…his fame spread across the island. People scuttled like rabbits to watch him speed through dirt roads, streets and alleys. The children would run around shouting, "Here comes papa-Tziritis…here comes papa-Tziritis". His name became a legend and much sung by folk artists:

"I wish I were as swift

as papa-Tziritis

to wander round Crete

in less than a minute"

For most people papa-Tziritis was a true descendant of Digenis Akritas (a mythical Byzantine warrior guarding the borders of the Byzantine empire). People perceived the feats of papa-Tziritis to exceed human capabilities. They fashioned stories of papa-Tzirities leaping across river beds, catching up with hares, running past Turkish horsemen, and even race the wind. He would tuck the lower end of his long breeches to his wait band, grip a stone in each hand and off he sped. He started off at a slow pace to warm up, then he dashed like an arrow with feet barely touching the ground. He covered long distances at incredibly short times. The inhabitants of Lassithi, Venerato and Heraklion have scores of stories to tell about this incredible man whose name is now part of folk legends.

 

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