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Folegandros

The name of the island comes from the Minoan Folegandro, meaning that there was Minoan presence on the island since about 1600 BC. Another explanation is that the name comes from the Phoenician ‘Phelekgundari’, which means 'dry place.' Yet another name of the island is Folekadros, which is referred to by Ptolemaios.

The island was occupied by the Dorians who were followed by the Ionians, as witnessed by ancient ruins attributed to both of these tribes. Later on, the island was under the Athenian control, to whom it paid taxes, and then under the Romans (under Tiberius) and finally under the Venetians. A castle on the island bears witness to the occupation by the Venetians. The Russians held the island, as all the others, from 1771 until it was passed on to the Turks in 1774.

Many famous archaeologists passed by the island, including Thevenot (1655) and Boschini (1658). For a time the island was unoccupied. Boschini however heard a story describing how people tried to occupy it. A cleric visited the island and decided to stay. Others heard of this and did the same. The Turks found out, and executed the cleric in a cave.

For some time after that, no one made any effort to come to the island. In 1770, Tournefort arrived, followed by Pasch van Krienen in 1771. They found out that the island had been deserted since 1715 and was just then being re-occupied. Until 1940, the island was used as an exile destination.

Many ancient ruins abound including roman sculptures, columns and other artifacts are scattered around the island. In the old castle there are many items from the middle ages and in the Golden cave there are other ruins, worth seeing.

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