Mythos Matala / The Myth of Matala

The hippie movement, as a peaceful rebellion of youth, emerged in the 1960s in Western societies. Long-haired and dressed in colorful clothing, its followers protested against what they perceived as the bourgeois and meaningless culture of their parents, which was solely focused on prosperity and consumption. Their lifestyle, free from societal constraints and taboos, was often seen as a provocation by the older generation. In reality, the flower children were in search of a more humane way of living, seeking harmony with the world and within themselves. Matala, on the southern coast of Crete, became a center of the movement. The photo book "Mythos Matala" captures in images and text how young people from around the world attempted to lead a simple and happy life in the caves by the picturesque bay of Matala, guided by their ideals of "love & peace." The hippie movement represented the playful, peaceful side of the counterculture of the 1960s. Its unkempt, psychedelic-clad followers rejected the "bourgeois" culture of their parents with their selfish belief in prosperity, while the "bourgeois" were repelled by the subversion of societal norms and taboos by the hippies. Yet, the flower children were far from being complainers. Plagued by the shadows of war and the desire to feel a sense of harmony with the world, young people set out on a journey to find themselves. For many of them, this journey included a stop in Matala. "Mythos Matala" serves as a reminder of that unforgettable time. Lavishly illustrated with historical professional and amateur photographs, the book showcases young people from around the world who tried to live up to their ideals of love and peace by reducing life to its elements. In the primitive cave dwellings of Matala, a picturesque bay on the southern coast of Crete, happiness was within reach – albeit sometimes only for a few weeks.