Το ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα της Ευρυδίκης Λειβαδά «Στα Στενά της Χίμαιρας» παρουσιάζεται στο Queens College (S.U.N.Y.), την Πέμπτη 30 Οκτωβρίου 2014.

THE CENTER FOR BYZANTINE & MODERN GREEK STUDIES AND THE FEDERATION OF CEPHALONIAN&ITHACIAN SOCIETIES “ODYSSEUS”

Cordially invite you to join us for the presentation of the book

The Straits of Chimera

The Adventures of the Greek Navigator Juan De Fuca The first European in today’s SW Canada By Evridiki Livada Duca

Introduction by the Author Evridiki Livada Duca

Book presentation by Professor Louka T. Katseli

University of Athens Former Minister of National Economy

Thursday, October 30th, 12:15-1:30pm Rosenthal Library, Rm 230 Queens College

65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Queens, NY 11367

The book was published by The Federation of Cephalonian & Ithacian Societies “Odysseus”

Under the auspices of The Center for Byzantine & Modern Greek Studies Translation was Funded by The Maria Tsakos Foundation

Lunch Reception to Follow RSVP by October 23, 2014: Email: qc.byzantine.center@gmail.com Center Tel: 718-997.4520 Federation Odysseus Tel :718-415-7101

The true story of the first European in West Canada, the life and adventures of the Greek navigator Ioannis-Apostolos Focas- Valerianos whose Spanish name-Juan de Fuca-was given to the straits between the southern part of Vancouver Island and the north of the Olympic Peninsula, somewhere in the faraway boundaries between Canada and the U.S.A.

He was born in Kefallonia, Greece, around 1532. Enchanted by the sea at an early age, he soon became an excellent navigator and sailed through Venice to Spain, where he decided to stay. He changed his name to Juan de Fuca and in 1556 enlisted in the Spanish Navy, which he served for over forty years.

On December 5, 1578, he was captured by the English corsair Francis Drake who used him as navigator on his ship to guide him to unknown territories.

In 1588 Juan de Fuca was captured once more, this time by Thomas Cavendish.

The Viceroy of Mexico proposed to de Fuca to explore the northern shores of America and discover the mythical “Straits of Anian” that would enable the Spanish to safely transport their treasures-promising him a generous compensation which was never given.

His first attempt in the spring of 1589 was unsuccessful. In 1592 he discovered the Straits which today separate Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.

In 1594 he decided to set sail for his native country. In 1596 he found himself in Venice where he met Michael Lok, English Consul in Aleppi, Syria.

Disillusioned and saddened by the Spanish, Juan de Fuca shared his story with Lok and asked if he could act as a mediator between de Fuca and the English, proposing to lead them to the “Straits of Anian.” In 1596 Juan de Fuca reached his native island of Kefallonia and maintained a correspondence with Lok for the next five years. When Lok finally obtained the necessary funds to finance the expedition, he immediately went to Zakynthos and tried to contact his friend.

Unfortunately, the long awaited news never reached de Fuca for he had passed away, sometime around 1602.