ORGANIC WILD TEA - PINDOS MOUNTAINS

The Pindos Mountain range is located in north-west part of Greece and it runs along the border of Thessaly and Epeirus, that’s why it is often called the "spine of Greece”. It is roughly 160 km long, the south part of Dinaric Alps, with a maximum elevation of 2637 m (Mount Smolikas). The mountain range stretches from near the Greek-Albanian borders in Northern Epeirus, entering the Epeirus region and Macedonia region in northern Greece down to the north of the Peloponnese.

It is considered a very important ecoregion covering a wide range of elevations and habitats, from deep canyons to steep mountains. The wide range in altitude results in two major forest zones and National Parks with rich animal life, offering among others refuge to bear, wild cat and lynx.

The area has imposing landscapes of dazzling beauty made by rivers flowing amongst the mountain ranges, as well as a wide range of fauna and flora.

Pindos is the main part of Greek Epeirus region which comprises the land of the ancient Molossians and Thesprotians and a small part of the land of the Chaonians the greater part being in Southern Albania. Most of Epeirus lies on the windward side of the Pindos. The winds from the Ionian Sea offer the region more rainfall than any other part of Greece.

Epeirus, throughout the centuries has been a place with a major role in Greek history. From ancient times, Epeirus, together with Macedonia, formed northern Greece, of which the northwestern corner reached the Acroceraunian mountains and the Genusus river.

Thucydides, Pausanias, the geographer and astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, the Romans Pliny and Pomponius, and others refer to the Epeirotic tribes, which inhabited the region. According to their testimony, there were fourteen such tribes. There were, however, also subdivisions within those tribes, which the authors further mention and it is worthmentioning, that the Epeirots were conscious of their tribal descent, in contrast to their neighboring tribes -the Illyrians, for example. They took part in the Hellenic overseas campaigns, such as that against Troy, as they also took part in the Panhellenic festivals and athletic games which were held at regular intervals at Isthmus, Nemea, Delphi and the most famous of all at Olympia.

Aristotle states that Epeirus, the district around Dodona, was the first region to be called Hellas and its inhabitants Hellenes, adding, in fact, that this was where the Greeks were first called Graikoi, a name that the Romans would later spread through Western Europe.

The oracle at Dodona was the most ancient and revered holy site for the pre-Homeric Greeks. According to the ancient historians, and what is accepted by many modern historians, the last great southward movement of the Hellenic tribes began from Epirus, "sixty years after the Trojan events," according to Thucydides.

Greek mythology provides significant witness to the origin of the ancient Greeks, and the Hellenicity of Epeirus. According to Greek mythology, Zeus lived in Dodona (on mount Tomaros). The Acherousian lake, the gates to Hades and to the abodes of Pluto, the Acheron and Cocytus rivers were situated in Thesprotia.

Even after the Dorians migrated and established themselves in Southern Greece (the last Hellenic tribe to do so), the Greeks continued to remember their original homeland, their religion, and their places of worship.

The Molossian kings according to the myths were descendants of Homeric Achilles and went on to ally themselves to Philip of Macedon. It is also well known that Olympias, the sister of the king of Epeirus, was the mother of Alexander the Great. Two other rulers who brought glory to ancient Epeirus, also came from the same dynasty. Of these, Alexander I campaigned in Italy. supporting the Greek cities of Magna Graecia in their wars against the Italian peoples (338-330 BC). Pyrrhus (319 or 318-272 BC), the most glorious king of Epeirus, would later repeat his efforts.

Pyrrhus was considered by ancient historians to be the greatest general in Greece and in the entire ancient world after Alexander the Great.

Even after wars and destructions of that era, Epeirus remained Greek and there is proof that Epeirus not only retained its Greek identity and memory of its former glory in Roman times, but it had expanded its cultural influence much further north into the region of the Illyrians. This is also attested from archaeological excavations north of the river Genusus, which brought to light ruins of Greek buildings, as well as coins bearing Greek inscription.

During the 6th century various Slavic tribes began raids that lasted intermittently through the tenth century. According to the opinions of reliable historians, the Slavs were nomadic peoples, and, in time, were absorbed by the local population.
During all this period, despite the raids and destruction, Epeirus didn't lose its Greek character. Even after the transformation of Byzantium into numerous Frankish petty states Epeirus held on to its independence.

The renowned Despotate of Epeirus, which was founded during that time, constitutes the best proof, not only of the Hellenicity of the region during that period, but also of the firm spirit of resistance of the Epeirotan people to foreign invaders. Epeirus, free from attacks by the Franks and the Slavs, flourished and enjoyed great prosperity, as is attested in the towns of Epeirus by the many Byzantine buildings (churches, forts, aqueducts, bridges,etc.) dating from this time of hardship for Hellenism.

When Constantinople was retaken, Epeirus was for a short period (ca. 1335) incorporated into the Byzantine Empire, which, however, never succeeded in recovering its previous glory. Many Albanians came from the areas north and settled in Epeirus, forming a quite chaotic situation which became even worse when the whole area after a few years got under Ottoman dominion.

Although many Epeirots were forced to abandon their ancestral homes in the countryside, and to move in groups towards the southern areas of Epeirus, and other regions of Greece, in order to avoid islamisation and the ongoing persecution, the Epeirots continued to maintain their fervent commitment to their culture and their belief in their national regeneration. Rebellions and insurrections continued and Epeirots were always ready to accept promises for support and to rebel. However, time and again they were abandoned and forced to pay the heavy price of the betrayal of their hopes for liberty. An almost unbelievable number of rebellions took place in Epeirus during the wars between the Venetians-Austrians and the Ottoman Empire.

The contribution of the Epeirots to the preparations and the conduct of the Great Uprising (the Greek War of Independence, 1821-1830) are well known. Two of the three founders of the Philike Hetaireia (Nikolaos Skouphas, Athanasios Tsakaloff) were from Epirus. The Souliots, the Cheimarriots and many other Epeirots contributed significantly to the struggles in Mesolongi, Attica, the Peloponnese, and even in Crete. During the first two years of the War of Independence, the Epeirots were able to tie down the bulk of the Turkish forces away from the main theater of operations, as a result of continuous and fierce battles in Souli and around Ioannina and  Arta. Finally, the communities of affluent Epeirots who were living abroad contributed generous economic support to the struggle.

Moreover, during the participation of Greece in World War II, it was on Pindos mountains in Epeirus that most difficult fights took place, confirming this place’s role in Modern Greece.