The Krallis family can be found in Molyvos as early as the late seventeen hundreds. By the late nineteenth century they were part of a small circle of Greek and Turkish families involved in representing Molyvos to the Ottoman authorities and essentially running the village. This interesting blend of Greek identity with active participation in the Ottoman empire’s social and economic life can be seen in the folk art decorating the walls of the Krallis Mansion – currently in the stewardship of the Athens School of Arts – where images of Alexander the great stand opposed to whirling dervishes and depictions of Istanbul, the imperial centre towards which Molyvos and more generally the Island of Lesvos were directed.
After the incorporation of the Island in the Greek state in 1912 the family retained its prominent position in the village. In the mid-1920s Ioannes Krallis, father of the current owner of the neighbouring Molyvos Manor, built the power generator for Molyvos’ electric lighting. The power generator close to the harbour provided the village with electricity until the late 50s when Molyvos became part of Lesvos’ grid. Still, the second world war and family deaths led the Krallis family to Athens in the late 40s. Today Stratis and Nana spend six months a year in Molyvos and the rest of their time at their home in Athens. Their sons Dimitris and Yiannis live in Vancouver, BC and Athens.
