According to mythology, the first inhabitants were the Leleges. The island was named after its most southern part, the cape of Lefkata, with its steep white rocks, from where, according to myth, those who could not endure the torture of love fell, one of them being the great poetess Sapfo.
In the Middle Bronze Era, the civilization of the island was formed by Televoes, living on the islet of Meganissi. Televoes occupied the Ionian Islands and fought the Mycenaean king. The king's nephew defeated them, conquered the islands and offered them to Kefalos from Attica and Hellius from Argolida. Later, Lefkada was occupied by Kefalines, who participated in the Trojan war, under the command of Ulysses. According to myth, Laertis, Ulysses' father, occupied the town of Niriko and offered the island to Icarius, father of Penelope, after her wedding to Ulysses. In spite of the significant alterations of the island's geography and the inadequacy of historical facts, many archaeologists identify the island with Ulysses' Ithaka, mentioned by Homer. Although there are plenty of legendary facts, the historical information from the works of Homer is very significant, a fact corroborated by archaeological excavations.
>> read more