Saga Fianna and St Nicholas of Chania

   I have finished the other four Fianna warriors. This time there is a banner bearer among them. I am not so happy with the result of the flag. I didn't paint the aluminium foil white as it is recommended by the manufacturer but I stuck the flag straight to the foil. The result is a silky feel which is inappropriate for a flag of the dark ages! Anyway, now it is too late to correct it, just it is a lesson learned always to abide by the rules!

Family photo

   Three days ago it was St Nicholas day. So, my wife and me, we went for a walk at the center of Chania. There, one can see a unique church, the only one in Greece that has a bell tower and a minaret! It was built in 1320 as part of the Dominican monastery of St Nicholas. Later, during ottoman occupation it was used as barracks before it was turned to a mosque, known as Hiougar Tzamissi (The mosque of the ruler). The legend says that the sword of the Darvish, who was first to enter the city, was kept there. In 1918 it was turned to the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas and in 1950 its bell tower was built.

   That's it for today! Stay tuned for more!  

Saga Irish Warlord, Fianna and the Venetian harbor of Chania

   I just finished the first four Fianna warriors and their Warlord. Following the stereotypes about Irish people, I painted their clothes various shades of green and their hair brown-red auburn. The shield transfers are products of Little Big Men Studios.

Warlord

Fianna warriors

   In the meanwhile here in Chania, my wife and me, we visited the old Venetian harbor of the city. The Venetian rule period (1252-1645) was followed by the Ottoman rule period (1645-1898) with a period of Egyptian domination (1831-1841). We walked along the coasts of the harbor where someone can visit the Kucuk Hasan Mosque from the period of Ottoman occupation. Kucuk Hasan was the first Ottoman commandant of the city. The Mosque is called Giali Tzamissi, which means the "Seaside Mosque" because of its place next to the sea. Today, it is used as an exhibition center. 

The Kucuk Hasan Mosque

 

   Then, we visited the Bastion of St.Nicholas of Molos, which is located in the center of the breakwater of the harbor. The Bastion took its name from the nearby homonym small temple. The breakwater ends at the Lighthouse. It was built by the Venetians and was reconstructed by the Egyptians, who gave it a shape of a minaret.

The Lighthouse and the Bastion of St. Nicholas of Molos 

   After such a long walk, it was time for BBQ! We grilled on charcoals a sausage more than three meters long!  

   That's it for today! Stay tuned for more! 

Saga Irish warband WIP and Aptera fortress

   Next WIP warband is the Irish one. The warband consists of a warlord,  2x4 Fianna (Hearthguards), 8 Bonnachts (Warriors) and a dog handler with two women warriors and five dogs (Warriors). Twenty five miniatures in total. 

The warband

Warlord

Fianna

Fianna

Warriors

Warriors

A woman among the first eight warriors

A dog handler, two women and five dogs

   My wife and me, we visited the Aptera fortress on a hill overlooking the Souda bay, 12km east of Chania town. It was built during the period of Ottoman occupation of Crete.

   That's it for today! Stay tuned for more!

Scots Soer-Chele and Shipyard Moro of Chania

   The last eight warriors of my Scots warband are ready.

   Some days ago my blog had the highest number of visits ever! Not bad!

   Yesterday I visited the Shipyard Moro, the museum of ancient and traditional shipbuilding of Chania. There, someone can see the representation of the Minoan ship "Minoa" of 16th - 15th century BC.

The interior of the museum, which is a dockyard of the Venetian period of Chania.

"Minoa"

A picture of "Minoa" on Fresco

The stern of "Minoa"

and some nautical knots!

   That's it for today! Stay tuned for more!