Lesvos, dream island where myth meets history and where East meets West.

The history of the island is based on the book by Kostis Stefanou "Centuries of Lesvos", 1997

 

The Ancient Years

Archaeological excavations at the cave of Kagiani and Chalakies show that the island has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. In the 33th century BC (around 3,200 BC) we find in the area of Thermi, settlements from the Bronze age. In the 24th century BC the Aegean civilisation of which Lesvos was one of the main centres was destroyed most likely during the migration of the Indoeuropeans from the Black Sea.

According to tradition, the first settlement on the island takes place in the 19th century BC. Apparently the island is full of old forests hence the name Lasia.  During that time Xanthos settles on the island with the "Pelasgi" which is now called Pelasgia. They they stay there for 7 generations until the Flood of Deukalion and Pyrra (which is believed to be the same with the Biblical Great Flood).

In 1,644 BC the volcano of Thera explodes destroying the Minoan and Cycladic civilisations. In the 15th century BC Makareus the son of Ilios comes to the island with his sons Eressos, Kedrolaos, Nearchos, Lefkippos and daughters Mytilene, Methymna, Issa, Antissa, Arisbi and Megaklia.  They build cities on the island and they call it Makaria.  The sons colonise the islands of Chios, Samos Kos and Rhodes.  All those islands were known as the Islands of Makaron.

In 1,349 BC Lesvos the son of Lapithos arrives from Thessalia and marries Methymna the daughter of Makareus and gives his name to the island.

In the 12th century BC most of the Greeks want to control the entry of the Hellespont and 1,194 BC marks the beginning of the the Trojian war under the leadership of Achaei. The inhabitants of the island do not participate in the expedition due to their close ties with the Trojans.   Achilles after his disagreement with Agamemnon withdraws from Troy and camps  with his army on the island very likely in the valley of Petra.  During his stay Achilles fights and kills under the walls of Methymna the Homeric hero Lampeton and Iketaona as well as Pamfilo.  In 1,184 BC Troy is sacked and destroyed.

In 1,120 BC the Dorians, the last hellenic race arrives in Greece forcing other hellenic races to migrate.  The Eolians migrate east from mainland Greece and colonise Lesvos and Asia Minor.

1,054BC the city of Mytilene is built.

During the 8th century BC people from Lesvos settle in Asia Minor and the first coins of Mytilene and Methymna are cut.

In the 7th century BC Mytilene is reigned by the House of Penthilidis. The kings of the other cities of the island come from this dynasty. The music school of Terpandros operates in Mytilene. Pittakos the Mytilenean dominates the political scene of the island.

In the first half of the 6th century BC the "Commonwealth" of the Lesvian cities is created in the area of Mesa. It is in this century we also find the musician Arion and the greatest female poet of all times Sappho.

In the 6th century BC Lesvos is occupied by the Persians.

The 5th cethury BC is the brightest period of the Greek ancient history. The Athaenians under the leadership of Periklis create the Classical Greek Civilisation. Lesvos finally joins the Athaenean Federation after the defeat of the Persians in the battle of Platees.

Lesvos breaks away from the Athenean Federaion due to the oppressive behaviour of the Atheneans and due to the Peloponnesian war.

In the 4th century BC Lesvos changes many masters, Athenians, Spartans and Persians. Finally the island will fall under the influence of Alexander the Great. In the second half of the 4th century the Ionian temple of Mesa is built on the bay of Kalloni. In 310 BC Epikoure builds his school in Mytilene where he teaches.