Vendetta in Mani

Maniots use the word “gdikiomos” to describe the concept of vendetta. The acts of retaliation, namely vendettas, were a widely spread and complicated social phenomenon.

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The term “vendetta” is Italian, and it was adopted in Mani in the 20th century. The traditional name for the act of retaliation was “gdikiomos”. It was a widely spread and complicated social phenomenon, with its own terminology from the climax through its release: “chosia”, “synevgalma”, “treva”, “psychiko”, “siaxi”.

As Petros Kalonaros writes in his book “Customs of Mani”, before the establishment of the Greek state, justice in the region was served only with weapons, according to the primitive law of the strongest. There were no organised courts of law, and the most trivial disputes between locals were settled by respectable arbitrators (elders).

However, every insult, even verbal, against an individual, offended the their whole family. And the punishment was nothing less than the murder of the culprit. One who didn’t retaliate was considered a coward, unworthy and contemptible. Thus, if one wanted to be respectable, they had to comply with the rigid honour code, ready anytime to sacrifice their individuality for the family’s honour.

Maniots are criticised, because the high majority of revenge murders occurred, without a warning, in ambush. However, before any act of retaliation, hostility was clearly announced.

Another way of conducting a vendetta was an open conflict with rifles and cannons. The defeated family had to emigrate, or they went to inhabit other regions of Mani. More than 50 villages have been built, on such occasions.

(The texts are taken from the book “Maniots” from the “Greek roots” series- written by Giorgos Xepapadakos).