Skyros Island – Greece.
Skyros is the southernmost island of the Sporades in the Aegean Sea. The island's capital is also called Skyros (Chora) and has a castle that dates from the Venetian occupation (13th to 15th centuries) and the Byzantine monastery of Saint George.
Skyros was mentioned in the prehistoric Greek mythology, while its presence was evident throughout the entire course of Greek history. The great heroes that are connected with Skyros in Greek mythology are Theseus, Lycomedes, Achilles, and his son Neoptolemus. Skyros has been inhabited since the Neolithic period (5500 – 2800 BC) as proved by findings in various areas on the island. It was a very prosperous city during the copper period (2800 – 1900 BC) and also during the geometric and archaic period. In 475 BC the island was conquered by the Athenians and in 323 BC by the Macedonians. In 197 BC it was conquered by the Romans and later by the Byzantines, the Franks, the Venetians and the Ottomans. During the Greek Independence War of 1821, in the revolution against the Turkish ruling, Skyros was an important and great supporter of the idea. The island contributed in financial ways and also in people, by sending it's excellent sailors to the national navy, offering shelter to war leaders, as well as offering refuge to thousands refugees from cities around Greece.
Linaria is the port of Skyros on the west side of the island. There are two versions on the name of the port. The first is related to the cultivation of linen and processing of linen fabrics in the old days. The second is related to the Nymph Lino (Ληνώ) and maybe this area was a place of worship of the Nymphs in ancient times.
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Kevrekidis Photography© 2010 Jordan Kevrekidis
