Milos Island - Cyclades, Greece
Milos Island has a rich history and many scientists consider that the oldest settlement in the Cyclades was to be found precisely there. The people there became rich from trading the precious stone obsidian and exporting weaponry (usually made of obsidian). The most important archeological discovery at the island is the Venus of Milos - that famous headless torso of a woman. Copy of it is to be found in the Archaelogical Museum on the island, and the original is in the Louvre in Paris. The earliest Christian site in Greece - the Trypiti Catacombs are to be found on the island - they date back to 3rd century. Other remarkable statues include the Asclepius, which is now in the British Museum; the Poseidon and an archaic Apollo (in Athens).
Milos is actually a volcanic island - like Santorini and a couple of others in the Greek archipelago. The views are spectacular - the rock formations, the beaches, the lagoons. At Milos is one of the safest natural harbours in the Mediterranean (in the so called "old caldera") - it divides the island into two rather equal parts. On the eastern part there are hot sulphur spas.
The island is southern most of the Cyclades group. It is 23 km long and 13 km wide; the area is about 151 square km. The highest point is Mount Profitis Elias (748 m). Since antiquity the place has been famous for its figs and fuller's earth. The island has a rather large deposits of different mineral and ore resources - perlite, bentonite, gypsum, sulfur.
The hora (main town) is Kastro, and it is situated the highest on the island, among hills and elevations. Other villages include Triovasalos, Pera Triovasalos, Plakes, Pollonia and Zefyria.
The strategic position of Milos, in the middle between Greece and Crete, and its possession of obsidian, gradually turned it into an important centre of early Aegean civilization. During the well-known Bronze Age site of Phylakopi, the main settlement, on the north-east coast, flourished. Excavations of the British school discovered a Minoan palace and a town wall. Parts of the site have been washed away by the sea, and yet there was much to see and reveal. The antiquities discovered were of three main historical periods, all preceding the Mycenean age of Greece, which makes the island a really interesting place from historical and archeological point of view. Much pottery was found, also examples of a peculiar style, with decorative patterns, mostly floral, and considerable deposits of obsidian.
In historical times the island was occupied by Dorians from Laconia. In 6th century BC the islanders resumed producing a remarkable series of vases, of all sizes, with mythological subjects and oriental ornamentation, and also a series of terra-cotta reliefs. The most remarkable were undoubtedly the enormous amphora-like vases.
Milos inhabitants sent a back-up to the Greek fleet at Salamis Island, it held aloof from the Delian League, and wanted to remain neutral during the Peloponnesian Wars. But in 415 BC the Athenians, having attacked the island and forced the Milians to surrender then did some unremembered atrocities - murdered all the men capable of bearing arms, and enslaved all the children and women. Then introduced Athenians.
Today's population, about 4700, is more than 3 times less than in the beginning of the 20th century. There is an overall tendency of depopulation of the Greek islands, and for that matter, Italian islands and peninsula (people prefer the mainland as there are more employment options).
There are over 70 beaches on the island, and regardless of what type of tourist you are - noisy party -goers or calmness-loving noise-hating, you'll find your lot at Milos!
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