Page 55 - MYCONIAN COLLECTION MAG 2018

discover|past

Mykonos

History of an Island According to HesycHios, Mykonos derives from the word Mykon

meaning heap and themonia, heap of stones on account of the impressive
granite boulders that seem to have been heaped by some supernatural hand.
Ancient greeks had created the myth that under the rocks were buried the
By Uta Wanche - Photography: Dimitris Petratzas giants killed by Hercules, who came to the aid of his father Zeus during the
gigantomachy.
Archaeological finds on Mykonos indicate the existence of a significant cul-
ture on the island, dating back to to the Late neolithic period (5th & 4th
millennium Bc). ionians settle on Mykonos colonising it after expelling its
previous inhabitants.
Later on, when delos was highly populated, Mykonos became very im-
portant as a significant port for supplies and transit. it was also an import-
ant cultural and religious centre, and many travelled frequently between the
two islands. during the time of the roman occupation and the Middle Ages,
Mykonos was part of the roman empire and then the Byzantine empire. the
Byzantines defended it against the Arabs in the 7th century and maintained
control until the 13th century, when Mykonos came under the control of the
ghizzi dynasty in 1207 and was eventually handed to the Venetians in 1390.
in 1537, still under the Venetians, Mykonos was attacked by Hayreddin Bar-
barossa, a legendary admiral of suleiman the Magnificent. the ottomans
took over, imposing a system of self-governance which consisted of a gover-
nor and an appointed council of syndics.
After centuries of foreign rule, the Mykonians took over a leading role in the
greek revolution of 1821 against the ottomans, spearheaded by acclaimed
national heroine Mando Mavrogenous. Mykonos was part of the free greek
state since the first day of its independence in 1830. sailors and merchants
quickly revived the island’s economy, consolidating trade relations with south
russia, Moldavia and Wallachia. However, after the opening of the corinth
canal in 1904 and with the beginning of the First World War, Mykonos’
well-developed economy started to decline and, consequently, many locals left
to find work in mainland greece or abroad – especially in the United states.
However, it wasn’t long before tourism rose as the answer to the problems of
the local economy, starting with significant archaeological excavations taking
place in delos in 1873, which brought fascinating Ancient greek artefacts
and structures to light. As a result, lovers of greek history and mythology be-
gan taking an interest in the region and, along with the ancient ruins, started
to explore the island of Mykonos and partake in the celebrated greek hos-
pitality. in the 1930s, Mykonos started to become a popular destination for
famous artists, politicians and wealthy europeans, who had already noticed
the island. those were the first days of Mykonos as a hotspot for the inter-
national jet-set. After the dark years of World War ii, Mykonos came back
to life to blossom into the stunning cosmopolitan destination of the rich and
famous – and not only – that we know it as today.

Mykonos is not only the most famous cosmopolitan island
of Greece, renowned for its exciting nightlife. It also boasts Mykonos was part of the free Greek State since the first day of its
a rich and long history that dates back almost 5000 years. independence in 1830. Sailors and merchants quickly revived the island’s economy,
consolidating trade relations with south Russia, Moldavia and Wallachia.

052 MYCONIAN COLLECTION MYCONIAN COLLECTION 053