Mastic

The Chios Mastic Museum has an indissoluble geographical connection with the traditional art of mastic cultivation, which is showcased and represented in a unique way. The Museum is located near Pyrgi village, in the centre of Mastichochoria (Mastic Villages), on the southern part of Chios. It is only in this part of the Mediterranean region that the mastic tree (“skínos”) is cultivated and from which mastíha (mastic) is produced. The Museum belongs to the Network of thematic Museums of technology created by the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation (PIOP).

Nowadays, on southern Chios there are 24 Mastic villages, the name of which indicates the importance of mastic for the specific geographical area. The pilot that will be implemented at the Chios Mastic Museum seeks to investigate the impact of the connection of mastic cultivation with the specific area and to address the challenges related to the capturing and representation of this particular art that is inextricably linked to daily life of this area. In addition, the pilot offers the opportunity to research unique data related to the skill based on cottage industry, which is collected and organized by the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association.

Mastic cultivation, a family technique that remains unchanged over the centuries, requires painful and tiring care all year round, equally by men and women of all ages. The tasks and occupations are distributed according to the gender and age of the growers. Men take care of planting, pruning, and the soil preparation. Women (and children mainly in the past) gather the harvest and prepare the raw product, while the elderly are responsible for conveying the relevant know-how to future generations. This special and so remarkable culture, which developed around the cultivation of mastic, represents a wide social event, in various phases of which moral values such as solidarity, mutual aid and cooperation are promoted and strengthened. Traditions and myths are preserved through the local language, some of which have a religious character, such as the one with the tree that "cried" when it witnessed the death of Saint Isidore. The know-how of mastic cultivation follows certain rules and traditional characteristics which confirm its originality and uniqueness, although the process is constantly evolving through the use of new techniques and methods.