History of Kalymnos - Greek history - Dodekanese

Traditional houses for sale in Kalymnos, in Greece

Kalymnos' airport is in operation

Rock Climbing holidays in May, in Kalymnos

History of Kalymnos island

In Kalymnos time begins from the Neolithic Age, 4000 B.C.

We find traces of this era in caves (Ag. Barbara, Daskaleio) as well as in other places (Tsiggoura, Kastellas, Emporios). The island was inhabited by people from Minor Asia, like the Kares and the Leleges, who become models for their ceramics.

The most important settlement is located in Kastellas in Vathi. A prosperous settlement stretched out on the mountain slopes. It began in the Neolithic Age and reached out until the Geometrical years and particularly the Archaic years during which it enjoyed great prosperity.

Monumental ruins from houses of this settlement can still be found as well as other important discoveries, which reveal close contacts with the neighbouring areas. What has helped those discoveries is the favourable gulf of Pezonta that lies nearby.

Later, there were tribes that immigrated and passed through Kalymnos, the Achaeans and the Dorians. The presence of Mycenean civilization in the area is catalytic.

The rich findings in graves of those years reveal the high quality of life and prosperity of the arts.

The first historical report on the island is in Homer’s Iliad, (rhapsody B verse 676-680) in which it is reported that in the list of the ships that took part in the Trojan War is also “ Kalydnae islands’, which sent a fleet of 30 ships, a token of prosperous economy and shipping.

Very little are the discoveries of Geometric years, buckles and bracelet from Kastella in Vathi, crockery statuettes of bulls in Damo, what it appears that it has already acquired particular importance after more late it is built there the temble of Apollo

At Classic season Kalymnos gets to know economy acne and growth.

It cuts its currencies, silver tetradrahma and didrahma, what they bring in main aspect head of a man who was wearing a helmet (possibly Antifos) and in behind lyre, proof of adoration of Apollo, in the island.

The temble of Dilios Apollo, in the area of Damos, it became, at antiquity, the most important and official place of the island, so much from religious as long as and from policy opinion.

As saved signs testify us, 43 up to today written bases of statues, the marble trunke statue of Asklipios and saved architectural members,

In the Area of Apollo included from religious side mainly Temple of Apollo, its altar , smaller temples and hommages in other gods, while from policy politician file all municipalities and seces of the island and work art.

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