Carrier pigeons, one of the oldest breeds in the entire world, have carried messages for centuries. They transfer them to the right recipient and after delivering them they fly back.
You may not know that carrier pigeons have very strong wings, sharp vision and an unparalleled sense of smell. By this, i.e. the sense of smell, but also the longing to return to their dovecote, they overcome all adversity, bad weather conditions, the dangers of birds of prey and everything unpleasant that comes their way and return to their home, i.e. their dovecote.
Carrier pigeons, in the old days, were bred by royalty precisely to be used as messengers. Domesticated pigeons existed in many parts of the world as early as the time of the Egyptian Fifth Dynasty, about 3000 BC. Much later, around 1600 AD according to the court chronicler of the time, the then king of India had more than 20,000 pigeons, which he crossed with each other, in his court. In modern times carrier pigeons were distinguished during the Second World War where they were used extensively.
In the Cyclades, and especially on Tinos, there are hundreds of dovecotes, – more than 600 according to the island’s inhabitants – exquisitely decorated, built in places sheltered from the wind in ravines and on slopes, near springs where the pigeons can drink water and cool off. Some are one story; others are two and three stories high. The entrance door to the dovecote is made of wood and properly cared for, so that snakes, mice and various predators, which are the pigeons’ enemies, do not enter. The owners of course have keys to enter and clean the space so that it is properly maintained. It is likely that the breeding of pigeons was brought to the island by the Venetians, in the year 1207. The oldest evidence of the existence of a pigeon breed is from 1726, when a Catholic priest bequeathed his pigeon breed to an inhabitant of the island. The dovecote used to be a symbol of superiority, due to its owner’s origin and financial wealth.
We travel with our car to the beautiful island of Tinos and try to get to know it as well as possible. Every small village is a pleasant surprise. At every turn there is a flock of pigeons, but also in the villages, on the heights, you see them standing, white under the white sun. This is an experience we will remember.
Marni Hadjiemanouil