History & Culture
There are many versions about the origin of the name of Ios. (The Phoenician word IOS means Pile of stones). The island was originally called Phenicia, due to its colonization by the Phoenicians; what’s more tradition says the it was the Phoenicians who brought palm trees on the island. Besides, it is historically documented that in 1840, when Queen Amalia visited Ios, she was also impressed by these Palm Trees of Ios to the then Royal Garden. The island then came into the jurisdiction of the Ionians, which does not explain the name Ios, as it does not correspond linguistically to the corresponding names given by the Ionians to the colonized areas, such as the names Ionia and Ionis. Thus, the prevailing theory is that the name Ios comes from the abundance of flowers named Ion (Ia means violet), which is partly scientifically proven, since other islands also have been given the names of flowers.
In Ios there are several sites of archaeological and historical value, such as the Early Cycladic settlement of Skarkos, the ruins of the medival castle of the ancient city located in Chora, ruins of hot springs and other buildings in Psathi and Agia Theodoti, while Paleokastro hills has relics of the Byzantine castle by the same name, which served as an observatory, alerting the hinterland to any threat from Pirates and was also used for the surveillance of the sea routes leading to Crete.
During the Greek revolution in 1821, “Little Malta” as the Turks called it, as Spyridon Valletasplayed a key role compared to the other Cycladic islandssince one of its inhabitants, Spyridon Valetas was an important member of FilikiEteria; Ios was one of the first islands to raise the revolutionary flag in 1821, and took part in the Second national Assembly in 1823 and in the Third National Assembly in Trizinia in 1827.
Museums
Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum houses in its 4 rooms exhibits from the archaeological site of the Early Cycladic settlement of Skarkos (bone and bronze objects, clay vessels, etc.), objects from the Middle and Late Bronze Age as well as inscriptions and sculptures from Classical Antiquity, Hellenistic times and Roman Times, from Chora, the ancient city of Ios. The museum is housed in a neoclassical building, Amiradakeion Megaron, which also houses the City Hall.
Museum of Modern Art Jean-Marie Drot
The museum exhibits paintings created in the modern style of Jean-Marie Drot and other European artists. It is located in Kolitsani and is open to visitors during the summer months.
Gaitis Museum
The renowned painter Gaitis, and his wife, the sculptor Simosi, created a museum on the island they loved. A museum of particular architectural design, built on a prominent location and dominating the capital of the island, Chora from above.
Museum of Folklore Art
The Museum of Folklore Art clearly captures the folklore of an era typical of the island. The visitor can see traditional costumes, utensils and furniture as well as textiles of the island from another era.
Varino’s House, Permanent Show, «A journey to Ios», Photography
Varino’s House invites the public to take a journey back in time and meet Ios through the eyes of Christian Diener. Photographer and founder of the Gallery Camera Work in Berlin, Diener managed to capture, with a gaze of a rare sensibility residents’ and travelers’ faces as well as moments of the local tradition of the 60s and 70s. Portraits and scenes from another era come to life in the renovated house of the benefactor Varinos, offering the public a unique and vibrant experience. Varino’s House hosts a collection of black and white original prints on baryta paper skillfully processed by the artist, in a two-floor, six-room exhibition. A reedition of Diener’s « Blue Book », a poster of the exhibition and postcards are also available.
Monuments and sights
“Odysseas Elytis theater”
The theater “Odysseas Elytis” is an open theater accommodating about 1000 spectators, built in the ancient Greek style, with perfect acoustics, designed by the architect Peter Haupt and constructed with local stone and marble.
The theater is a real gem for Ios hosting important cultural events offering a stunning view of the Aegean to spectators. The theater is located near Chora in the area of Tsoukalaria after the Windmills.
The Windmills square
In the square of the Windmills, on the eastern border of the country, visitors can see the 14 windmills, which play an important role in the economic and social life of the island in the past. Some Windmills have already been restored, while the square, a typical mill site, is suitable for observing and studying the windmills as well as for playing, relaxing and enjoying the Aegean landscape. |Don’t forget to try to solve this old enigmatic riddle of Ios:
“A damp rooster, made of iron and wearing a mustache, when he unties his pants, who dares to go near him?”
The Lighthouse of Ios
The lighthouse is located in the area “Fanari” at the left entrance of the Port constructed in 1881. Its construction was funded by FrangoulisKortetsis, an important figure of Ios, an industrialist operating in Egypt and subsequent Mayor of the island. The lighthouse has been restored and is open to the public.
Archaeological sites
Tomb of Homer
Homer’s tomb is located on the hill of Psathopyrgos, in the northern part of Ios over Plakotos bay. Homer’s burial on the island is confirmed by ancient historians such as Herodotus, Pausanias, Strabo and Alcaeus. According to ancient literature, Homer stopped at Ios, on his journey to Samos, but died on the island from his grief that he failed to solve an enigma posed to him by the inhabitants. The relationship of Homer with Ios is also confirmed by the local coins that bear on one side (3rd & 2nd century BC). Consequently, the findings in the bay of Plakotos, found in 1175, were attributed to the tomb of Homer, while Ios is also considered the birthplace of his mother, Kleimeni.
Early Cycladic Settlement of Skarkos
A short distance from the port of Ios, near the hill where today’s Chora is located, archeological excavations brought to light one of the most important Early Cycladic settlements (2,800 BC), which entertained great trade relations with the other islands. Its conservation status allows us to find out a very developed settlement with advanced architecture, since it has two-storey buildings, an organized urban system, and a sewerage network. During the excavations, many metal, bone and stone utensils and tools, impressive clay vessels were found, as well as a large number of sealed objects, rare for a Early Cycladic settlement.
The archeological site of Skarkos has has received an award from the European Union and the Europa Nostra for its exemplary restoration and tourist promotion.
Ancient Aqueduct
In Plakoto you can see what is left of the ancient aqueduct of the area, as well as ruins of Pyrgos from the Hellenistic era.
Paleokastro
It is located on the northwest side of Ios (18 km from the port) on a hill with unobstructed view of Paros, Naxos, Amorgos and the small Cyclades, islands with which it communicated by fire signals.
A Byzantine castle built to surveil the sea routes that led to Crete, with its guards responsible for alerting the hinterland about the presence of Pirates in the area. Today, a short cobblestone path will take you to the top, where you will see several sections of the walls, ruins of structures inside the castle, the beautiful church of Panagia Paleokastritissa and of course the view of the Aegean blue.
Artists inspired by Ios
Helmut Kand
“Anticipant dreamer and colour-magus of Ios”
For many years Helmut Kand has been spending every summer on the Cycladic island of Ios. There, everything is different: the light, the day rhythm, the non-existence of time measurers and appointment calendars. During peregrinations in the interior of the island he gathers impressions of deserted gardens, desiccated cisterns, cicada-chirring and sleeping cats. The village, called Hora, is semicircular bonded like a brooch around a sharp coned steep rugged rock, white hand shaped, a labyrinth of stairs, narrow alleys, askew walls, steps and roof-terraces.
1985 Helmut Kand was appointed “Painting Ambassador” of Ios.
Links about the artist and his connection with Ios:
Link1: http://www.kand.at/IOS/
Link2:http://www.kand.at/MANGANARI/
Link3:http://www.kand.at/WIND_MUSIC/
For more information about the artist’s work, you can visit the official website of Mr. Kand: www.kand.at
Source: www.kand.at
