Tinian Marble Craftsmanship in Unesco list

The Tinian Marble Craftsmanship was included yesterday, December 2nd, 2015, in the Unesco List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the 10th Annual Session of the organization. This is the third cultural element of Greece that is included in this list, after the Mediterranean diet in 2013 and the Know-how of cultivating mastic on the island of Chios in 2014.

The Tinian Marble Craftsmanship is one of the most characteristic traditions of the island for many centuries now, starting from the 14th century AD. The locals are very famous marble crafters and there are many museums in Tinos dedicated to this art, such as the Museum of Marble Crafts and the Museum of sculptor Giannoulis Chalepas. Prominent Tinian marble crafters even work in the reconstruction process of the Parthenon Temple at the Acropolis, Athens.

The inscription of this tradition in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage is a chance to present some aspects of this long folk art through traditional functions and practices that continue until today. Marble-carving, especially connected with the community of Panormos in northern Tinos, provides the locals with a strong sense of historical and cultural identity. In fact, the presentation of the short film ...Only holds the mallet... received a praise by the committee and is now suggested as pattern video for presenting such traditions of cultural heritage.