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TO POROS]
Poros
A
volcanic island, Poros, was formed through the unification of two
smaller islands, Kalouria and Sphaeria. It lies in close proximity
to the Argolid, separated from the Peloponnese by an extremely
narrow channel. Archaeology buffs will want to visit the scant
remains of the Sanctuary of Poseidon, 5 km. from the town of Poros
on the road to the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi. The sanctuary in
situated, like so many ancient temples, amidst the most beautiful
setting on the island. It dates back to the 6th century B.C. and was
the center of the Kalaurian League, a maritime confederation formed
by Ermioni, Epidaurus, Nafplio, Aegina, Athens and Orchomenos. It
was here that Demosthenes is said to have drunk poison after having
been cornered by his enemies in 322 B.C.
Built
up the sides of a small hill, the town of Poros has the blue
woodwork and white walls so typical of Greek island architecture.
Poros, called Calaureia in ancient times, was the island of
Poseidon, God of the sea. This is evident from various literary
references and from the traces of the temple of Poseidon, which are
to be found in the middle of the island. This fact may account for
why Poros was chosen to be the headquarters of an amphictyony
(alliance) set up in the 7th. century B.C. whose members were seven
cities. Subsequently, the fortunes of Poros followed those of the
other islands of the Saronic Gulf. In the War of Independence
against the Turks in 1821, Poros fought alongside the other islands,
and in 1830 became Greece's first naval base.
The
ancient ruins of the Temple of Poseidon are to found 5 km from the
main town, on the road to the monastery of Zoodochos Pighis. The
temple was built in the 6th. century B.C.
The history of the Monastery reaches back to the beginning of the
18th century, when a bishop from Athens, Iakovos II, was cured by
drinking water from a spring at Poros.
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