| Oral traditions are used to reconstruct the narrative of the “killing of Tsoulis”, a janissary whose profligacy provoked the anger of Greek Orthodox Cretans and who was murdered at Selli in Chortasa, Lassithi in 1817. This is an improvised folk epic-satiric poem, preserved and published in fragmentary form, with footnote commentary and the most important variants of certain excerpts. The same historical event is linked to the custom of adding stones to the cairn on Tsoulis’ grave, which was still observed in the mid-20th century. |