Dance Women Zalongo,sad story!

 Above the village of Kamarina in Greece towering cliffs of mount Zalongo.It was here during the war of Slyotov 1803, a tragic event occurred in 50 women with their children had committed mass suicide in order not to get captured by soldiers of the Ottoman army of Ali Pasha.According to legend,the women danced and sang, and then threw their children off cliffs and leaping yourself.This incident is preserved in history as the zalongo.

Soulioti were refugees of the Ottoman origin of the Greek village Paramythia who settled in remote mountainous areas of Epirus and founded their autonomy.Immigrants gradually assimilated with the local population, grew in strength and numbers until it has become quite powerful for successful resistance to the Ottomans.Soulioti did not pay taxes to the Empire,and instead demanded a tribute from the local Turks.In the second half of the 18th century, they dominated the 60 villages in the area.

In the first battles of the soldiers of Ali Pasha were defeated,as the previous conquerors.But in the end he realized that such a serious enemy can be defeated only through treachery.First, he cut all routes of supply of food,until the enemy has exhausted his resources.Then with the help of a traitor in the ranks of Slyotov,the troops of the Ottomans besieged the city and eventually succeeded.The agreement was signed,where Ali Pasha promised not to harm the remaining suliotes, allowing them to move freely anywhere.But the Sultan had no plans to adhere to the Treaty and he sent his soldiers to capture of hostages.


The story of mass suicides in Zalongo spread across Europe and shocked the imagination of people.This is reflected in the form of poems,songs and dances in honor of this heroic act.French painter Ari Scheffer drew on this theme of monumental painting,which is represented in the Louvre.
In 1961, on the cliff, Salonga was built a beautiful modernist sculpture.The monument depicts six abstract female figures, holding each other's hands in the dance and heading to the cliff edge.Monument Salonga 13 meters high has become the most popular attraction in the region.