Greek Island Leprosy
The cure for leprosy had not yet been discovered and the contagious disease was regarded with horror.
Greek island leprosy. Haunting images of the asylum where disfigured sufferers were sent to die on greek island. A 4000 year old skeleton found in india in 2009 bore erosion patterns similar to those found in skeletons of lepers in europe dating to the middle ages. The last inhabitant a priest did not leave the island till 1962 in order to maintain the greek orthodox tradition of commemorating a buried person 40 days 6 months 1 year 3 years and 5 years after their death.
Leprosy the oldest known disease to man was one of the most feared and reviled diseases. It is said that the greek government turned the island into a leper colony to scare away the remaining turks. Inside an abandoned leper colony.
Against the backdrop of spinalonga the inspiration for her best selling novel the island which was successfully adapted for greek television mrs. Nicknamed as the island of the living dead spinalonga lies at the natural harbor of elounda in the prefecture of lassithi in crete. Hislop sent a message of optimism that we will overcome the crisis pointing out the similarities and differences between leprosy and the pandemic.
Despite being a small barren island of 85 acres it carries a long history and holds a special place in the greeks hearts while it preserves its beauty notwithstanding of its dark past. Leprosy derives from the ancient greek word lepra meaning scaly. Approximately 400 people inhabited the island over the half century.
The island was subsequently used as a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. Lovokomeio leper colony on the island of chios opened in 1378 but has. In spite of its long and turbulent history today spinalonga is mainly known as the leper island.
Less than 50 years ago spinalonga was the place greece sent people with leprosy to die one of europes last surviving colonies of its kind.