It was one of the most touching events of the end of 2022. Perhaps because it was dedicated to the memory of a man who worked quietly and tirelessly to spread Greek culture in Britain. Therefore, it was logical that the entire diaspora of Greece and Cyprus, as well as many British scientists and her friends, would be “present” at this “spiritual memorial service” for Matti Xila-Egon (1935-2020). It was at the United Kingdom Hellenic Archaeological Commission Winter Lecture held some time ago in the Grand Hall of King’s College London. The distinguished archaeologist Antonis Kotzonas, Associate Professor of Mediterranean History and Archeology at New York University, former Committee Fellow and who knew the deceased personally, is speaking. The topic of the report was quite fascinating, as it concerned the rise and fall of a city in Crete, which was known in antiquity, but remains little studied today. We are talking about Lyktos, a Greco-Roman city in the interior of central Crete, sung by Homer, which Hesiod considered the birthplace of Zeus and Aristotle the cradle of the famous Spartan civilization. The city repeatedly fought with Knossos, was completely destroyed, but quickly recovered and was abandoned in the Middle Ages.

The event was opened by the President of the Committee, Dr. Zetta Theodoropoulou-Polychroniadis, prefaced by a video in which former scientists spoke online about the work of the Committee and the great contribution of Mattis Xilas-Egon. The latter described with gratitude the decisive role of her presence in their personal development. It is recalled that since 1986, 75 wonderful young men and women have been able to complete or continue their studies in archeology thanks to this institution, which Chiotissa of the Diaspora supported wholeheartedly. Her children, Nikos and Stamatia, continue her work with generous donations. In fact, her daughter Stamatia met guests who crossed the threshold of the university in the London cold. A small detail, the hall was decorated, as at all lectures during Matti’s lifetime, with garlands of white and blue flowers, to match our national color.

The lecture reviewed the discovery of Lyktos since the Renaissance, by Cretan and foreign scholars who visited the site and sometimes retrieved antiquities for export to Venice and other places. At the dawn of Cretan archeology, Arthur Evans and other great Italian and German archaeologists were interested in his excavations. However, the leading cretologist Stefanos Xanthoudis managed in 1912 not to give the ancient city to foreigners. More than a century later, his vision is being realized by Antonis Kotsonas, Angelos Chaniotis and Vasiliki Sityakakis, who have been carrying out extensive excavations since 2021 under the auspices of the Athens Archaeological Society.