NEW TOURIST ATTRACTION IN GREECE

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30914, 22 November 1965, Page 11

NEW TOURIST ATTRACTION IN GREECE

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter) ATHENS. Nudism may soon become an additional attraction in sunny Greece.

The Prefecture of the Dodecanese Islands has decided to establish a “nudist paradise” on the Island of Cos, as part of its five-year tourist development programme.

Cos is the third largest of the Dodecanese Islands, in the Aegean Sea. It owes its fame, above all, to Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine, who was born there around 460 B.C. Even in ancient times this island was known for the transparent qualities of the fabrics worn by high-class ladies of the Roman Empire. So transparent were these fabrics that it was said that a woman could not say she was naked without lying. The Prefecture is making plans to set up the naturist club in the Aghios Nikolaos area, on the eastern coast of the island, an area chosen

because it is surrounded by a dense belt of pine trees and lies far off the main highway. Its beautiful coastline, dented with picturesque coves, and its crystal-waters make it an ideal setting for the nudist camp. The club will be under the direct control and supervision of the tourist committee of Cos, assisted by a panel composed of higher officials of the island’s gendarmerie corps. Wire Fence According to present plans, the camp will be sealed off from the landside by a high wall of barbed wire stretching about half a mile to protect the club’s members from any intrusion. From the sea, the club will be sheltered by floating barriers closely watched by the coastguard authorities. Greece’s first nudist paradise should be ready in May next year. Meantime the Prefecture will study the con-

ditions and restrictions imposed at nudist camps in other countries.

The camp on Cos will be open to Greek members as well as foreign visitors, provided that they fill the necessary prerequisites regarding the reasons why they support nudism, their idea of what nudism means, and its beneficial effects on the human mind and body. Foreign tourists Wishing to become members of the camp will be required to present a card showing that they already belong to a nudist club abroad. Failure to produce such a card will mean rejection of their application, since it will be difficult otherwise to avoid infiltration of the camp by adventureseekers. Written Test Greeks wanting to join the club will have to pass a written test, for which they will be given grades. These will indicate whether they are eligible for membership. This daring initiative of the Dodecanese Prefecture has inevitably come under fire from various, conservative quarters in Greece, a country of strict traditional ethics.

Supporters of the idea for the camp retort that their arguments are old-fashioned and unfounded. They point out that the nudism practised by the ancient Athenians laid the foundations of a spiritual and artistic civilisation, which inspired music and poetry and consecrated the harmopy of ancient sculpture; as is evident in the various classic works of art.

They recall the teachings of Zeno of Citium, the founder of the stoic philosophy who lived in 300 B.C. His belief was that “to live as nature intended is to live in accordance with virtue.”