HALL VI
Mykonos and the sea anchored off Naxos or Paros, the largest of the Cycladic islands, and awaited delivery of the taxes. Things went ‘ from bad to worse’ with Mermelechas and one summer, the Kapoudan Pasha anchored his flagship in front of the Kastro of Mykonos and commanded the Mykonians to ‘…bring Mermelechas to me or I will set you all on fire!’ Terror struck the island, for the pirate was indeed on Mykonos. But who dared to lay a hand on him? Then, however, the unexpected occurred. Mermelechas, a pirate and also an intrepid man -who may have been concerned about his historical reputation- took a skiff and went alone to the Kapitana (the pasha’s flagship). As soon as word got out about this, the entire populace of Mykonos gathered on the seashore, with the priests standing in front (and there were many priests in Mykonos at that time). Naturally, they were expecting to see Mermelechas strung up, hanging from the ship’s yardarm. Much to their surprise, after a while, the pirate, all smiles, was seen returning to shore with the skiff. Instead of dirges, the priests started chanting hymns of praise and glory to God and, from then on, Mermelechas became a living legend. Precisely what the Pasha, who was more of a politician than a seafarer, and the pirate discussed was never disclosed. However, it seems they reached an agreement, something that was not at all unusual in those times. In any case, from that time on, Mermelechas never went out on a raid again. He broke up his gang, sold the Bella Vienna and became a baker. His bakery was just west of the site of today’s Folklore Museum. The well which has been associated with his name provided water and his flour was ground at the nearby Kastro windmill, the foundations of which, I remember, stood on a rocky extremity at the corner of the Kastro.” MYKONOS FOLKLORE MUSEUM
guide
Wooden models of Mykonian caiques made by local artisans
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