Tyros

Fifteen minutes before you arrive in Leonidio (depending on how fast you drive), is the town of Tyros. It is a very popular coastal town in Arkadia, with much of it's industry focused around the port.

On the main highway, as you are driving trough Tyros there are a number of shops, one of which sell the most exquisite hand made 100 % Wool rugs. These pieces are exact replicas of rugs made in Arkadia and around Greece from the 1500's - 1600'sAD. After centuries, the art, tradition and tecnique are still maintained. An old loom and tools are still the method of making these rugs by hand. Many of the colors are also specially dyed, and many of the styles are designed by the creators, a mother and daughter team. One of their most recent projects is designing rugs for the 2004 Olympic Games with two columns and in neutral colors. They have been commissioned by a shop in Athens. These rugs will sell for 35000 to 40000 drachmas.

The two women who make these rugs puts their hearts into each piece. It takes approximately eight days to make a small rug, depending on the detail. Large rugs are around 1 1/2 meters by 2 1/2 meters and take approximately two months to make. A great amount of detail is placed in each one. You can even get them to make "specially ordered" pieces. For example, if you simply provide them with a picture of an old style rug they can make it. One rug which they have replicated was found at the Monestary of Elona which contained the date woven into the rug, dating 1600 AD. This rug has a flower pot in the center and is called "The flower pot of life", " H glastra ths zois". Its a very symbolic piece. Other symbols found within some of the rugs are shapes that symbolize the haircombs of the young maidens who used to make the rugs, and another symbol is a shape of a paximathi (the dry bread often eaten back then). Some of these patterns were found on woven sacks that held grain and barley.

This shop and the display of rugs can be found on the main highway that goes through Tyros, right next to the SHELL gas station.

Contact Niko Psarologos or the Psarologo Family to get more information

Telephone: 0757 / 41467 (OR) 41842