LEROS TRAVEL GUIDE

LEROS > HISTORY

HISTORY

Leros, also known as the island of Artemide, has had a leading part in Greece’s history since prehistoric times.

Leros’ strategic location in the southeast Aegean Sea was the main reason that the island was the bone of contention between strong forces. The first traces of habitation on the island, specifically in Partheni, belong to Neolithic times. Leros was inhabited by the Kares, Phoinicians, Cretans, Dorians and Ions. According to Homer, Leros took part in the war of Troy.

The historian, Irodote, wrote about the strong holds, commercial, financial and spiritual that the island had with the Ions of Militos.

Leros was part of the Athenaeum Alliance. During the 5th BC it flourished.

In Byzantine times, the island belonged to Samos. The famous castle and the church of Panagia were built then. In the same period the Castle of Lepides was also built, the famous Paleokastro, and many baronial churches. In 1314 the Knights of Saint John conquered the island and enlarged the Byzantine castle making it impenetrable to any prospective conqueror. The Turks conquered Leros in 1522 and it stayed in their possession – as with all the Dodecanese islands – until 1912 when the Italians took it. The island became a naval base and started to develop. The town in Lakki was built and many of the imposing buildings that adorn the region.

In 1948, Leros, as with all the Dodecanese islands, was officially recognised as part of Greece.