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Ios

The finds of the archaeological excavation on the hill of Skarkos prove that the island has been inhabited since the early Cycladic period.

Evidence of this lies in the very well preserved walls of buildings and the vessels demonstrating the flourishing of an important community. The remnants of the walls on the west and north entrances to Chora lead us to the conclusion that the castle's hill has been inhabited since the archaic period. There are elements that bear witness to the presence of Careans, Pelasgians, Achaeans and Phoenicians, who gave the island the name "Phoenicia". The Ionians came and settled on the island in 1050 B.C.

A version about the origin of the island's name claims that it derives from the name of the Ionians, but this doesn't seem to be valid linguistically, because in such a case the name would be "Ionia" or "Ionis". According to another version, the name derives from the Phoenician word "Iion", meaning "a heap of stones". This version doesn't seem valid either, as we know that the Phoenicians had inhabited places that were much rockier than Ios. Finally, according to the prevailing version, Ios took its name from the violets ("ion" in Greek) that fills the countryside each spring.

Inscriptions and coins, but mainly texts of the ancient historians Stravon, Pausanias and Herodotus, give proof of the fact that the great poet died and was buried in Ios, the birthplace of his mother, Klymeni. Travellers in Greece in the 17th-19th century do not omit mentioning the evident delight of the inhabitants of the island in showing the visitors Homer's tomb at the area of Plakoto. During the classical period, Ios joined its forces with the Athenian League to avoid being occupied by the Persians, and thus established a democracy. The inscriptions from that era show that the inhabitants spoke the Ionian dialect and worshipped the ancestral Athenian God Pithius Apollo, as well as the protector of the Ionians, Fytalmius Poseidon. In 338 B.C. after the battle of Cheroneia, Ios came under the rule of Macedonia, and in 315 B.C. regained its independence and became an equal member of the "Islanders' Community". Later on, Ios entered into alliance with Ptolemy Philadelphus (280 B.C.) and the Rhodians (220 B.C.) who had become an important naval power in the Aegean, against the Macedonians.

In the 2nd. century B.C., the Romans occupied Ios and included it in their "provincia insularum" using it, like the island of Giaros, as a place of exile. During the Byzantine period, the Christians built many churches on the foundations of the pre-existing paganistic temples, using their ancient columns, marbles and inscriptions to give validity to the new religion and to secure the continuity of the religious worship. Until Ios came under Frankish rule.

At that time, whenever the islanders saw a foreign ship in the port, they would barricade themselves in the castle, sending the oldest women of the island to the port. If they came back, then everything would be all right. If not, then they would have to prepare for battle.

In 1204, Ios was occupied by the Crusaders, and up to the 15th century it was ruled by the noble family of Crispi, forming part of the Duchy of Naxos. The Crispis rebuilt the castle on the ruins of the old one, to protect the island from the pirates. However, in 1537, Hairedin Barbarossa, the Turkish pirate, occupied the Duchy of Naxos, together with Ios. During the following years, Ios was occupied by the Turks and devastated by the pirates, who continued to plague the entire Aegean region. Yet, the island kept its Greek identity, and in 1770 sided with the Russians, who were at war with the Turks, in order to regain its freedom. At that time the island had 1400 inhabitants. In the Greek War of Independence against the Turks, in 1821, Ios participated with 24 well-equipped ships.

The final liberation came with the incorporation of Ios in the modern Greek State, which was founded by the signature of the protocol of London on the 10th of March 1829.

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