IRAKLIA TRAVEL GUIDE

IRAKLIA > HISTORY

HISTORY

The locals call the island Araklia. We have only a few pieces of information regarding Heraklia, but in combination with the archaeological data we can get a general idea of its history. In the area of Kastro, in Livadi, there are the remnants of a fortified village of the Hellenistic period (4th – 2nd century b.C.), where there was the temple of Zeus and the sanctuary of the goddess Tyche (goddess of fortune and luck). All over the island there are several findings from different historic periods (Hellenistic, Roman).

The indicators – "compasses" of Heraklia are a mystery. These are marks found on the rocks spreading from the Aghios Giorgos area to Aghios Athanasios. According to the most popular interpretation they used to serve as orientation marks in antiquity. Systematic archeological research is bound to throw more light on their origins.

During the Turkish domination, the closed and inaccessible bays of the island used to be the ideal hiding place for the pirates infesting the Aegean Sea. Along with Schinoussa, Iraklia has been the property of the Monastery of Xozoviotissa of Amorgos.

Heraklia became an autonomous community in 1929. In 1941 it came under Italian administration and then, after the Treaty of Italy in 1943, was under German occupation until its liberation in 1944. Today it is belongs in the prefecture of Naxos.