Antikythera

Andikythira (Greek Αντικύθηρα (n. pl. ), According to ancient Greek Antikythera transcription ) is a small Greek island between Kythira and Crete. She came with the other Ionian islands with Greece in 1864 and made until 2010 an independent country parish in the Attica Prefecture Piraeus district. 2011, it was merged with the neighboring island of Kythira Kythira to the community. The total area is 20 square kilometers. On the island, only 39 people live permanently in the summer months, the population but rises to several hundred to.

An important economic factor is tourism today. Most visitors to the island will be accommodated in holiday homes and private accommodation. In addition to the ancient ruins are especially some chapels, windmills and a watermill in Potamos of tourist interest. Located on the southern tip of the island is a lighthouse of 1926. On August 17, the residents celebrate the feast of its patron saint, the Holy Myron of Cyzicus. At this feast to a thousand people come to the island.

An observation station explores the rich birdlife of the island.

History

The earliest documented settlement of the island falls into the Neolithic period. Since the Early Bronze Age (EB II), the findings are more common. Also, a settlement in early Minoan period is occupied ( EM III ), mittelminoische finds ( MM III), however, are significantly more likely. Finds from the Late Minoan period (LM ) indicate a connection to Chania in western Crete.

In ancient Greek sources, the island is called Aigila ( Αἴγιλα ) or Aigilia ( Αἰγιλία ). The oldest finds date from the period 3500 BC In the Hellenistic period the island was a base Cilician pirates. Larger became famous for the island in 1900 by a Greek ship wreck that was found off the coast. Among the recovered artifacts were located a sensational gear train, known as the Antikythera Mechanism, and the youth of Antikythera, a life-size bronze figure.

The ruling in the Middle Ages the Republic of Venice fortified the Italian Cerigotto ( " Kytherächen " after Cerigo = Kythira ) named the island in 1207, yet the relatively remote location was further target of pirates. From the 17th century, the names are Lii (Greek Λιοί ) and Sigilio ( Σιγιλιό ) occupied. Today's inhabitants are mostly descendants of settlers who came from Crete in 1792 on the island. With the end of Venice, the island came to the Republic of the Ionian Islands, and with this in 1864 to the Greek State.

The island is committed systematically, under the joint project of the Antikythera Trent University (Canada ), University College London and the Archaeological Service of the Greek Ministry of Culture.