If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 601

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windmills, Mykonos, Greece

 

This is an unused postcard with a color photograph of the Mykonos windmills.  It has a divided back and the title of the photo in four languages but no other information.  Easily recognizable as windmills, nevertheless, they are quite different looking than the stereotypical Dutch windmills.

 

These windmills are an iconic feature of the Greek island of Mykonos.  They can be seen from every point of the village of Mykonos and are the first thing seen when arriving in the harbor.  There are 16 windmills on the island.  Most of them face north where the strongest winds blow almost all year round.  Seven of the windmills are located on the landmark hill of Chora.  Most of them were built by the Venetians in the 1500s.  Primarily used to mill wheat, the windmills were an important source of income for the island inhabitants.  Use of the windmills gradually declined until it ceased altogether in the mid-20^th century.  One of the windmills was converted into a museum.  All of them are similar, with a round shape, white color, a pointed roof and very small windows. 

 

Mykonos is part of the Cyclades.  Also known as Chora, or town in English, it carries the nickname of “The Island of the Winds” due to the very strong winds that are found there.  About 10,000 people live on Mykonos.  The first mention of people, the Carians, living on the island comes from Herodotus.  The Ionians followed next and then Mykonos later came under the control of Rome.  It was a prosperous trading center until the end of the 18^th century.  Sailing and merchant activity supported the economy.  Today tourism has become the dominant source of the economy. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykonos_windmills

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykonos