ABSTRACT
Meronas is one of the largest villages of the Amari valley and renowned for its abundant springs and leafy cherry orchards (see Fig. 3.1). It is here that Theodorakis spent the greater part of his time engaged in the traditional activities of village life: growing his crops, tending his vines and sheep, making his wine. He also pursued other activities: he owned a small tobacconist shop in the town and, as a praktikos, kept his home open as a kind of informal clinic for the sick. According to his son, this practice made considerable demands upon his father; certainly much time too would be required at key seasons of the year for gathering medicinal herbs in the surrounding countryside and preparing these and other materia medica for use.
