KARPATHOS TRAVEL GUIDE

KARPATHOS > HISTORY

HISTORY

Karpathos, due to its important geographic location, was the bone of contention between conquerors since ancient times. Like a natural bridge between three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa, it had an important role in the movement of people from East to West and vice versa. Karpathos has been inhabited since neolithic times and has a long history.

It has been known since Homer’s time. It participated to the war of Troy. In the hymn to Apollo, Homer calls Karpathos “Inamoessa” that means ‘windswept’.

Karpathos was later inhabited by the Minoans who came to the island from Crete.

The Dorians followed in the 5th B.C. Four towns were established then on the island. Posidio or Potideo, Arkesia, Vrikounta and Nysiros.

In classic times the island became part of the Athenaeum Coalition and flourished financially and spiritually.

During the times of Roman dominance, Karpathos’ port was used as a refuge for the Roman fleet.

In Byzantine times, it met many pirate invasions and suffered many catastrophes. In 1206 the Venetians conquered the island followed by the Knights of Saint John’s Tagma. In 1538 Turkish domination came to Karpathos as with all the Dodecanese. This lasted for almost four centuries.

In 1821 Karpathos took part in the Greek Revolution, but, followed the fate of the rest Dodecanese islands and stayed under the Turkish possession until 1912. The Italians take control at this point in the island’s history.

Karpathos officially became part of Greece in 1948.