and Danish as well as English, Greek, German and Italian. It is increased in size with 144 pages including 72 Plates. It will be available in January 2012, and the retail price will be 25 euros. It is available through booksellers or directly from the author/publisher at these prices plus 6 euros Postage and Packaging. Enquiries to M.J.Taylor: info@miketaylornaturalist.co.uk Overall, this is a unique work which tells you things you have never ever imagined about the floris of Chios and the “eccentricity” of the Chians as well as their eclectic choices when it comes to offer their loved ones with orchids; after all Chios does not produce only the masters who rule the seve seas! Author : TtC