It all started when I saw a photograph of the Arch of Galerius in Thessaloniki as it looked in the late 19th century. The photographer had set up the camera under the arch, aiming it at one of its pillars, where a group of locals was standing in front of its worn carvings. The houses on either side seemed to lean against the ancient monument, which towered above their rooftops. Seeing this image brought back a familiar feeling—a mix of nostalgia and curiosity I often felt when I was a student living in the city.
I remembered wandering through Thessaloniki and coming across hidden corners that seemed to hold traces of the past. I liked imagining that these places were connected to an even older history buried beneath them, waiting to reveal itself just a little further along. At that time, when I was still quite close to childhood, I felt a lot like the kids in the story I eventually wrote. I was often enchanted by the idea of a past so rich it felt almost mythical—something that could inspire courage and spark imagination. More than that, it gave me a way to see the world where the divisions between people in the present felt smaller and less important.
The blend of East and West, and the way history and modern life came together in the city, fascinated me. As someone who loves to draw, it made me imagine all kinds of interesting scenes and little stories.
That’s what led me to create a small adventure about friendship and unity—one that went beyond the divisions and prejudices of the time. Set in late Ottoman Thessaloniki, the story brings together people from the city’s Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities. Using the city’s rich history as a backdrop, I wanted to capture and share the sense of excitement and wonder I still feel whenever I visit Thessaloniki.
A speed inking of the cover for my upcoming book, Η Μαγεμένη (L' Incantada - The Marble Girl), releasing in November 2024 by Ikaros Publishing.
