Page 34 - Turkinsurance Digital Magazine

32 cultural outlook

Cunda (Alibey) Island

The natural beauty and cultural heritage of Cunda Island are the Roman and Byzantine eras. The island lost its position during
cherished and assiduously maintained by its people. the Middle Age because of the threat pirates’ raids. The threat
receded towards the end of the Middle Age, and the development
A causeway connects Ayvalık to Cunda Island, but mari- of the island resumed. The famous geographer and cartographer
time-minded visitors might enjoy a trip on one of the boats that Piri Reis described the islands as the “Yunt Islands” in his Book
ply the sound. The unique and friendly atmosphere of the island of Navigation (Kitab-ı Bahriye, 1521) and referred to Cunda by
instantly surrounds you. As you approach the historical parts of the same name. According to the records of the Ottoman State,
Alibey Island you come face to face with a truly rich cultural the name was officially registered as Yunda, although the name
heritage. used in day to day speech became “Cunda”. Researchers refer to
Cunda in the 18th and 19th centuries as a rich settlement inde-
Archaeological excavations at Alibey Island indicate that there pendent of Ayvalık, and an urban island in the Mediterranean.
were settlements in the area in the Early and Late Bronze Ages In the 19th century immigration from Crete and Lesbos islands
and in the Iron Age. Following the Ionic Migration, Aeolian tribes helped preserve the unique culture and physical heritage of the
settled on Cunda and other islands. Traces of human settlements island. The name of the island was changed from “Cunda” to
have led scholars to the opinion that the most prominent islands “Alibey” as a tribute to Ali Çetinkaya, who, as commander of the
of the archipelago were Maden Island (Pordeselene), Çıplak Is- 172nd Regiment during the first days of the War of Liberation,
land (Chalkys), and Cunda (Nesos) Island. The archaeological organised the defence of Ayvalık.
evidence also shows that Nesos maintained its importance during