The oldest name of the island is “KALÝNDA”. Homer named the island, together with the island of Léros, “Kalýndai Nísoi”, and wrote that 30 ships were sent to Troy from here, together with the neighbouring islands, under the command of Pheidíppos and Antíphos Irakleidós. After the Trojan war, four ships from Árgos (Pelopónnisos), were shipwrecked on their way back home and their crews, who washed ashore in the bay of Pánormos, built the town of Árgos. This town was one of the first capitals of the island.
Kálymnos has been inhabited since before 2000BC. In the 11th century BC Dorian colonisers from Thessalía came to the island. There was a terrible earthquake in the 6th century BC, which shook the island for more than 14 days. The island of Télendos was separated from Kálymnos by the earthquake and the ancient capital of POTHAÍA sank. During the Greek Persian wars (5th century BC) the island was controlled by the city of Alikarnassós, on the side of the Persians. After the wars, the island became a member of the Athenian Allies.
Roman rule followed and the land then became Byzantine in the 3rd century AD. The island was commandered by the Knights of Ródos in the 14th – 16th centuries and when they deserted it, the island was subjugated to Turkish rule. The various conquerers of the island, especially the Romans, helped remove all of its treasures.
The people of Kálymnos picked up their arms and were among the first islanders to revolt during the Greek independence wars against the Turks in 1821. However, the Great Forces did not agree that the island should be included in the new Greek State, and they allowed that it should remain under Turkish rule along with the other islands of the Dodekánisa. In 1912, the island was conquered by the Italians and was finally reunited with Mother Greece in 1948.
Kálymnos is famous, not only throughout Greece, as the centre of Greek sponge divers (other islands with sponge divers are Nísyros, Sými, Chálki, Kárpathos and Kásos). You will feel like part of the family, when you are on the island. You might not find the cosmopolitan atmosphere that exists on other more touristic islands, but you will be comforted by the friendly environment. I noticed that many of the foreign tourists who visit the island, come year after year.
Climate: The mild weather with low humidity and sunshine, makes the island attractive for holidays all year round. You can combine both water and land sports. During the summer, the last few years, the island has organised climbing. In Póthia operates the only public school of divers in Greece, which you may attend. The greatest hobby of the islanders is of course diving after their great tradition (I happened to see a small child in Télendos, not more than 10 years of age, dive into the sea and swim back up with such a large octopus that I was scared. Undaunted the child bit the octopus on a fatal point on its head and killed it). Do not miss out on the opportunity to learn some of the secrets of sponge diving, some tours take place in the various sponge workshops on the island. If it so happens that you visit the island at Easter, you will be amazed at the unique way in which the Resurrection of Christ is celebrated (do not forget the feast at Easter includes the traditional “mouoúri” – lamb stuffed with rice and herbs – and the abundant wine which is offered).
Flavours: Apart from seafood and its many ways of preparation, you will find a large variety of other snacks.
Sightseeing: There is the church of Christós (the icon screen is the work of Giannoúlis Halepás, a sculptor from Tínos), the castle Chrysoheriás (built by the knights of Ag. Ioánnis of Ródos on the site of the ancient and later Byzantine castle), the sponge workshops and the Museums (Archaeological tel: 23113 and Naval tel: 51361), which have rich exhibits (in the Naval Museum you can admire the history of the sponge fishermen).
