KEA TRAVEL GUIDE

KEA (TZIA) > HISTORY

HISTORY

Kea has a long history during which there are periods of prosperity and decline. It was an important centre of cycladitic civilization.

According to Greek mythology Aristeos, son of Apollo and Krinis, who saved the island from drought by making sure that cool winds blew during the summer, lived in Kea.. That’s why Kea has been considered since ancient times the home of the north winds, the meltemia.

The island was named after the hero, Keo, who came to the island at the beginning of the 11th century BC.

Kea has been inhabited since neolithic times, as it can be seen from the findings in Kefala. Traces of inhabitation since prehistoric times have been found in the cove of Agia Irini and in Voukari village.

Around 1000BC Ions came to the island. The towns of Ioulida, Karthea, Korissia and Piiessa were established at that time.

Kea, as with all Cyclades islands, became part of the Athenian Alliance and fought against the Persians.

In ancient times Kea was known for the “Keion nomimo” a strange custom, according to which, everyone over the age of 70, committed suicide by drinking hemlock.

From thetime of the Romans a period of decline began.

During the 13th century the island is conquered by the Venetians. It suffered a lot of pirate invasions and catastrophes. Ioulida and the Venetian castle were built then to protect residents.

The name, Tzia, was given by the Franks during their possession of the island. In 1537 the Turks conquered Kea. It suffered many catastrophes especially during the period of the Russian-Turkish war.

Kea took part in the Revolution of 1821. It became part of Greece in 1830. Since then it shares a common history with the rest of Greece.