Drosoulites

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The term refers to a long procession of visions, seen by residents in the Fragokastello area in Crete, Greece. The phenomenon is rumored to be visible every year, on the anniversary of the Battle of Fragokastello (17th of May) or even in early June near a small village in southern Crete.

[edit] The phenomenon of Drosoulites

The visions, as described by witnesses, consist of a group of human-like shadows dressed in black, walking or riding, armed with weapons, moving from the church of Agios Charalambos and advancing towards the old fort Castel Franco (Fragokastello). Legend has it that this group of people are Greek fighters that died during the Battle of Fragokastello (17th May 1828) and since then they appear as supernatural beings in the area.

The ghost-army is lead by Hatzimihalis Dalianis, the chief of the Greek troops (350 men) in the battle. The army took refuge in the fort during the War of independence against the Turks, where they died after a seven-day siege.

The local people named them Drosoulites (the "dew men") due to the time of day that the phenomenon is taking place. The phenomenon is observed when the sea is calm and the atmosphere is moist and before the sun goes too high up in the sky. It usually lasts about 10 minutes.

The shadows are visible from the valley at a distance of 1000 m. Many have tried to explain this in a scientific way, and at one time it was explained as a mirage from the coast of north Africa, but still there is no accepted consensus. The appearance of the Drosoulites is documented over the ages. In 1890 a transient Turkish army, took the images for rebels and fled away. Even during the last World War, a German patrol is said to have opened fire on the visions.