June 28, 2009
Life and Death in Kritsa, Crete (Κριτσά, Κρήτη)
Γεώργος Αποστολάκης (Yiorgos Apostalakis). Age at death: 40. Valedictory gunfire both at the church and at graveside.
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11 Responses to “Life and Death in Kritsa, Crete (Κριτσά, Κρήτη)”
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great to see these, Phil.
Cindy, does your How to Be a Mexican class have any Greek spillover?
The scooter angled in one direction, the coffin headed elsewhere.
The hunched, slumped man shuffling along in the last couple of images in the sequence below the fold. A grief-stricken somnambulist.
In the second of the two shots you can see that he has been overtaken by the more briskly moving figures in the procession.
These images are arresting. I don’t know what to speak of first. The vantage–fabulous–the shadows cast. There’s something about the glass-topped coffin that fascinates. We don’t have the same caskets in the States that I know of. I don’t have words yet.
Yes–I agree, Rick. The first thing that hit me here is the perfect angle–the “poor god’s” view of death’s little thread. How large can tears be on a very hot day? Who is keeping count? Genius photographers, that’s who.
The unheard soundtrack. The gunfire accompanying the journey of Yiorgos Apostalakis.
The church of Aghios Georgios (Άγιος Γεώργιος) is the largest in the village and seems to be where all the funerals take place. The village cemetery is about a 10-15 minute walk. Following the service which lasts hours they carry the coffin through the streets to the cemetery followed by family. The preferred route seems to be past the front of the house – this is the first time I have seen a glass topped coffin I must say.
I have often thought of a series of photos but have always felt uncomfortable, like I am intruding. I’m not sure what pushed me on this occasion as I had no idea it was a glass topped coffin.
Oddly, I have a Greek friend who for years has been telling me that a series of photos exploring scenes at the graveside would be interesting – I choke every time he mentions it – picture it, this foreigner taking photos at this emotionally charged time and we won’t even go into the fact that guns always seem to be present. I always tell him, the safety of my balcony is about as much risk as I need.
Deron, thank you – I eagerly await Cindy’s thoughts on the Mexican/Greek spillover.
Sheila, thank you for your words and assistance – stolen wi-fi has its limitations!
Rick, the vantage feels odd – the looking down somhow sepearates me from the reality of the street – almost invisible.
Daryl, the “poor god’s” view of death’s little thread Fucking wonderful, thank you.
Phil, the angle from upstairs makes these images so interesting/disturbing. I feel like I need to be very, very quiet so as not to be discovered looking.
The glass-topped coffin reminds me of a grocery store sheet cake in a box with a cellophane window that displays the cheery message scrawled in colored icing: Happy Birthday! Congratulations! Happy Anniversary! Look At Me All Dressed Up and Dead!
Hey MGS, when I’m dead, don’t put me in one of those
This is breaking my heart too.
Kathy, I think I held my breath until they had passed.