The name, Schinoúsa, comes from the word schíno, which is a plant that used to grow extensively on the island. Schinoúsa was initially inhabited during the 4th millennium BC by Cycladítes, and was part of the group called “little Cyclades” together with Koufonísia, Kéro and Irakleiá, Kéros being the capital. In the years of AD,…
Historians are in disagreement where from the name of the two islands came from. Some believe it is a complex word (koufó + nisí, i.e. hollow + island), named by the many travelers of the past who named it by the many caves around the islands. Others claim the name derived from the locals in…
Donoúsa is one of the few Aegean islands that kept its original name from antiquity, Donoúsa or Denoúsa. In the past it had different names for a while, like “Viriden” named by the ancient Romans probably due to its extensive vegetation, or “Spinosa” called by the foreign sailors of the 18th and the 19th century.…
There are different theories to the origins of Náxos’ name. According to some historians, the name is believed to derive from the greek word “Ássos” (Ássos = island), whereas others claim the name comes from Náxo, son of god Apollo, who was the first settler of the island. In historic records, the island is mentioned…
The name of the island during antiquity was “Oliarós”, which means forested mountain. Historians believe, based on its name, that the island was part of Páros. Probably, due to geographical turbulences of the past, one part of the island sank and Antíparos was created. The first installment on the island is estimated to have occurred…
The first inhabitants of the island were the Cycladítes, who established themselves and lived between 3200 and 2100 BC. Then came the Minoans from Crete, who named the island Mínoa or Minoís, and lived from 2100 BC up until 1200 BC. Around 1100 BC., Arkádes from the Peloponnese arrived and installed on the island, renaming…
The name of Folégandros derives from a phoenician word which means “Rocky Land”. According to others however, the island was named by the Cretan colonists led here by Folégandros, the son of king Mínoa. Last, the ancient geographer Strávon names the island in his scriptures “Sidireíin” (= iron island), because its terrain is rough. The…
According to mythology, the name of the island derived from its first settler, Kímolos, son of god Apollo (Apollo had many kids!!!). The island was also known in antiquity as “Echinoúsa”, i.e. island of Echidnes (= snakes, in Greek), whereas the Venetians called it “Arzientera” (silver). In the 5th century BC., its civilization was rather…
The island of Polýaigos is used as a pasture for many centuries now and it is from that fact that its name comes from. Polýaigos, in greek, means many goats. It is the largest uninhabited island of the Aegean (officially recorded) with only 2 inhabitants, Mr. Pétros and Ms Elefthería, a farming couple. A very…
Milos is a unique island. Its name comes from the ancient word “vílos” meaning sheep, which later became “mílos”. However, some sources say, the island was named after Milos, the head of a royal family who was sent by the goddess Aphrodite to become the first inhabitant of the island. Geologically, Milos is almost an…