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Greek Islands
> Aegean Sea
> Cyclades islands >
North Cyclades >
Mykonos Island
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Mykonos
island in Greece
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Mykonos related
sites
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 Mykonos is situated
south-east of Tinos and north of Paros and Naxos, while its total
extension is 85 sq. Km and its distance from Piraeus is 94 n.m.
South-west of Mykonos, at a distance of only one nautical
mile, lies the deserted island of Delos.
The total extension of Apollo's sacred island is 3.43 sq.
Km and the only hill on this infertile ground is Kythnos (112 m.).
The
ground of Mykonos is also infertile and rocky and the highest peaks are Profitis Elias Vorniotis (372 m.) and Profitis Elias Anomerits (351 m.).
One of the island's characteristics is the total lack of trees and green
areas, a fact justified by the ground's composition and the climate which
is dry with frequent, strong winds and long exposure to the sun
(approximately 3,000 h per year). The earth is rich in led, silver and barites.
The island was never known for its agricultural production, yet the
vineyards produce excellent wine. |
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Mykonos's history |
Mythology
According to
tradition, the Island was named after Mykonos, the son of Apollo Anios.
Because of his father, the island of Mykonos was called "the island
of the light". According to another myth, Neptune, during his battle
against the Giants, threw huge rocks that fell into the sea and formed the
wild, rocky ground of the island.
The nearby, deserted
island of Delos is linked to one of the saddest myths. The beautiful Leto
slept with Zeus and this union bore two children, Apollo and his twin
sister, Diana. According to myth, Leto was running around, looking for a
place to give birth to her children, yet nobody would help her, as they
feared the revenge of Hera. After
coming to the infertile island of Delos, Leto vowed on the sacred waters
of Stigos that her son would not forget his motherland and, as a god, he
would establish his first temple there.
Thus, the island gave its
permission to Leto to give birth to her children there. Another myth
claims that Delos was a nymph with whom Zeus fell in love. Delos, out of
respect for Hera, became a star and fell into the sea. Zeus got angry with
her and punished her by leaving her wandering in the sea. When Leto
arrived here and asked if she could have her children, Asteria -the
island's name at the time- embraced Leto with affection.
When Apollo was
born, out of gratitude, he erected four columns, the island's foundation
on the bottom of the sea. The island has been called Delos ever since, as
its position was stabilized and obvious for the first time
("delos" means obvious, in Greek).
Pre-historic
The
first settlers of Kea are believed to have been the Telchines. As
excavation findings show, the island has been inhabited since prehistoric
times and was one of the centres of Cycladic civilisation. It was the
birthplace of many great figures from antiquity, like Simonides and the
sophist Prodicus.
Historic
The history of Mykonos begins with its first inhabitants, who are
said to have been Leleges or Kares. They were followed by the Egyptians,
Phoenicians and Cretans, while, in 1,000 BC, the island was inhabited by the
people of Ionia. Mykonos was a member of the First Athenian Alliance in 478 BC.
After the Romans occupied the Cyclades and
Delos was declared a free port, the island of Mykonos flourished,
unfortunately only until 88 BC, when Delos was destroyed by Mithredates,
the Persian general.
In the Byzantine years, Mykonos was a
member of the province of Achaia, originally, while later it became a
member of the Scheme of the islands.
After the Franks dissolved the Byzantine
Empire, Mykonos was occupied by the Venetians, only to be submitted to the
Gizi family, who ruled until 1390. In 1537, Mykonos was conquered by the
pirate Barbarossa and was submitted to the Turks until the Revolution of
1821, to which Mykonos took an active part. The Revolution's heroine,
Mando Mavrogenous, born in Mykonos, gave her entire fortune for the cause
and was personally involved in informing foreigners, not only about the battles,
but also about the war's campaign.
The island was liberated along with the rest of the Cyclades, yet poverty drove
the locals to migration, until 1950, when tourism began to grow, at first for
touring ancient Delos. People began to know Mykonos and were impressed by the
natural beauty. Ever since, the island's tourism has thrived.
Unlike Mykonos, Delos thrived in ancient
times. The first inhabitants were Kares, but after the settlement of
Jones, the island became a religious and commercial centre.
Delos was occupied by the Athenians, the
Macedonians, the Ptolemies, the Romans, while in 88 BC it was totally
destroyed by Mithredates.
source:
Hellenic
Recources Network |
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Mykonos island today |
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Today, the surge in
tourism allows only slight cultivation of orchards and fruits, while the
vineyards are destined of personal consuming. The 3,000 inhabitants of Mykonos
are occupied with tourism, fishing and sailing, while some are occupied
with stock-breeding. The people of Mykonos are cheerful and hospitable.
They have become accustomed to the swarms of tourists in the summer and
have ensured the conditions necessary to help strangers have a good,
comfortable stay. The wild life and good manners of the locals have made Mykonos
one of the most famous and loved islands throughout the world..
Sightseeing
- The
Archaeological Museum of Delos
is divided into four main rooms. The central room includes 5th century BC
"kouroi" and "cores", a sculptured depiction of a
sphinx and statues of lions. In the small room, 5th century BC statues,
such as torsos of athletes, parts of the Athenian temple and many others
are exhibited. The northern room includes Hellenistic statues, such as a
statue of Apollo, the cluster of Artemis, tombstones, bas relief busts,
and heads. Lastly, in the southern room, one can see amphorae of several
historical eras, jewellery, small offerings, and objects of everyday use.
The room is adorned with parts of murals and wonderful mosaics.
- The
Folk Art Museum of Mykonos
is in Kastro and is housed in a 18th century privately owned building. It
was founded in 1959 by professor Kyriazopoulos. It includes collections of
old and more modern Myconian furniture, pictures, photographs, ceramics,
folk instruments, post-Byzantine sculptures, and iron and bronze utensils
and keys. A small library with an archive of historical documents is also
housed here.
- The
Naval Museum of the Aegean
was founded by the ship-owner Georgios Drakopoulos in 1985. It is housed
in the 19th century house of the legendary Myconian captain, Sourmelis, in
the Tria Pigadia location of Hora. Its exhibits are divided in roofed and
open air areas, since its spacious garden serves as another room. The
roofed exhibits include ship models from the pre-Minoan era to the 19th
century, historical naval documents, a collection of rare ancient coins
with naval depictions on them, and naval charts. The open air exhibits
include old anchors, naval objects and marble copies of Myconian and Delian
tombstones of shipwrecks and missing seamen.
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Mykonos hotels |
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Visit this page to find more about
Mykonos hotels
or, if you like me to assist you with
your choice, please
send me an e-mail with your questions and enquiries. I will be glad to reply and
assist you, wherever I possibly can. |
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If you like me to assist you with
your choice, please
send me an e-mail with your questions and enquiries. I will be glad to reply and
assist you, wherever I possibly can. |
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