Crete tourist guide

Products from Thrapsano conquer the world

2023-02-15 19:06:08

While spending your holidays in Crete, you have probably noticed huge clay pots in many places, resembling solid pots. These are the so-called pithos, whose role is currently limited primarily to decorative purposes. In the times of the Minoan era, however, these vessels were used to store food, oil or wine. Visiting the Cretan archaeological museums, you will certainly find many different types of pithos. They can also be seen at large archaeological sites such as Knossos, Malia or Phaistos. In addition to the typical functions, sometimes pithos also served as coffins in which the remains of a deceased person were stored.

Despite the passage of several thousand years that separate our civilization from the Minoan civilization, the production of these original vessels has not been abandoned in Crete. To this day, the tradition of making huge clay pots has survived in the village of Thrapsano, where there are now 17 pottery workshops specializing in the production of pithos. This village is located in the central part of Crete, just 30 km southeast of the center of Heraklion.

One of the workshops in Thrapsano

This peculiar pottery art has been passed down in families for generations. However, as modern older potters say, the current young generation does not want to learn this trade. It's a pity, because the famous pots began to find their buyers all over the world. In difficult times, which were not lacking in Crete, it was this work of hundreds of younger and older craftsmen that was a thriving part of the economy in the region.

Antique pithos in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

According to existing sources, there were about 150 pottery workshops in Thrapsano until the 1970s. A large part of the craftsmen functioned periodically in a mobile form called Ventema. This meant that from May to September, potters traveled around the farms offering their services to those farmers who currently needed new clay vessels to store their harvest. The potters took portable workshops with them and produced the necessary dishes at the farmers' place. Currently, all workshops in Thrapsano operate all year round only stationary.

Although the work of modern potters is supported by electrically driven wheels, and the clay is extracted mechanically, the technique of making clay giants has not changed for centuries. As emphasized by the president of the Thrapsano Pottery Cooperative, Michalis Ploumakis, potters work as they learned from their ancestors.

Ancient pithos in the Minoan palace in Phaistos

Pithos from Crete are going into the world

Currently, as much as 80% of the dishes made by Thrapsano potters are made for foreign orders. The most loyal fans of clay colossi are the English. Recent years have also brought a dynamic opening of other European markets to these clay handicrafts. Years later, Thrapsano potters also began to export their wares to America and Australia. This is a very good variety because for many years local potters were afraid of Chinese competition and plastic substitutes.

It seems, therefore, that there is no need to worry about the future in this particular profession, because there will be enough work for a much larger number of craftsmen. But it is precisely the lack of hands to work that makes the production capacity of the workshops limited. Perhaps, therefore, profits from sales and opening markets will attract more young people to this niche occupation, who will want to learn the secrets of the profession from the previous generation.

In order to maintain the tradition of this specific pottery in the region, special seminars and workshops are organized for young people. For many years, the Festival of the Potters of Thrapsano has also been organized in July. Both events are aimed at attracting to the profession people who have not dabbled in pottery so far and are looking for their life path.

One of the pottery workshops in Thrapsano

We, for our part, can also recommend a visit to Thrapsano. Visiting the workshops or observing the potter during the making of individual parts of pithos is an unforgettable event. As the potters themselves emphasize, an important feature of Thrapsano clay vessels is their extraordinary durability. They are made of a special type of clay, which, after being fired, becomes better and better over time instead of wearing out and destroying. These products are carefully made and well finished. Their only drawback is the size significantly exceeds the size of holiday suitcases, so we will not bring pithos as a holiday souvenir. Unless you go on holiday to Crete with your own (no small) car.

Gosia,  2023-02-15 19:06:08

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