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Amorgos island

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amorgos island, amorgos greek island, amorgos, greek islands, greek island, list of greek islands, cruise greek island, greek island cruises, greek island map, greek island guide, greek island ferries Amorgos  island
The oblong shape of the mountainous and barren island of Amorgos lies on the eastern edge
of the Cyclades, almost in the Dodecanese. In some places, the coastline is steep and
rocky, while elsewhere it forms quiet, shady bays. At Katapola, the main harbour of the
island today and the location of the interesting church of Our Lady 'Katapoliani'
(built on the site of a temple of Apollo), traces of ancient Minoa have come to light.
Swimmers will be delighted by the superb beaches to be found in the vicinity.The whitewashed
houses of the capital of the island, Hora, spread out beneath the Venetian castle which stands
on the peak of the hill. The typical Cycladic architectural style of the double or 'twin' church is
much in evidence here. The Archaeological Museum has finds from all over the island and is
well worth a visit.To the north-east of Hora, at the foot of a rock, is the Byzantine monastery
of Our Lady 'Hozoviotissa', one of the most important monuments of its kind.The second
port, Egiali, is a pretty village famed for its superb sandy beaches and consisting of three
distinct 'quarters'. It is easier to reach Egiali by sea than 32 along the poor and steep road
linking it to Hora. In the south of the island, Arkessini stands near the site of the ancient
city of the same name, amid a group of picturesque whitewashed hamlets. The road network
of Amorgos island is nearing completion, and will link up all the villages on the island.
Amorgos has few hotels or rooms to rent. Yet despite the limited facilities available for
visitors, the fine beaches and particular beauty of the island attract more and more
tourists each year. 

amorgos island, amorgos greek island, amorgos, greek islands, greek island, list of greek islands, cruise greek island, greek island cruises, greek island map, greek island guide, greek island ferries Amorgos History
Due to the position of Amorgos across from ancient beaches of Ionian towns, such as
Militos, Alikarnasos and Efessos, it became one of the first places from which the
Ionians passed through to the Cyclades Islands and onto mainland Greece. The
existence of three independent cities with autonomous constitution and the same
currency, which have been preserved to this day, the size and artistic works of the
walls surrounding the city of Arkesini, the ancient towers to which skeletons were
raised to this day all over the island, the ancient tombs, the stone tools, the
inscriptions, the vases and other antiquities are all powerful proof of the size of
the ancient civilisation of Amorgos. Amorgos is also known as Yperia, Patagy, or
Platagy, Pagali, Psichia, and Karkisia. Part of the island is named Aspis, where
the ancient temple of the Goddess Aphrodite stood. From the name Minoa we
suspect that from ancient times Amorgos had been colonised by the Cretans.
Also, according to Suidan and from inscriptions, Samians inhabited the island under
the leadership of Simmias. With the passing of time the islands name changed to
Amolgon, Amourgon, Amorgian, and Amourgian. After the 5th century you can also
find the name Amoulgos from Bishop Theodore who signed a Synod in Constantinople,
as Theodore the Bishop of Parion, Sifnion, and Amoulgion. Skilax mentions it as
Tripoli (the circumnavigation of the Cyclades Islands). The names of the three cities
given by Stefanos Vizantios are Arkesini, Minoa, Aigiali or Melania where according to
inscriptions, are the more correct. The three towns are on the island's east coast because
only there you can find the right bays and natural ports that could provide the proper
positioning for seaside towns and forts. Aigiali was on the north East Side of the island
close to the present day locations of Tholaria and Stroumvos and to this day can still
be found there. Whilst Minoa is situated at the centre of the northern side close to the
present day village of Katapola, and Arkesini close to the present day lowland location
Castri. From excavations and findings, especially burial tombs we believe that the
presence of Amorgos during the prehistoric years existed intensely, particularly during the
first period of Cycladic civilisation (3200 to 2000 BC).The town of Minoa could be
considered a colony of Crete, but if the name Minoa was Greek, then it would represent
towns established in subsequent periods, expanding in areas where the Cretan domination
was situated. The three towns were considered colonies of Samos, though most probably
Minoa was a Samiaki colony, Aigiali a colony of Milisia and Arkesini a colony of Naxos.
These three cities flourished during historical times and had enormous trade and naval
power. They were composed of a commonwealth until the second half of the 4th century
BC, which is why in the taxation catalogues of the first Athenian alliance with Dilos, the
inhabitants of the towns are cited by the name Amorgians. The naval battle of Amorgos
happened in the area in 322 BC, which was the last of the Lamiakou war, between the
Athenians and the Macedonian Generals of Alexander the Great of Antiparou, Leonnato and
Kratero. That was when Athens lost if naval power forever. Amorgos became known for
the tunics called Amorgina or Amorgides, which were very transparent, leaving the body almost
naked and had a unique red colour. The tunics are even mentioned in Lisistartis of
Aristophanis at the time where Lisistratis was motivating the women to wear them in order to
attract men's attention. These tunics were made from flax of excellent quality and came
from the plant Lichina Roccela tinctoria or Roccela Phicopsis Ach, which was found plenty on
the island and was used by the English industry until the beginning the 20th century.    
 
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