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Kea Island
(Tzia)
History of the Island:
The island inherited its name by the hero Keos, who according
to tradition, reached the island from Nafpactos around 1100
BC. The mythic form of the island, though, is Aristaeos, son
of Αpοllο and the Numph Cyrine who saved Kea by
drought. It hasn't been verified yet, who were the first
inhabitants upon the island. Recent excavations prove that the
prehistorically inhabitance of the island lasts until 4000 BC.
Kea was inhabited by Arcades. Cares, Pelasgus, Phoenicians and
Ions. En the antiquity the island was widely known for one
special custom of its "TO KEION NOMIMON" according
to which persons who became more than 70 years old were
obliged to suicide by drinking coneion. The inhabitants of Kea
took part in the Persian wars and fought in the naval battle
of Salamis. Member of the Athenian alliance, the island was
successively taken by the Macedonians end the Romans, which is
results to the downfall of the island's civilization.
During the Russian-Turk war in
1770-1774 the island suffers the
greatest casualties. It has been the hideout of Lampros
Katsonis but also an island that was totally defenseless
against the hundred pirates raids it suffered. In 1821 it
participated actively to the revolution end is liberated along
with the rest of the Cycladic islands. Capital of the island
is Hora or loulis built in the place of the ancient homonym
town at a distance of 5.5 km from the port.
Sightseeing's:
The Medievel castle, the lion of Kea a creation of the ancient
years, a sculpture very large in size, sculpted upon
schistolithic rock, There are many churches end monasteries in
Tzia.
>> Cyclades Islands : Amorgos, Anafi,
Andros, Antiparos,
Delos, Folegandros,
Ios, Kea,
Kimolos, Kithnos,
Koufonisia, Milos,
Mykonos, Naxos,
Paros, Santorini,
Serifos, Sifnos,
Sikinos, Syros,
Tinos.
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