Legends of Zaraka

Legend “Babola, a Kyparissi ghost”:

Legend has it that Babola was a winged monster that emerged from its cave in the cliffs behind Vrysi, in Kyparissi, to descend on the villagers’ livestock and eat them, but it would also attack young girls and boys.

No matter what the villagers did to try and exterminate the beast, their efforts were in vain. One day they collected a large number of branches which they placed in a circle, in the midst of which they hung a live sheep on a stick. The bleating of the sheep caught the attention of the monster, but as soon as it swooped down to grab the animal, the villagers, who had been hiding in the bushes nearby, set fire to the branches and burnt Babola’s wings. Unable to fly, it plunged into the sea and drowned.

That is how the village rid itself of a terrible scourge. Since then the mountain where it once had its lair has been known as Babala, and the cave as Babola.

Legend “Fairies and other sprites”:

Fairies and other sprites, usually beautiful blonde girls dressed in white, have always been a part of Zarakas’ oral traditions.

On many a moonlit night, they appeared in small glades and on footpaths, dancing and singing in an attempt to lure people travelling at night. Sometimes they would wait at Stavros, near Harakas, other times in woodland at Pistamata and Gerakas or on the beaches of Kyparissi, calling passersby to join in their dance.

Woe betide anyone who took hold of the kerchief handed to him by one of these beings, or who answered their call. They would henceforth lose the power of speech, which could only be regained by means of a magic spell.