WHO ARE WE?
We are the newly-formed website for Kytherians from Southern California. We will always be linked to the Kytherian Society of California but geographically we need to form our own group so we can meet together.The idea for a Southern California Kytherian Society (or SoCalKyth Society) and website came from a luncheon held on August 18, 2007 to bring together Southern California Kytherians to meet George Poulos, Lead Collator and Australian Administrator of Kythera-Family.net and also Secretary, Coordinator of Information Technology and Librarian for the Kytherian Association of Australia. He's a very inspiring speaker and advocate for all Kytherians to bond. We have a lot of catching up to do since the Australian Kytherians were able to keep in touch with each other and have amassed a huge genealogical record. (see LINKS page for the link to kythera-family.net website.)
We are descendants of a hearty people who left their cherished homeland to seek their fortune or better their economic condition. They spread out over the world, establishing colonies of Kytherians in Asia Minor, America, Australia, and even Japan!
Kythera (or Cythera or Cerigo or Tsirogo) is a small island off the tip of the Peloponnese peninsula. It was named for the Goddess Aphrodite and had a main cult to her with many temples built in the Goddess honor. These temples are being discovered by archaeologists today. The island came under the control of many other nations but the spirit of the people could never be conquered. All of us of Kytherian ancestry have inherited that spirit.
The Kytherians who came to the United States arrived in New England and settled in Boston, New Bedford, Lawrence, and other cities in Massachusetts. From there, they fanned out throughout the United States, finally reaching the West Coast. In California, their numbers were small - being overwhelmed by emigrants from Mani and Central Greece. Despite their small numbers, travel, and geographic challenges, they tried to keep in touch with each other. But these same challenges of geography and travel eroded these efforts.
We, the newer Kytherian generation, are now attempting to rectify this by reestablishing a link with each other. This site is for ALL Kytherians in the Southern California area -- as far north as Bakersfield and south to the border. If you are of Kytherian descent, or even think you are, we want to hear from you!
As this website evolves, we will be enhancing, changing, and enlarging it. For now, we have a start!
This website is a works-in-progress and will never be completed. If you have suggestions, comments, etc., please send them to Georgia Pine at kythera2007@gmail.comCreate a free website at Webs.com