In too many parts of the Kythira there are red hills, hence the place names Phyroi, Phyri Ammos, Phyri Lagada, Phyra, Phyrogremna, Phyroos Pit, Phyro Water, Kokkinoi, Red Gremna, Red Eyebrows, Red Brows, Kokkinolakuda, Red Goat, Kokkinohorafa.
This red soil is clayey and was used in pottery. In the old days when there were no cements, they made mud with red soil and lime. This mixture was used to build walls and to build houses. The redwood was creating insulation, because the cold does not penetrate it and protects it from moisture. This mud with the red soil was also used in the coal chimneys. When they were preparing the pile of wood, they used to coat the outside of the kiln with this mud, which created insulation.
Red clay used to be used on roads before cement and asphalt, because it is a heavy material.. On the road of Kapsali before it was paved with asphalt in the 1950s, a part of it was paved with redtop and to this day we call it Red Road.
The red stone was also used in the old days to light a fire. They would strike it with a piece of iron and it would spark. Next to it they had a special wick which was lit by the sparks.
