AYVALIK: CUNDA ISLAND, ŞEYTAN SOFRASI( DEVIL'S DINNER TABLE)
and Church of Taxiarches
Photos by istanbullite's Bursa Correspondent Murat Alemdar
STORY OF THE DEVIL’S DINNER TABLE
According to the saying during the Ottoman era there lived a man who had isolated himself from the public and lived a mystique life on the hills of Cunda Island. His name was Panolope but people often referred to him as the “Devil”. When a famine started in the Ayvalik region religious people and priests put the blame on Panolope or the Devil. Hearing this news from a shepherd Panolope found the solution in preparing a very rich dinner table for the people of the region. People were so amazed by the food on the table that they completely forgot about Panolope and that is when he ran away and saved himself from the crowds. From then on the hill where he prepared the dinner was called the Devil’s Table.
STORY OF THE DEVIL’S FOOT PRINT
Kaz Daglari or Mount of Ida overseeing the Aegean Gulf of Edremit is the area where most of the Greek mythology takes place. Both the Pagan religion and all religions with one God have a single thing in common which is the belief that the satan was kicked out from the paradise. On the other hand in Greek Mythology this task is given to Selene, the goddess of moonlight. When Selene showed the satan the exit, according the legend he put his one foot here and the other on the Island of Lesvos and ran away.
Image:
CHURCH OF TAXIARCHES, ISLAND OF CUNDA (AKA ALI BEY ISLAND)
