CUMA

Meeting Point: Büyükhüsun /// Location

A Village in the Aegean

Since the ancient Greeks -if not before- the Aegean has been a melting pot for civilisations. Perhaps, it is the geographical location that has enabled the spreading of cultures and civilisations across the seas through the trade links. But it is also the fertile land that attracted many cultures and rewarded them all in abundance. It is this land that has been a home to vast olive groves producing the golden liquor of olive oil.

It is still the olive oil which has the biggest portion in the local income. However, starting from 1980's onwards the trend of buying land or houses in the area located on the Northern Aegean has been accelerating, changing land values in the area and shifting the sectors bringing income.

Büyükhüsun is a small village of 500 habitants, located on the Aegean shore, across the Greek Island of Lesvos. Situated 83km away from Çanakkale on the Dardanelles, it is at the skirts of the mythological mountain Ida. Being a settled Yoruk nomads' village, the inhabitants earn their living mostly by olive agriculture (soap, organic olive and olive oil), animal farming and stone masonry.

A distinguishing feature of Büyükhüsun is that the people from the big cities who bought land in the village were eager to build houses that reflected their urban background while taking into consideration the architectural heritage of the village. The most renowned example of this synthesis is the 2004 Aga Khan Reward winning B2 House by the architect Han Tümertekin. Therefore Büyükhüsun is a village where already the urban and rural communities have met and started the negotiations on the future of the Aegean.

Place of Interest in the Surrounding Area

ASSOS (BEHRAMKALE) is 6km away from Büyükhüsun. It is an ancient Greek city which accepted the sovereignty of the Lydians in the 6th century BC, and surrendered to the Macedonians like many other West Anatolian cities during the Asian Campaign of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. The Temple of Athena, which is on the crown of the Acropolis built in 540-530 BC, alongside the Agora and Agora Temple, Southern and Northern stoas, bouleterion, gymnasium, theatre and necropolis are amongst the most interesting parts of the city. It is the settlement where Aristotle had his philosophy school.

KADIRGA COVE takes its name from Ottoman times when the galleys of the Sultan's navy were pulled into this cove. It is the one and only Blue Flag awarded beach due to its cleanliness in the region. The cove is an open beach with its hinterland covered with olive trees.

KOZLU VILLAGE is 1km away from Büyükhüsun. The village keeps the antique settlement Lamponia that was established in 7th Century BC, within its borders. Heredotos mentions the city as Troas City captured by commander Otanes during the reign of Persian King Darius. Of the settlement overlooking the Edremit bay, there stands large stones city wall and city gates upright.