CHIOS - VASSILEONIKO
The
village of Vassileoniko is located 6 kilometers Southwest of the city of
Chios, capital of the Prefecture, and very close to the <area of Kambos>.
The name Vassileoniko or Vassileonikos is compound
by the words Vassileon and Oikos (Vassileon = of the Kings and -(o)ikos
= home) and according to the popular tradition it came from the residence
of a king who once lived in the village. It is also mentioned on Attaloss
sign which was found in Asia Minor.
In 1881, a destructive earthquake leveled the whole
village, which according to "The History of Chios" written by
G. Zolotas, was composed by a few houses with a central church, the last
of which exists until today and is called Agios Georgios. The local tradition
says, however, that at the village there were only three houses, in the
so called Valide Tsiflik (=Property of Sultans Wife) near the castle of
Doxara.
The
temple of Agios Georgios was in the center of the village and it was a small
one with only two windows. After the earthquake, a greater one was built
by the citizens of the village, who apart from having been known to be the
best gardeners, were also excellent builders.
The
estates of the Sultans found in that area, were rented for 200 coins annually
as a tax to the Sultans wife. The tenants were obliged along with the citizens
of Dafnona and those of Karies, to watch
and maintain the aqueducts of the town. After the slaughter of 1770 in Peloponnisos,
families from there came to Chios and settled in Vassileoniko with the permission
of the Turk supervisor (Agas), since the village was being closed with gates
that opened only with his permission.