The name of the island, Sýros, derives from the word “Sour” or “Osoúra” which in the ancient Phoenician language means rocky, whereas Homer in his epic poem “Odyssey” refers to the island as “Syríi”. The island of Syros stands at the geographical and administrative centre of the Cyclades, yet its story is far richer than…
Kýthnos island had different names over the centuries, each one with its own meaning. The name Kýthnos derived from the leader of the Drýopes, Kýthno, who initially conquered the island. In the 12th century AD the island was named Thermía, due to the thermal springs that still exist in the bay of Loutrá. The ancient…
The island took its name by the hero Kéo, son of god Apollo and the nymph Rodoéssi. His presence on the island is estimated around the 11th century BC. Earlier to that, the island was named Ydroúsa (=watery), due to its many wells, rivers and dense vegetation. According to mythology, when its name was still…
The name of Tinos is borne from her first resident, Tino. In ancient times there were other names, like Ydroúsa, which reveals that the island had lots of water, or Ofioúsa, most likely because of the multitude of snakes that existed here. Tinos was one of the first islands of Greece to have inhabitants (8000…
According to mythology, the island was named after Ándro, son of Ánios, who was a son to god Apollo. However, there is another theory, supported by the ancient Diódoros of Sicily, that the island was named after the general Ándro of King of Crete Radámanthy. Ándros was also known in antiquity as Ydroúsa, Lasía, Nonagría…
Mykonos, one of the most recognisable islands of the Aegean, combines a subtle ancient past with a powerful modern identity. Its name is traditionally linked to Mykonos, a mythical hero and grandson of Apollo, thus connecting the island to the sacred aura of nearby Delos, one of the most important religious centres of antiquity. In…
From the 15th century BC. up until the defeat of the Hellenes by the Romans, Markópoulo was known by the name Myrrinoús. After that, the town started to decline and during the Byzantine years there were only a few rural settlements in its place. Around the 15th century AD, the family of Giánnis Markópoulos settles…
Monemvasia, from the Greek words meaning “single entrance”, takes its name from the narrow access linking the fortified town to the mainland. In antiquity, the site was known as Akra Minoa, possibly reflecting early maritime activity associated with the Minoans or its position at the limits of their influence. The dramatic rock formation took its…
Gerakas, a deeply indented and fully sheltered inlet in the southeastern Peloponnese, is one of the safest natural harbours in the region. Its fjord-like shape made it an ideal anchorage from antiquity, as well as a point of control over maritime routes along the coast between the Argolic and Laconian gulfs. In antiquity, the area…
Kyparissi, a secluded and particularly picturesque settlement in southeastern Peloponnese, retains a strong sense of authenticity, as for centuries it was accessible primarily by sea. The main village lies slightly inland, while its coastal extensions function as its natural harbour, forming a close relationship between land and sea. The area has been inhabited since antiquity,…